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Back in August, Google debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like The Nats Report:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …”

When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of The Nats Report articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.

We’ve worked hard at The Nats Report to build a brand you can trust and rely on for Washington Nationals coverage. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best Nationals coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping The Nats Report out.

The Arizona Fall League officially opened last night, signaling the start of another showcase for baseball’s rising stars.

After back-to-back years featuring 10 Top 100 prospects, last year’s rosters set a new standard with 14 of MLB’s brightest young talents taking the field. That standout group — highlighted by Jac Caglianone, Leo De Vries, and Bryce Eldridge — went on to produce seven players who made their big league debuts in 2025. Known as “baseball’s finishing school,” the Fall League runs from Oct. 6 through Nov. 15, offering prospects a valuable chance to build on their summer momentum or make up for time lost to injury.

Here is how the Washington Nationals prospects did:

Jake Bennett (got the start and the loss)

4.0 IP | 4 H | 4 ER 4 R | 6 Strikeouts |  55 Pitches | 37 Strikes | 18 Batters Faced

Sean Paul Liñan

2.0 IP | 0 R | 0 H | 3 Strikeouts |4 B | 45 Pitches | 22 Strikes | 10 Batters Faced

Austin Amaral

1.0 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 12 Pitches | 5 Strikes | 3 batters faced

Jared Simpson

2.0 IP | 0 R | 0 H | 3 Strikeouts | 26 Pitches | 19 Strikes | 6 Batters Faced

Seaver King

1-4 | 1 RBI

Ethan Petry

0-4 | 2 K

Sam Petersen

2-3 | 1 BB | 1 Run scored

For even more in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, and access to our offseason coverage, become a Nats Report+ subscriber today. We’re running a special 50% off sale on all plans — monthly, quarterly, and annual — so you can follow every move and every decision that shapes the Nationals’ future.

Assuming the Lerner family is willing to spend this winter, the Nationals are positioned for an offseason that could significantly reshape their 2026 outlook—particularly if they prioritize a serious investment in the starting rotation.

The foundation is there, but consistency wasn’t. Washington’s starters flashed potential in 2025 yet faded as injuries and workload limits piled up, landing the rotation near the bottom third of the majors in ERA. If the Nationals truly want to build off their developmental strides and close the gap in a competitive NL East, the blueprint is simple: add reliable, established arms. Banking on health or internal growth alone won’t be enough.

Paul Toboni, less than a week into his tenure as President of Baseball Operations, steps into an organization with several critical questions to answer—and how he approaches the starting rotation should be near the top of the list. It remains to be seen how involved Toboni will be in day-to-day roster construction or who will ultimately have final say on personnel moves, but for the Nationals to take the next step forward, strengthening the rotation must be the priority for whoever fills out Washington’s front office brain trust this offseason.

And with that in mind, there’s no shortage of potential fits who could immediately elevate the Nationals’ pitching staff—ranging from controllable trade targets to experienced free agents capable of anchoring a young rotation. Here are a few names that make sense for Washington to pursue this winter.

Joe Ryan

Joe Ryan figures to be one of the most coveted trade targets available. The Twins nearly moved him at the 2025 deadline before deciding the return wasn’t enough, but Minnesota’s expected roster reset could make him available again. With two years of team control and a career 3.79 ERA across 114 starts, Ryan’s mid-90s fastball and elite command profile make him an ideal fit to pair with Josiah Gray atop the Nationals’ rotation.

Ranger Suárez

Acquiring Ranger Suárez from a division rival won’t be easy, but his reliability makes him the type of pitcher Washington should covet. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021, Suárez has delivered steady mid-3s ERAs and shown the ability to thrive in multiple roles. While the Phillies are unlikely to move him, his durability, poise, and approach would blend perfectly with what the Nationals are trying to build.

Dylan Cease & Zac Gallen

Dylan Cease and Zac Gallen both endured uneven seasons in 2025 but remain high-upside frontline arms entering contract years. Cease piled up 215 strikeouts in 168 innings despite a 4.55 ERA, while Gallen continued his track record of availability and consistency, throwing over 730 innings in the past four seasons with a 3.63 ERA. Either one would give Washington a legitimate top-of-the-rotation presence to complement its younger core.

Merrill Kelly

For a more cost-effective addition, Merrill Kelly stands out. The veteran right-hander, entering his age-37 season, tossed 184 quality innings between Arizona and Texas with a 3.52 ERA in 2025. His experience and steady demeanor could provide the Nationals with invaluable stability, allowing the club’s developing pitchers to grow without carrying excessive load or pressure.

Other Possibilities

Framber Valdez is expected to command one of the richest deals on the pitching market, but his price tag for a 32-year-old likely places him beyond Washington’s plans. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander might return for another season, yet nostalgia isn’t the path forward. Michael King and Griffin Canning both carry durability concerns, and while Lucas Giolito impressed in his return from internal brace surgery, his shoulder issues late in the year make him a risky bet.

Washington’s pipeline of young pitchers offers promise, but Toboni’s first offseason will be about balance—pairing that youth with proven arms who can deliver innings, leadership, and structure to a rotation in transition.

Over the weekend, Former Washington Nationals Manager Dusty Baker was inducted into the Negro Baseball Hall of Fame in Kansas City.

“It is my distinct honor to welcome Dusty Baker, Cito Gaston, Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Hall of Game and to award Tony Reagins with the JL Wilkinson Innovator Award,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “They embody the winning spirit and leadership of the Negro Leagues, through their on and off-field endeavors. They are all leaders and innovators who have continued to move the great game of baseball forward while embracing the greats of Black baseball’s past.”

Dusty Baker became the Washington Nationals’ manager in 2016 following a six-year tenure with the Cincinnati Reds. In both of his seasons in Washington, he guided the club to at least 95 victories and National League East titles, though the Nationals were eliminated in the NL Division Series each year. After the 2017 season, the team chose not to bring back Baker or his coaching staff. He remained away from managing until 2020, when he was hired by the Houston Astros.

Baker compiled a 192-132 record with the Nationals and finished his career with 2,183 wins and 1,862 losses, placing him among the select group of managers with over 2,000 victories. He is one of the few in baseball history to win a World Series both as a player and as a manager. Baker is also the first skipper in MLB history to lead five different franchises to division championships, the ninth to win pennants in both the American and National Leagues, and the first African American manager to surpass the 2,000-win milestone, ranking 12th on the all-time wins list.

Congratulations Dusty Baker on this amazing honor 🎉🎉

📌 Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2026: Washington Nationals Edition

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