The Nationals hoped the 2025 season would represent a step forward in their rebuild, but the opposite has happened. The result was dismal, with the front office firing not only manager David Martinez but also longtime president and general manager Mike Rizzo, who had been in charge of the team’s baseball operations for nearly two decades. The new management will try to turn around a club that won more games in 2024 (71) than in 2025 (66).
guarantee contract
Other financial commitments
Total 2026 commitments: $49MM
Total long-term commitments: $79MM through 2030
option decision
Arbitration-eligible players (service time in parentheses; salary projections provided by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz):
Non-tender candidates: Alfaro, Garcia, Thompson, Adams
free agent
The Nationals ousted Rizzo over the summer, launching an executive search, leaving longtime Rizzo deputy Mike DeBartolo in charge of baseball operations at the trade deadline and the end of the season. Washington spoke with executives from multiple clubs and ultimately decided on Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni to lead the organization. Because he’s running for promotion to Red Sox general manager under chief baseball officer Craig BreslowToboni was later hired as president of baseball operations. The Nats may hire a general manager to work under him at some point, but that wasn’t listed as a priority during Toboni’s introductory press conference.
Management changes have already begun. The Nats will retain DeBartolo in an as-yet-unannounced role, but assistant general managers Eddie Longos and Marc Scialaba will leave the organization amid further changes in the scouting department. Even if Toboni doesn’t add a general manager immediately, it seems likely he’ll hire some new staff to take over some AGM and scouting duties (especially if DeBartolo is moved to a position other than assistant general manager).
The national team also needs to hire a new captain. interim manager Miguel Cairo Toboni said this week that the team is looking for candidates, but the Nationals are also interviewing candidates from outside the organization. Washington is one of seven incredible teams looking for a new head coach, and one of the better ones Nine Clubs that will have different head coaches on Opening Day in 2026 than in 2025.
Of course, beyond the broader changes at the top of the organization, fans are more concerned about what the offseason will look like under the new regime. Toboni naturally did not delve into the details in his introduction. He spoke in general terms, repeatedly mentioning a desire to build a “scouting and player development monster” that would ultimately make the industry the envy of him.
More pressing, however, is the future of some of the organization’s key young players. While emerging outfielders like James Wood and Darren Lyle Although the team’s control has lasted more than five seasons, many of the team’s other most important contributors have reached half or more of their original level of club control. That will put Toboni in an interesting position this winter as he looks to determine if some of his core players are building blocks or if they are best used as trade currency to further stockpile a farm system that ranks 21st in the majors by Baseball America and 23rd by MLB.com even after drafting the No. 1 pick in July and trading several players before the 2025 deadline.
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