Washington Nationals News

The Washington Nationals have claimed shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets. Cheng will now land with his third team of the offseason after being designated for assignment by the Mets last week. The 24-year-old figures to offer organizational depth and is hopeful for a bounce-back season in 2026. Last season, Cheng slashed .207/.305/.267 with 36 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 110 games in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system. He'll look to earn a bench role with the Nats during Spring Training.

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants recently made an aggressive push to acquire Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. According to sources, the Giants made it clear they would offer top prospect Josuar Gonzalez as part of a package to acquire Abrams. Additionally, top pitching prospects Carson Whisenhunt and Jacob Bresnahan were likely to be moved to Washington if they reached an agreement. The Nationals recently traded top pitcher MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers and have expressed willingness to shop Abrams as well. While the Giants were unsuccessful in this offer, they remain focused on improving their infield before spring training. The Giants have also been linked to St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan throughout the offseason. If the Giants were to fall short in these trade talks, Casey Schmitt would likely open the season as the starting second baseman, while Willy Adams would cover shortstop.

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Travis Sykora (elbow) was invited to spring training. However, given that he underwent UCL reconstruction surgery last season, the right-hander is not expected to take the mound at all in 2026. Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reported that the budding ace will continue his rehab process with the major league roster during camp. Sykora made his professional debut with Low-A in 2024 and immediately flashed upside, striking out 129 hitters in just 85 innings. In 2025, Sykora continued to ascend in the Washington system, finishing the season in Double-A. Across 45 1/3 innings spent primarily with High-A, Sykora would post an outstanding 1.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 79:17 K:BB. While he is expected to be sidelined for the entirety of the 2026 season, he is a prime buy-low target in dynasty leagues, as he was on track to make his MLB debut this season.

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Jarlin Susana (lat) has earned an invite to spring training. However, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reported that Susana is expected to remain in rehab from his last surgery last season during the start of camp. Susana is an emerging arm in the Washington system but saw his season cut short in the second half after suffering a late injury. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during camp, as he may be in danger of missing time early in the regular season. When on the bump, the 21-year-old was quite productive. He spent the majority of the 2025 season with Double-A Harrisburg and logged 47 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.61 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 79 batters but struggled with his command, serving up 32 free passes. Given his elite strikeout potential, he is worth following in deeper formats as he could be in contention for a second-half MLB debut.

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is a rising, young fantasy baseball asset after hitting .256/.350/.475 with an .825 OPS, 31 home runs, 94 RBI, 87 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases in 157 games in his first full major-league season. The 23-year-old power-hitting left-hander and former second-round pick by the San Diego Padres displayed impressive power to the opposite field last year, with 26 of his 31 total home runs going up the middle or the other way. The problem with Wood is that his long swing also leads to plenty of swings and misses. He led the league with 221 strikeouts and posted a strikeout rate of 32.1 percent. The fact that Wood was so successful in his first full MLB season bodes well for his long-term outlook, but despite being a top-35 overall fantasy player, there's some volatility and downside as well. The power is real, and RotoBaller has Wood as the No. 10 outfielder.

Teams have expressed interest in trading for Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, it's unclear whether Washington has a desire to trade him at this time. Young, 26, is a plus defender in center field with four years remaining under team control. He made 112 appearances (901.1 innings) in the outfield last year and didn't commit a single error. While the glovework is impressive, defense can be tougher to project long-term, and the Nationals' new front office might feel less inclined to hold onto a glove-first outfielder from the previous regime. Young's offensive output is nothing special, as he slashed just .231/.296/.287 with two home runs, 15 stolen bases, a 7.4% walk rate, a 17.9% strikeout rate, and a 66 wRC+ last year. He finished the campaign with -14.5 fWAR at the plate, 12.2 fWAR in the field, and 1.0 fWAR overall. Rosenthal notes that the new front office believes the entire outfield can improve offensively and defensively under the new coaching staff, but he also hints at a potential outfield logjam with Robert Hassell III in the mix for a 26-man roster spot alongside Dylan Crews, Daylen Lile, and James Wood. As a result, we wouldn't be surprised if Young becomes the odd man out.

