The Nationals trimmed the 40-man roster back to 40. Mitchell Parker was claimed by the Braves and Paxton Schultz by the Reds. Jose Tena was also DFA'd, while PJ Poulin and Richard Lovelady cleared waivers and became free agents. 🧹
Transaction Alert: The Cincinnati Reds have claimed RHP Paxton Schultz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. 📋
Mitchell Parker is out of D.C.: the Braves claimed the lefty off waivers from the Nationals. The 27-year-old, a 2020 fifth-round pick, had a 6.58 ERA in relief in 2026, then underwent an internal brace procedure after a Grade 3 UCL tear. Another rotation chapter closed. 📕
Early 2027 rotation look: Cavalli, Early, Alvarez and Gray (assuming he returns to starting) fill four spots, with a mid-level free agent as the fifth. Kent and Herz would return to Triple-A. Offseason moves could change this by April. 🔄
Roster crunch day: the Nats must get to 40 by 5 PM ET, so Parker, Poulin, Waldichuk, Waldron and Millas are each either DFA'd or re-added from the 60-day IL. Paul Toboni already added Nate Furman and Braxton Roxby from the Giants. More churn looks likely. 🔄
Nationals acquired infielder Nate Furman from the Giants for lefty Tony Neubeck, and designated lefty Richard Lovelady for assignment. Furman, 25, hit .293 at Triple-A Sacramento and has more minor-league walks (169) than strikeouts (166). Eye on the zone. 👀
Jarlin Susana (Nationals' No. 4 prospect) was a Fall League Week 4 standout: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 K for Salt River, topping out at 102.9 mph with 40 pitches over 100. He has 20+ Fall League strikeouts. Teo Banks also has 24 hits. 🔥
Nationals prospects are standing out in the Arizona Fall League: Jarlin Susana is touching 102 mph with a 113.7 Stuff+, Kevin Bazzell has a 1.078 OPS, and Teo Banks has a 1.064 OPS with four homers. Fall League pop from the Rafters. 🌵
With the CBA set to expire Dec. 1 and a lockout looming, the 1994 stoppage is a cautionary tale. It gutted the 74-40 Expos, who never recovered and moved to DC after 2004, which is why the Nationals exist. History as warning label. ⚾
Connelly Early, acquired from Boston for Curtis Mead in July, returned from injury for a three-inning, one-hit, no-walk start vs. the Mets. He finished with a 3.33 ERA, and he's pegged as a 2027 mid-rotation piece. 🔧
Award season is here: Daylen Lile is a first-time Gold Glove nominee in left field (Sunday), after improving his OAA to +1 from -8. James Wood and CJ Abrams ranked second at their positions in slugging, and Jarlin Susana is dominating the AFL. 🏆
Seven years ago, the 2019 Nationals clinched their first World Series title when Daniel Hudson struck out Michael Brantley in Game 7. Howie Kendrick's 7th-inning clang off the foul pole flipped it, after Rendon's homer. Never out of a game. 🏆
Jarlin Susana, the Nationals' No. 4 prospect, owns the 34 fastest pitches in the 2026 Arizona Fall League, topping out at 103.8 mph. His slider grades even higher, which is a little unfair. 🔥
Transaction Alert: Washington Nationals claimed RHP Braxton Roxby off waivers from San Francisco Giants. 📋
Nationals claimed righty Braxton Roxby off waivers from the Giants and designated Zak Kent for assignment. Roxby, who debuted in 2026, has three option years left and joins a wide-open bullpen mix for 2027. Kent had a 5.51 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. 🔄
In a bullpen that set the record for blown saves, Orlando Ribalta (3.77 ERA, 42 K in 43 IP, a knack for escaping bases-loaded jams) and Brad Lord (multi-inning workhorse, 3.55 ERA after Aug. 1) were the steadiest arms. Not stars, but useful. 🔧
Nationals enter the offseason with 45 players on the 40-man (including 60-day IL) and no free agents, so GM Paul Toboni faces a crunch. Sykora and Susana are must-protect Rule 5 names, and double-digit changes could come before Dec. 2. 🧹
Nationals breakout watch for 2027: first baseman Abimelec Ortiz (five homers, .188 after his late-season call-up) and lefty Connelly Early are named, plus a reliever. The pitch: young talent to help Cavalli, Abrams and Wood end the playoff drought. 📈
Jake Irvin's 2027 future is a tender decision: he's projected at about $3.4M in arbitration after back-to-back ERAs over 5 (5.48 in 2026). The writer sees a bullpen fit, not a rotation one, and calls him surplus. 🤔
Former Nationals GM Mike Rizzo reportedly interviewed with the Astros for their vacant GM job, per Bob Nightengale. Houston has been without a GM since parting ways with Dana Brown in August. Nothing is final; Rizzo is a candidate, not the hire. 🔍
Follow your team, join the conversation, and never miss a moment.
