"The Washington Nationals have been rebuilding for years, but that phase needs to end soon. The team hasn't spent significantly since re-signing Stephen Strasburg after the 2019 World Series, and the biggest deal they've handed out since then was $15 million to Nelson Cruz. That's not going to cut it anymore. Now, for the first time in a while, there's a sense that things are changing."
"The Nationals moved on from longtime manager Davey Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo during the 2025 season. In their place, the team brought in a completely new leadership group, led by 35-year-old Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations and 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager. Toboni is the youngest POBO in the league, and Butera is the youngest manager in Major League Baseball. Together, they take over a roster that just finished 66-96 and represents one of the youngest in baseball."
"The Nationals rotation finished with a 5.18 ERA last year, one of the worst in baseball. They need a proven arm to anchor the staff, and Dylan Cease offers one of the best available. He's an ace. Cease, 29, ranks among the most durable and consistent starters in the league over the past five seasons. He has made at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons and developed a reputation for his high strikeout rate, electric fastball and sharp slider."
The Nationals have spent minimally since re-signing Stephen Strasburg after the 2019 World Series, with the largest post-2019 contract being $15 million to Nelson Cruz. The organization changed leadership during the 2025 season, replacing Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo with a new group led by 35-year-old Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations and 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager. The roster finished 66-96 and ranks among the youngest in baseball. The team needs to move beyond rebuilding by making a high-profile offseason acquisition to accelerate growth and give the young core an established star to build around. Dylan Cease is presented as a top target to anchor the rotation.
Read at District on Deck
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