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I wonder if they'll play Ford's contract next year too and wait to call him up till after May.
So um… is Ruiz fixed?
Inside the unlikely revival of Nationals catcher Keibert RuizBy Spencer NusbaumMay 28, 2026 6:00 am EDTCLEVELAND — Three weeks before the Washington Nationals secured a series win over the best team in the American League Central, more than a dozen coaches, trainers and executives gathered in a room with catcher Keibert Ruiz.With close to a 20-to-1 teacher-to-student ratio, the meeting began with commendations about Ruiz’s defensive strides and devoted work ethic. It included metrics, which identified a handful of issues that had led to a .182 batting average and .506 OPS.And then, when the evaluations were out of the way, the support group offered hope.------Since the meeting, Ruiz has been the most productive offensive catcher in baseball.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7313046/2026/05/28/washington-nationals-keibert-ruiz/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.l1A.KdS-.hvftOC8k-k-q
"Unlikely" revival. The team didn't think it was unlikely, which is why he was the starter coming out of Palm Beach. If I were reporting on the team for a living I probably wouldn't admit to being caught by surprise so often. Readers might start to think my reporting is unreliable.
This season, the Nationals have started to implement “player plan” meetings, an individual gathering with every member of the roster every six weeks. First, they tell players how they’re being evaluated by the organization. Then, they talk through a plan to tweak their routines accordingly.
When the Nationals acquired Harry Ford in a trade with the Mariners this offseason, it was fair to wonder if Ruiz’s days as the team’s primary backstop were numbered. He had been a disaster both at the plate and behind it. His 79 wRC+ over the last three years was a hair higher than Patrick Bailey’s 76 mark, but instead of offsetting that offensive futility with elite defense, Ruiz was the worst defensive catcher in baseball. It’s shocking, then, to see that he has so completely turned things around this year; he’s already accrued 0.8 WAR and has been the 11th-most valuable catcher in baseball in just 34 games.
Threw out two base-stealers today, and got a couple hits. Doing OK?
Two strike them out throw them out double plays to end innings. Outstanding.
Not at all star levels but maybe as big a jump from last year as any catcher
Thankfully, the new coaching staff doesn't force him to play everyday. I think the rest has helped him as much as anything else.
While admitting he's likely to never live up to the contract, I am in no hurry to bring in another catcher next season. I would like to see Ruiz in an actual rotation where he is not ridden into the ground. I unfortunately sold all my old Riley Adams stock at penny levels but I'm buying some more now it's rebounding. And it isn't like the Nats are trading for a talented young catcher. I'd rather watch a couple 20 somethings struggle with the Mendoza line than a 33 year old whose pop time is a couple years past its peak.Also, fresh start coaching wise may be a big boon for Ruiz.
I mean, do we float him in trade talks? Try and get out from underneath the contract?
Is the contract so bad that the Nats need to get it gone?
I don't think the contract is movable for anything of value. I think he has played well enough we could "dump" him at the deadline for some salary relief and a couple AAAA prospects, but I don't think that's the goal right now. He'll cool off some, but if he is still producing overall in a few weeks closer to the deadline, then I want to see what he is as a former top prospect only now creeping on 28 who is surging after a change in coaching and being used more in a rotation. Our payroll is low enough we shouldn't blink at his remaining guaranteed money if he can turn into a player who is at least average with the bat and behind the plate. If he can become "average" no reason to think what is behind him will be better.
