Toboni: Not just a Jabroni for POBO

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I get that if there's a prospect or another guy you want to look at and give a run at playing time to see if he can help, but it's another thing to just run crud out there in a spot and ask us to spend money watching. I would say that's the case at least at first base

[varoadking]

Toboni:
“I'm not sure how much good it does spending $20 million on a free agent [now], but having said that, the hope is that when we build an extremely strong foundation of talent, we can really start to put it into overdrive and get competitive and push [the] chips in. Like I said, we can achieve, this vision of, not just creating this winner -- but creating a winner for years to come."

Good lord...he sounds just like dimwit dave...

...when we build an extremely strong foundation of talent...

 

Just pablum to feed the stoopid fans.  This franchise will be sold and moved to another city before they build crap...

[PowerBoater69]

Good lord...he sounds just like dimwit dave...

 

Just pablum to feed the stoopid fans.  This franchise will be sold and moved to another city before they build crap...

Count the number of uses of the word "right".

[Kevrock]

Toboni:
“I'm not sure how much good it does spending $20 million on a free agent [now], but having said that, the hope is that when we build an extremely strong foundation of talent, we can really start to put it into overdrive and get competitive and push [the] chips in. Like I said, we can achieve, this vision of, not just creating this winner -- but creating a winner for years to come."

So basically the owners will never spend, good to know.

[aspenbubba]

I don't believe I have participated in criticism of management previously but if Toboni didn't reach out to Castellanos agent I would state unequivocally that this is his first major unforced error of his reign. Chappy and Tena , as i have stated previously won't be on the 40 man by season end. Morales tenure in the MLB won't be as long as Kiebust with the remote possibility of the new and improved coaching staff can fix his offense.
Castellanos was not a clubhouse cancer and he did apologize for his behavior. The cost would be the MLB minimum and he could be released at any time. If he had a decent season he could have been traded at the deadline or kept for the two remaing months. He has every motivation to re-establish his worth as he would be looking for a 2-3 year contract with a new team. If the rumor has any merit that we were close to signing Rhys Hopkins has any validity I would rather have Castellanos.

[Natsinpwc]

I don't believe I have participated in criticism of management previously but if Toboni didn't reach out to Castellanos agent I would state unequivocally that this is his first major unforced error of his reign. Chappy and Tena , as i have stated previously won't be on the 40 man by season end. Morales tenure in the MLB won't be as long as Kiebust with the remote possibility of the new and improved coaching staff can fix his offense.
Castellanos was not a clubhouse cancer and he did apologize for his behavior. The cost would be the MLB minimum and he could be released at any time. If he had a decent season he could have been traded at the deadline or kept for the two remaing months. He has every motivation to re-establish his worth as he would be looking for a 2-3 year contract with a new team. If the rumor has any merit that we were close to signing Rhys Hopkins has any validity I would rather have Castellanos.

Well he was a clubhouse problem last year when they benched him late in games for his awful defense and he complained.  If they could have gotten a prospect by paying some of all of the salary that’s one thing. But his OPS plus was 88 last year.  And he was minus 0.8 bWAR.  He’s just not good anymore.

[aspenbubba]

Well he was a clubhouse problem last year when they benched him late in games for his awful defense and he complained.  If they could have gotten a prospect by paying some of all of the salary that’s one thing. But his OPS plus was 88 last year.  And he was minus 0.8 bWAR.  He’s just not good anymore.

He has been working out at 1B. Then why did the Padres pick him up. He is certainly better than what we are currently planning to trotting out there.  We have no one to play 1B which is critical and he could DH in a platoon scenario.

[HalfSmokes]

Toboni:
“I'm not sure how much good it does spending $20 million on a free agent [now], but having said that, the hope is that when we build an extremely strong foundation of talent, we can really start to put it into overdrive and get competitive and push [the] chips in. Like I said, we can achieve, this vision of, not just creating this winner -- but creating a winner for years to come."

Translation, we’re going to field a product that should be offensive to anyone purchasing tickets, but we’ll be good in a few years before sucking again when the owners decide not to extend anyone

Hopefully a salary floor gets the Lerners to sell the team

[Natsinpwc]

He has been working out at 1B. Then why did the Padres pick him up. He is certainly better than what we are currently planning to trotting out there.  We have no one to play 1B which is critical and he could DH in a platoon scenario.

