Washington

Nationals

Gott last pitched for the Nationals from 2016-2018 and returns to the organization to compete for a bullpen spot during spring training. The 33-year-old journeyman holds a serviceable 4.65 ERA — 4.24 FIP — 1.31 WHIP and 222/88 K/BB ratio across 243 2/3 innings over 255 career appearances since 2015. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 campaign when he made 64 appearances between the Mets and Mariners. He spent last year pitching at the Triple-A level while working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

One imagines there’s some pressure on the newly acquired Ford to be in Nationals camp gaining reps with all of the team’s pitchers, but at least Great Britain probably isn’t in for a lengthy WBC run. It still might lessen his chances of breaking camp with the Nationals, though giving Keibert Ruiz one last chance as a starter is probably the team’s plan anyway.

The Jays attempted to sneak Schultz through waivers following their addition of Kazuma Okamoto on Saturday, but the Nationals were ready to pounce. The 28-year-old hurler compiled a 4.38 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a solid 28/8 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 frames for the Blue Jays in 2025. He should have a strong chance of cracking the Nats’ Opening Day bullpen in a middle relief role.

The Nationals weighed non-tendering García after he slipped both offensively and defensively last season, but the offensive decline, at least, was not backed up by his career-best exit velocity numbers. It sounds like he’ll play some first base in spring training, but the Nationals haven’t added a second baseman to push him off the position. They still might wind up bringing in a first baseman instead.

Irvin is coming off a brutal season that saw him post a 5.70 ERA in 33 starts, but he’s proven durable, throwing 327 2/3 innings the last two years, and quantity is just as important as quality for the Nationals right now. He probably will need to bounce back some in order to avoid being non-tendered next winter.

Gore is nearly doubling his 2025 salary of $2.89 million after going 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and a 185/64 K/BB in 159 2/3 innings last season. Barring a highly unexpected Triple-A demotion at some point, he’s in line to become a free agent after the 2027 season.

Abrams just missed out on Super Two eligibility a year ago, so he was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He hit .257/.315/.433 with 19 homers and 31 steals as the Nationals’ shortstop last season. Questions persist about his defense, which is partly why he’s come up in trade rumors, but the Nationals figure to give him one more year to improve his glovework before considering a move to second. He might actually be best in the outfield, but the team has a pretty crowded situation there.

Rosenthal specifies that the “Mets are interested in both rentals and pitchers with club control.” That means pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, Kris Bubic, and more could all be of interest. The Mets have plenty of prospects to make a deal work, and Rosenthal also reports that “they are also open to dealing infielders Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuña.” This is a situation to monitor, but nothing appears close right now.

Wiemer was once a top prospect in the Brewers organization, but spent last season with the Marlins. He hit .236/.279/.436 with three homers, 12 RBI, and a 23/2 K/BB ratio in 61 plate appearances for Miami before being designated for assignment. He was then traded to the Giants in the offseason before the Giants also designated him for assignment in December to make room for Jason Foley. Wiemer is a strong defender and will try to make the Nationals as a fourth outfielder.

These was thought Mervis’s declining EV numbers during a rough 2024 were the product of a broken hamate bone, so the Marlins gave him a chance last season. However, he hit just .175/.254/.383 in 134 plate appearances before being cast off. He went on to hit 19 homers in 65 Triple-A games, and his EV numbers were better at the end of the year. Still, he mostly just seems like a Triple-A slugger at the moment.