Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

Does it feel like the squeeze is on with the Washington Nationals in their 2026 roster construction? A source told us that Paul Toboni would have an Opening Day payroll that would at least be slightly above last year’s spending on Opening Day. That number was $140 million a year ago. Our source went on to say there was a possibility that even more money could become available depending on a new TV deal if the numbers exceeded last year’s deal.

There are many complications in deciphering what all of that means in terms of dollars. No, Toboni would not get the same $50 million that his predecessor had to spend last year. Toboni’s payroll after tendering arbitration deals put his starting point at $111 million. That is $21 million higher than the starting point to open the Winter Meetings in Dec. 2024. That would give the new front office approximately $30+ million to spend.

To this point, Toboni has only spent $5.5 million for free agent starting pitcher Foster Griffin. That leaves about $25 million to spend, and probably a little more than that if the plan was to grow the payroll, slightly, from last year.

Maybe some money will get used for player extensions. We haven’t heard the beat media ask Toboni at all about that. Our same source, who told us about the budget, gave us this nugget:

So far, the Nationals have not been tied to any credible rumors. The names mentioned have felt like people are concocting rumors such as the Nats were pursuing Kazuma Okamoto for example. Here’s the thing, Toboni’s circle of trust is small, and nothing is leaking until the deal is done like when Robert Murray of Fansided broke the news about Griffin.

Our sourced news lately has been coming from agents and the executive level at Nationals Park, not from Toboni’s inner circle, and other sources in the know. And trust me, we are working our sources harder than ever. If breaking the news that Jake Lowery was moving from High-A Wilmington manager to be the catching coordinator is the news you want, we got you covered.

Most likely, Murray got his sourced info on Griffin from his agent. Because the front office of the Nats is closed down so tight on leaks, it’s making it seem like they are doing nothing. You can be assured that is not the situation. We believe they are trying to improve and not going through a roster constriction.

❝… We’re going to be really open-minded [on offseason signings]. I don’t think you can ever have enough pitching. We’ll be open-minded at the first base position, and potentially at the catching position. We’re going to see how it plays out, and what opportunities present themselves.❞

❝We’re not going to pigeonhole ourselves just into those positions. We will be open-minded and try, and be creative through it.❞

❝We’re in the business right now of just bringing in as much value as we can to the organization. However that may look, we’ll stay disciplined to that.❞

❝When we look up a year from now, I think everyone will see that we’re going to grow significantly.❞
— Paul Toboni said from the GM Meetings

Every roster hole can be backfilled internally except for a veteran team leader. That player should be the priority in a position of need. When Ryan Zimmerman talked last month on his 11th Inning Podcast, Zimmerman said the team needs a veteran team leader on a 2-to-4 year deal, and added, “I’m not saying to go crazy to get the top of the [free agent] list — that would be cool too.”

Yes, getting a Jayson Werth would be great like the Nationals accomplished after the 2010 season. But a good veteran player at a position of need on a 2-to-4 year deal like Zimmerman suggested might make more sense in the near-term.

Toboni had already mentioned both first base and catcher as positions of need. He would be correct, and he traded for catcher Harry Ford to fit that gaping hole. He also mentioned the need for more pitching. Yes, and as they say, you can never have enough pitching. But generally you want a position player as your clubhouse leader — and first base makes all the sense — or they could get even more creative and add to the infield or even another catcher like J.T. Realmuto.

The Bullpen

The team doesn’t have a presumptive closer at this point in time. This subject was actually covered in an article for MLB Trade Rumors this morning. There are options on the market beyond that like Michael Kopech who had 15 saves in the 2024 season. The Nats have additional internal players if they got really creative and looked to both the newly acquired Luis Perales and Jarlin Susana. Both pitchers have been limited by injuries, and Perales certainly will be on a strict innings limit. Both throw consistently over 100 mph — but neither of them have pitched at the MLB level.

First Base

The team lists two players on the Nats official website at first base on the depth chart: Luis Garcia Jr. and Andres Chaparro. The team just signed Matt Mervis to a minor league deal, and in they have their 2023 second round draft pick, Yohandy Morales, as a choice. Garcia has a total of two MLB games at first base. Mervis has struggled on defense at first base, and Chaparro hit .182 with a .504 OPS in his 34 games last year.

The remaining names in free agency are Cody Bellinger, Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt, Nathaniel Lowe, Justin Turner, Wilmer Flores, Miguel Andujar, Ty France, Dominic Smith, Michael Toglia, Carlos Santana, and Mark Canha. Sure, a few of those names would work. Or will the Nats swing a trade for Triston Casas, Jac Caglianone, or Bryce Eldridge? That’s to be seen.

Offseason ends in 5 Weeks

The offseason still has 36 days remaining, and you can see there are literally dozens upon dozens of free agents who have not signed deals at this point. You are seeing players like Paul DeJong sign minor league deals to just have a job. Opening Day is 80 days away. Just 80 days. We hope the Nats aren’t picking up scraps when the music stops in this high stakes game of musical chairs. The fans deserve better.

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