The stove isn’t just hot in D.C. right now—it’s kinda erratic. If you’ve been following the Washington Nationals news and rumors this cycle, you know the vibe. One day we’re talking about a complete teardown, and the next, the front office is snatching up bullpen flyers like they’re at a yard sale.
Honestly, the MacKenzie Gore situation is the elephant in the room.
Everyone thought the New York Yankees were the destination. Then the Bronx Bombers went and traded for Ryan Weathers from the Marlins on January 14. That move effectively nuked the most obvious landing spot for Gore. But does that mean he’s staying? Not necessarily. The Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets are still lurking. They need front-end starters, and Gore, who just settled for $5.6 million to avoid arbitration, is a massive bargain for any contender.
The Pitching Carousel and the Trevor Gott Reunion
The Nats bullpen was, to put it bluntly, a disaster last year. They finished with a 5.59 ERA—dead last in the majors. So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Paul Toboni, the new President of Baseball Operations, is throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.
Enter Trevor Gott.
The Nats signed Gott to a minor league deal with a spring training invite on January 17. If you remember his first stint in D.C. (2016-2018), it wasn't exactly Hall of Fame stuff. He had a 7.39 ERA back then. But he’s 33 now, coming off Tommy John surgery, and the Nats are betting he’s got something left.
It’s a zero-risk move. Basically, if he looks like a functioning human on the mound during spring training, he’s got a shot at a roster spot.
📖 Related: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
They also grabbed Paxton Schultz off waivers from Toronto. Schultz has a 25.5% strikeout rate, which is the kind of "stuff" the Nats have lacked. Between Schultz and the Joey Wiemer waiver claim, it’s clear the strategy is "quantity over quality" until someone proves otherwise.
What’s Really Going on with James Wood and Dylan Crews?
There’s a lot of noise about the "Big Three" prospects—Wood, Crews, and Brady House.
James Wood is the face of the franchise. Period. He hit 31 homers and drove in 94 runs last year, but he also struck out 221 times. That is a lot of air. The rumors around camp suggest the new hitting coaches, including Matt Borgschulte, are obsessing over Wood’s contact point.
Then there’s Dylan Crews.
Crews had a rough 2025. Injuries, specifically a nagging oblique, kept him from ever finding a rhythm. The chatter right now is that he’s finally 100% healthy. If he hits the ground running in February, the Nats' outfield of Wood, Crews, and maybe Robert Hassell III (who just changed his jersey number to 6, for those keeping track) looks actually... good?
Sorta.
👉 See also: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
The Harry Ford Factor
One of the more interesting bits of Washington Nationals news and rumors was the trade of Jose A. Ferrer to Seattle for catcher Harry Ford.
Ferrer was arguably their most reliable reliever, which makes the trade feel like a gut punch to the 2026 bullpen. But Ford is a top-tier catching prospect. The Nats are clearly telling us that they don't care about winning 75 games this year; they want a core that can win 90 games in 2028.
Keibert Ruiz is still the guy behind the plate for now, but his $50 million contract is starting to look like a lot of money for a guy who struggled with consistency. Having Ford in the wings puts actual pressure on Ruiz for the first time.
Current 2026 Payroll Snapshot
- Total Payroll: Approximately $99.4 million
- Highest Paid: Luis Garcia ($7.8M), Trevor Williams ($7M), MacKenzie Gore ($5.6M)
- Payroll Rank: 25th in MLB
It’s a "revenue sharing" team budget for a big-market city. That’s the reality Nats fans are living with under the Lerners right now.
Why the Gore Trade Rumors Persist
You might wonder why a team would trade their best pitcher when they're trying to get better. It’s about the "window."
If the Nats don't think they can compete until 2027 or 2028, Gore will be nearing free agency by then. His value will never be higher than it is right now. Jeff Passan even teased a potential "mega-package" involving both Gore and CJ Abrams a few weeks back.
✨ Don't miss: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
That sounds insane, right?
But if a team like the Orioles offered three of their top five prospects, the Nats would have to listen. Toboni is a "development first" guy. He just spent a huge chunk of the international bonus pool—nearly $4 million—on two Dominican outfielders, Samil Serrano and Isaias Suarez. He wants to flood the system with talent.
What to Watch Next
The next few weeks are critical.
Keep an eye on the "buy low" veteran market. The Nats are still linked to several injured relievers who might take a cheap one-year deal to rebuild their value.
- Monitor the Bullpen: Expect 2-3 more minor league deals for veteran arms before pitchers and catchers report.
- The Gore Watch: If the Orioles or Mets fail to land a big-name free agent, the pressure to trade for Gore will ramp up.
- Spring Training Battles: Joey Wiemer and Robert Hassell III are going to be fighting for that final outfield spot.
- Cade Cavalli’s Return: He’s the forgotten man. If he’s healthy, the rotation suddenly has a lot more upside.
The rebuild isn't over. It’s just entering a new, slightly more expensive phase. Whether it works depends entirely on if the kids—Wood and Crews—can actually lead, and if the front office can find five guys who can throw a strike in the ninth inning.