WASHINGTON D.C. - Two weeks after the surprising dismissal of longtime president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, the Nationals remain committed to building around their young core. Despite the unusual timing—just before the draft and ahead of the trade deadline—the leadership transition isn’t expected to significantly alter the team’s approach to the deadline.
Interim GM Mike DeBartolo emphasized the club’s intention to keep promising talents such as James Wood, CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, and MacKenzie Gore, rather than entertain trade offers for them. “I’m looking to keep the young, core group of our best players together,” DeBartolo stated, while acknowledging openness to conversations but expressing no intention to move high-caliber young players at this time.
Gore’s status stands out due to his age (26), proximity to free agency (two years of arbitration left, potential free agent after 2027), and his representation by Scott Boras. This has led to speculation that Gore could be traded, especially if a long-term deal cannot be reached, given that moving him could yield a strong return. However, trading Gore might also signal a step back for a team looking to become competitive again soon.
The same rationale applies to Abrams (team control through 2028) and Wood and Crews (both controlled through 2030). Trading from this group would essentially restart a rebuild—a daunting prospect for a franchise that hasn’t recorded a winning season since 2019. It is also unlikely that an interim GM like DeBartolo would make such a sweeping change, as decisions of this magnitude generally fall to the eventual full-time head of baseball operations.
“My goal in this role, whether it’s interim or otherwise, is to build a competitive team every year,” DeBartolo said. While acknowledging this season’s frustrations, his focus is on laying the groundwork for future playoff contention.
Given this outlook, the Nationals will likely shop veterans with expiring contracts or limited team control rather than core pieces. Players reportedly available in trade talks include impending free agents Kyle Finnegan, Josh Bell, Michael Soroka, and Amed Rosario. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who is arbitration-eligible through 2026, is also considered a trade chip. Finnegan and Soroka, in particular, are expected to draw strong interest due to the high demand for pitching among contending teams, positioning the Nationals as an intriguing seller at this year’s deadline.