According to Spencer Nusbaum, Andrew Golden, and Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, the Nationals have shopped star shortstop CJ Abrams on the trade market this offseason. While they have yet to find a trade partner, they are actively looking to move the infielder. On Thursday, the Nationals traded their ace, MacKenzie Gore, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for numerous top prospects, and could now look to pursue talks for Abrams. Abrams began his career with the Padres but was shipped to Washington in the Juan Soto trade in August of 2022. Last season, Abrams posted a .257/.315/.433 line with a career-high 35 doubles. He hit 19 home runs and swiped at least 31 bases for the second-straight campaign. The 25-year-old remains a solid No. 1 SS in category formats, given his ability to hit for power and steal bases. If he were to be traded to a contender, he would see his counting stats receive a major boost.

The Washington Nationals acquired first-base prospect Abimelec Ortiz, along with Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Devin Fitz-Gerald, and Yeremy Cabrera from the Texas Rangers, in return for left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Gore saw his name in many trade discussions throughout the winter, and the Nationals were able to acquire several high-end prospects in return. Oritz was viewed as the No. 18-ranked prospect in the Texas system on MLB.com prior to the trade. Last summer, the first baseman opened the campaign with Double-A but was able to join Triple-A Round Rock after an 89-game stint. With Double-A, Ortiz held a .247/.343/.444 line with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, and three stolen bases. During his first taste of Triple-A, Ortiz looked quite comfortable, holding a .283/.388/.565 line with a .953 OPS and nine home runs (across 41 games). Given Washington's lack of options at first base, Ortiz could make a strong case to begin the season in the big leagues. He is a name to closely monitor heading into camp.

The Washington Nationals acquired top catching prospect Harry Ford from the Seattle Mariners earlier in the offseason in exchange for reliever Jose Ferrer. Ford was considered one of the top catching prospects in the sport as he was progressing through the Seattle system. However, playing in a club with superstar Cal Raleigh was going to prevent Ford from seeing consistent at-bats. As a result, the Mariners opted to move him to Washington, where he could immediately take on a starting role in 2026. Outside of a small eight-game taste of the majors, Ford spent the majority of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A. Across 87 games, Ford posted a .283/.408/.460 line with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a strong 88:77 K:BB. Given Keibert Ruiz's immense struggles last season, Ford could claim the starting role in spring training. He is named to closely monitor in two-catcher leagues.

The Washington Nationals have claimed catcher Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, according to an announcement from the organization. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Andry Lara for assignment. Gasper was the Yankees' 27th-round pick in 2018, but he made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2024 by way of the Rule 5 draft. He spent last season with the Twins, splitting time between the majors and Triple-A. At the big-league level, he posted a disappointing .158/.257/.232 slash line with a 9.1% walk rate, 18.2% strikeout rate, and a 42 wRC+. He produced -3.4 fWAR on defense, making appearances at catcher, first base, second base, and left field. Gasper primarily played behind the dish with Minnesota, but we could see him move around more with the Nats, who already have catchers Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams in the majors. With that being said, Gasper has two option years remaining, so Washington can shuttle him freely between the majors and minors this season. It's not guaranteed that he'll remain on the 40-man roster by Opening Day, but his connection to the Nats' front office is noteworthy. Several members of the Nationals' brain trust, including president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, worked for the Red Sox' front office when Boston acquired Gasper two years ago.

Free-agent pitcher Zach Penrod and the Washington Nationals reached an agreement on a minor-league deal. The 28-year-old lefty spent last year in the Red Sox and Dodgers minor-league systems, going 2-1 in 26 appearances (six starts) with a 7.83 ERA and 6.80 FIP. He pitched in seven games out of the bullpen in the majors for Boston in 2024, allowing one earned run in four innings on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Penrod will look to work his way back to the majors this year, but he'll likely start the season in Triple-A as bullpen depth for the Nats.

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Jarlin Susana is a name to monitor in spring training. The right-hander is currently considered the No. 87 overall prospect on MLB.com and the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Washington system. He began the 2025 campaign with High-A but needed only nine innings to prove he was ready to join Double-A Harrisburg. With the Senators, Susana flashed immense strikeout upside, tallying 79 across 47 1/3 innings of work. In this stint, the 21-year-old posted a solid 3.61 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP. However, Susana underwent right lat surgery late in the second half, which could potentially limit him in spring training. While Susana was not in the mix to debut in Washington in the first half of 2026, if he continues this high-end production, he could make a strong case to debut later in the year.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli has avoided arbitration and agreed to a deal with the organization. The right-hander requested $900,000 from the Nats, while the team countered at $825,000. They've agreed to a one-year, $862,500 deal, which includes a $4 million club option for 2027. Cavalli is a former first-round pick of the Nats from the 2020 draft. Before 2025, Cavalli only made one start for the Nats, but got a larger opportunity last season. He registered a 4.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 40/15 K/BB ratio across 10 starts in 2025. The 27-year-old is expected to be in the Opening Day rotation and should be monitored as a potential breakout candidate.

Free-agent right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott has signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 33-year-old reliever spent last season with the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, posting a 4.45 FIP and 8.7 K/9 over 58 innings of work. His solid numbers over a large sample size indicate that he likely will receive an invite to spring training, where he'll compete to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster out of camp. Gott throws five different pitches, giving preference to a cutter that he uses 39% of the time. By FanGraphs' Stuff+ metric, Gott's best pitches are his four-seam fastball and sinker, which account for roughly 50% of his pitches. He rounds out his repertoire with a curveball and changeup. This signing represents another patchwork bullpen addition for the Nats, who also landed Griff McGarry in the Rule 5 draft and Paxton Schultz via waivers.

The New York Yankees have begun to pursue a trade for Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore. After falling short in the bid to acquire Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that the Yankees have shifted their focus to other top trade targets such as Gore and Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. Gore has flashed immense upside at times, but has yet to sustain it over a full campaign. Last season, the southpaw enjoyed a strong first half, posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 138:35 K:BB through his first 110 1/3 innings. However, over his last 49 1/3 innings, Gore took a massive step back, posting a hefty 6.75 ERA with a 1.70 WHIP. Gore is a name to closely monitor as he could benefit from a change of scenery. He would also be in line to surpass his previous career-high of 10 wins, pitching for a competing Yankees team.

The Washington Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz off waivers on Friday from the Toronto Blue Jays. The southpaw was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays earlier this week. The 28-year-old made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays last summer and logged 24 2/3 innings to the tune of a 4.38 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Across this stint, the left-hander Schultz struck out 28 hitters and served up eight free passes. While his ratios seem high on the surface, he generated a promising 3.77 xERA with an above-average .219 xBA, suggesting he could enjoy a strong sophomore season in the big leagues. Through 203 1/3 career frames at the Triple-A level, Schultz has posted a 4.47 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP. Managers should expect Schultz to compete for a role in the Washington bullpen during Spring Training.

The Washington Nationals claimed outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Monday, according to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. The former top-100 prospect has played in 180 major-league games since debuting in 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he's slashed .205/.279/.359 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in three seasons. Last year, Wiemer played in 27 games at the MLB level with the Miami Marlins and went 13-for-55 (.236) with three homers, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored in 61 plate appearances. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter was traded to the Giants in November and will now head to the National League East to compete for a roster spot in spring training with the Nats. The fact that he's out of minor-league options should help his case for making the Opening Day roster, but likely in a reserve role.

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent first baseman Matt Mervis to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. According to Jon Heyman, this is a minor-league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training. The Washington D.C. native will get a chance to catch on as a possible depth option for the Nats. Last season, Mervis slashed .175/.254/.383 with seven home runs and 14 RBI in 42 games with the Miami Marlins. Mervis came up through the minors with some buzz after slugging 36 homers during the 2022 season. The 27-year-old hasn't been able to put it together at the MLB level, but he could be decent depth for the organization.

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitching prospect Luis Perales from the Boston Red Sox on Monday in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Jake Bennett, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Perales, 22, has missed most of the past two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery, appearing in only 12 games (10 starts) across the Red Sox's minor-league system. He has a fastball that hits triple digits and is already being considered Washington's No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Venezuelan hurler also has a nasty splitter and features a slider and a cutter as other secondary pitches. Perales has athleticism and elite arm speed, but he's small for a starter, and his durability is a concern. If Perales cannot make it as a starter, the Nats could try him in a high-leverage relief role. His innings will be closely monitored in 2026, and he's probably a long shot to make his MLB debut.

The Washington Nationals avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Josiah Gray (elbow) on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.35 million deal, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Gray is expected to be ready to pitch in spring training after missing all of the 2025 campaign due to right-elbow surgery. The 27-year-old will make the same money that he did this past season. Gray was a former second-round selection by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 out of Le Moyne College in New York. He broke into the big leagues in 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers before making his way to D.C. Gray was an All-Star in 2023 despite going 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 30 starts. He made only two starts in 2024 before being shut down with elbow issues. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach on Gray in 2026, especially since he will probably face a strict innings limit in his first season back.