Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni has returned to work ahead of the 2027 offseason, with several critical decisions on pitching and roster construction awaiting resolution. Following a 2026 campaign that saw the team improve by 11 wins over the previous year and climb to fourth place in the National League East, the Nationals are focusing on building around their young core while addressing persistent pitching challenges.
The roster features two promising stars in James Wood and CJ Abrams, both of whom showed the potential to be MVP-caliber players if not for injuries and inconsistent playing time. Supporting them is a developing nucleus complemented by three starting pitchers—Cade Cavalli, Connelly Early, and Andrew Alvarez—viewed as potential mainstays for the rotation.
Despite this foundation, the composition of the starting staff beyond those three remains uncertain. Jake Irvin, who has held a rotation spot for three seasons, struggled in 2026 with a 5.48 ERA, raising questions about his future role. Additional arms such as Josiah Gray and DJ Herz—both returning from injuries—and Jackson Kent, who appeared in eight games, may contend for spots. The Nationals have the option to enter 2027 relying on this group and seeking reinforcements via the trade market midseason if necessary.
Bolstering the rotation is a priority in part because it could ease pressure on a bullpen that endured historic difficulties this year. Washington set a major league record by blowing 42 saves, despite various attempts to plug the relief corps without acquiring high-profile relievers. However, recent progress offers some encouragement. Erik Tolman, emerging late in the season, recorded five saves while posting a 2.93 ERA over his last six weeks. Alongside Tolman, rookies Jack Sinclair, Will Dion, and Yovanny Cruz earned commendations from both coaches and front office officials for their performances.
While these four relievers show promise, none have yet experienced a full major league campaign, and the Nationals acknowledge that the current depth behind them is insufficient. Veterans such as Richard Lovelady, Clayton Beeter, Brad Lord, and PJ Poulin contributed during the season but ultimately failed to stabilize the bullpen. Toboni emphasized the urgency of addressing relief pitching during his end-of-season press conference, signaling that it will be a key focus heading into offseason discussions.
As Toboni and his staff weigh these pitching questions and evaluate the roster’s developmental trajectory, the Nationals aim to build on the strides made in 2026 while seeking the reinforcements necessary to compete more consistently in the National League East in 2027.