"Somewhat surprisingly, the Nats signed Riley Adams to a one-year split deal ahead of the non-tender deadline. Adams had been widely considered a likely non-tender, coming off a dreadful season and out of minor league options. The move seemed all the stranger when the Nats traded for Harry Ford just a couple weeks later. Adams was designated for assignment and outrighted to clear a roster spot for newly acquired reliever Gus Varland in late January. He's now in camp as a non-roster invitee."
"As lousy as Adams' results were in 2025, he would have ranked among the best in the league in bat speed, hard-hit rate, and average exit velocity if he had enough at-bats to qualify, according to Statcast. That suggests some measure of bad luck. On the other hand, that's the risk a hitter runs when he ends nearly two in every five plate appearances as a strikeout victim. Adams simply didn't make enough contact, and his work as a receiver rated poorly as well."
The Washington Nationals return to West Palm Beach with several unfamiliar position players competing for roles in 2026. The roster includes catchers, infielders, and outfielders newly in the mix. Riley Adams signed a one-year split deal, was later designated for assignment, and is now a non-roster invitee. Statcast showed elite bat speed, hard‑hit rate, and average exit velocity for Adams, but a very high strikeout rate and weak receiving grades undermined his 2025 value. The Nationals acquired Harry Ford in a trade, and he enters camp as a high-ranked prospect who dominated Triple-A pitching and made a late-season major-league appearance. Positional versatility, options status, and recent performance will shape roster decisions.
Read at TalkNats.com
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