The Nationals' Closer Options

"The Nationals ranked dead last in bullpen ERA by a significant margin in 2025. The team was 0.4 runs worse than the next-closest team (Colorado). Washington has been able to rely on Kyle Finnegan for the past few seasons. The righty threaded the needle of being capable of holding down the job, while not being talented enough to leave via trade or free agency. He fell back into the Nats' lap in late February after garnering minimal interest on the open market."

"The swap of Jose A. Ferrer for brought the Nationals their potential catcher of the future. It also left an already-thin bullpen without a clear closer for the upcoming season. The rebuilding club is unlikely to pursue an impact reliever in free agency. If they make a move, it'll likely be finding a cheap veteran with closing experience in the hopes of flipping them at the trade deadline after a few months of decent production."

"Cole Henry After multiple years as one of the organization's top pitching prospects, Henry moved to a relief role in 2025. Persistent injury issues kept the 2020 second-round pick from putting it all together as a starter. Henry opened the season in the minors, but was quickly promoted to the big-league club. He slowly worked his way into a high-leverage role. The righty finished the season with 10 holds, which ranked behind only Ferrer. He also notched a pair of saves."

Washington traded Jose A. Ferrer in a deal that yielded a potential future catcher while creating a need for a reliable closer. The bullpen ranked last in MLB ERA in 2025, 0.4 runs worse than the next team. Kyle Finnegan previously filled late-inning duties but was moved at the trade deadline. Ferrer emerged late with 11 saves and promising 3.24 SIERA and 3.43 xFIP. The club is unlikely to pursue a high-impact reliever in free agency and will probably target affordable veterans to trade later. Cole Henry transitioned to relief, posted 10 holds and two saves, and profiles as a closer candidate.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors