Paul Toboni’s first year left the Nationals with a better record: and a bigger question:

Is Washington building a team that can win, or an organization that can keep winning?

The Nationals finished 77-85, their best record since 2019. But the more consequential changes may have happened away from the major-league field: more minor-league coaches, new development technology, and a different approach to acquiring talent.

Then came the harder decisions. Trading MacKenzie Gore. Moving contributors at the deadline. Choosing which homegrown players to keep.

In our latest analysis, we examine how those moves fit together and where Toboni’s blueprint still needs to deliver.

With pitching needs and payroll flexibility heading into 2027, Year Two will test more than Washington’s patience. It will test how the Nationals turn development gains into a more competitive roster.