Elian Soto, Juan's 20-year-old younger brother, hit his first Arizona Fall League homer, a 103.2 mph two-run shot in Salt River's 9-8 win over Scottsdale. He has reached base in all six AFL games after a breakout year with Single-A Fredericksburg. 💥
Bob Nightengale reportedly thinks the Nationals will "shop" CJ Abrams this offseason. Coming off a 33-homer, 106-RBI year and controlled through 2028, he could draw interest from teams like Atlanta and Boston. Nothing is confirmed. 👀
CJ Abrams is controlled through 2028, two years before James Wood hits free agency, after a 33-homer, 34-steal 2026. That timeline gives the Nationals more urgency to explore an extension this winter, though terms and timing remain uncertain. ⏳
CJ Abrams and James Wood are Silver Slugger finalists, and the Nationals are also up for best offensive team in the NL. Abrams hit 33 homers with 106 RBI, Wood posted an .891 OPS. Winners are announced Nov. 17. 🥈
Nats opened the offseason by trimming the roster. Zak Kent was released outright, and Lovelady, Waldichuk, Mitchell Parker, Poulin, Schultz and Tena were DFA'd. Parker was the one real surprise. The bullpen overhaul has begun. ✂️
Offseason opens with a roster purge: five pitchers, including PJ Poulin and Ken Waldichuk, are out of the Nationals organization as the 40-man was trimmed to the deadline. Poulin leaves with a 3.08 ERA in 61.1 innings. 🧹
Abrams and Wood are Silver Slugger finalists, and the Nationals are up for Offensive Team of the Year. Winners will be announced Nov. 17, with managers and coaches voting. Lineup recognition from the league's own dugouts. 🏆
Baseball America's updated Nationals top 10 slots 18-year-old Samil Serrano at No. 5, ahead of Fitz-Gerald and Hacopian, after a .968 OPS and DSL All-Star nod. Eli Willits sits at No. 1. A bold ranking, with the data backing it. 📈
Transaction Alert: Washington Nationals released RHP Zak Kent. 📋
It’s a single-issue negotiation. MLB wants a cap, the players reject a cap. All of the details MLB has shared about its vision -- a number of which are good! -- are tied to the MLBPA accepting a cap system. Publicly, at least, the league has not put forth any vision of a non-capped league. The players, and again I’ll say this is based on what we know, appear to have no intention of accepting a payroll cap. Until one side or the other concedes on this point, there is nowhere for negotiations...
The Nationals released right-hander Zak Kent, who is now a free agent. He was bumped off the roster when Washington claimed Braxton Roxby from San Francisco. Kent posted a 5.68 ERA over 12 2/3 innings across three stints with the big club.
Jarlin Susana owns the 9 fastest pitches in AFL history (103.8 mph peak), won pitcher of the week, and made the Fall Stars Game with 26 Ks through six starts. Back from a triceps injury, he wants the big leagues; command is the question. 🔥
A fan's look back at five Nationals who shaped a childhood, including Alfonso Soriano's one-season 40/40 spark in 2006 and Tyler Clippard's steady bullpen work. Consistency and electricity, apparently, are a winning formula. ⚾
Nationals right-hander Jarlin Susana (No. 66 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100) is on the National League roster for Sunday's AFL Fall Stars Game, one of four Top 100 prospects on that side. First pitch is 8 p.m. ET from Salt River Fields. 🔥
Nationals outfield prospect Teo Banks, a 2024 18th-round pick, is raking in the Arizona Fall League: .366/.413/.620 with four homers and 16 RBIs through 21 games for Salt River. Not bad for someone yet to play above High-A. 🔥
A Red Sox trade idea has CJ Abrams in the spotlight as a possible fix for Boston's lineup, which lacked power and consistent hitting last season. It's only a proposal, with no sign of talks between the Nationals and Red Sox. 🧐
Chris Hacopian, the No. 11 pick in 2026, could reach the majors by early 2028, with a long-shot 2027 September call-up possible, one writer argues. His contact skills and approach stand out, but a low pull rate and grounders could slow him. 🎯
Seattle is hiring Nationals Director of Hitting CJ Gillman, a reported Mariners return after he spent 2021-25 there as Minor League hitting coordinator. Washington's league-best offense drew notice. Hitting coach Matt Borgschulte remains. 📉
Evan Phillips is pitched as a more realistic free-agent closer than Adrian Morejon for the Nats. The 32-year-old returned from Tommy John throwing harder, with a 3.46 ERA and a 31.1% K rate. A 3-year, $40M deal is floated. 🔒
The Braves claimed lefty Mitchell Parker off waivers from the Nationals, ending his Washington run. He carries a 5.19 ERA over 355.1 career innings, and InternalBrace surgery will likely sideline him for most of 2027. 🩹
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