You would have to ask the Padres that. Maybe they think he can regain his form and help them. They’re a contender. I would rather the Nats just roll with younger guys.

[aspenbubba]

Maybe they think he can regain his form and help them. They’re a contender. I would rather the Nats just roll with younger guys.

My point exactly except I believe the young guys are busts. And most importantly is all that I asked was for Toboni to speak with his agent which we will never know the outcome. Im sure he would rather play for a contender being the obvious choice while rebuilding his value.

[Natsinpwc]

My point exactly except I believe the young guys are busts. And most importantly is all that I asked was for Toboni to speak with his agent which we will never know the outcome. Im sure he would rather play for a contender being the obvious choice while rebuilding his value.

No defense and can’t hit anymore. Hard pass on Nick.

[aspenbubba]

No defense and can’t hit anymore. Hard pass on Nick.

Ok we will see at some point in the season. Thanks for engaging.

[Slateman]

He has been working out at 1B. Then why did the Padres pick him up. He is certainly better than what we are currently planning to trotting out there.  We have no one to play 1B which is critical and he could DH in a platoon scenario.

Padres dont care about character. That's why Machado is there.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He has been working out at 1B. Then why did the Padres pick him up. He is certainly better than what we are currently planning to trotting out there.  We have no one to play 1B which is critical and he could DH in a platoon scenario.

once Castellanos cleared waivers, he had his pick of teams, so I can understand why he decided the Padres were a better opportunity than coming here. We would have had to eat some cost if we wanted Philly to send him here in trade. If they weren't going to attach any interesting prospect too as an inducement, then passing on Castellanos made sense regardless of one's opinion of Chaparro, Morales, Garcia, or Ortiz.

[Natsinpwc]

Padres dont care about character. That's why Machado is there.

Don’t forget Tatis junior.

[Slateman]

Don’t forget Tatis junior.

Meh, he just uses the same PEDs as everyone else. Machado spiked a guy and cried about being tagged too hard

[Natsinpwc]

Meh, he just uses the same PEDs as everyone else. Machado spiked a guy and cried about being tagged too hard

Tatis is a jerk also.  Give him time or catch up to Manny.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

One area they were behind was in technology, including using Trajekt hitting machines that are designed to help with pitch identification. Last year, while the vast majority of the league was speeding to get these machines for their players at all levels if they didn't have them already, the Nationals had no urgency to bring them in, and their results showed.

Under new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni, the Nationals have already been working hard on modernizing their technology, bringing in Trajek machines to aid in hitting for their youngsters, and the early returns are looking great. Brady House, who homered twice in a game including one off former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, is one early beneficiary.

From Grant Paulsen on X, who hosted House on 106.7 The Fan on Monday to discuss numerous things including the new machines: "I love it so far. You're so used to watching film on the guy you are going to face; actually getting to go into the [cage] and hit off him is huge. It prepares me a lot better actually getting to step into the cage."

https://districtondeck.com/brady-house-s-latest-comments-reveal-massive-shift-in-nationals-development-process-01kjan4tbkmp

[imref]

I heard on the radio the other day that they bought three Trajek machines. One for WPB, one for Nats Park, and one for Rochester. Toboni wants to upgrade Rochester to have all the same facilities as Nats Park to make major league transitions easier.

[Slateman]

So Toboni was allowed to spend some of the money he saved in staffing cuts.

[imref]

So Toboni was allowed to spend some of the money he saved in staffing cuts.

seems like he expanded the staff?

[Slateman]

seems like he expanded the staff?

Right. By hiring everyone on the low end of salary, he was able to hire more.

Again, Rizzo wanted to buy this tech. Ownership said no.

[tomterp]

Right. By hiring everyone on the low end of salary, he was able to hire more.

We saw reported though that Rizzo's staff had much higher comp than standard around the league, so that's part of the savings. 

[Slateman]

We saw reported though that Rizzo's staff had much higher comp than standard around the league, so that's part of the savings. 

Its just more LAC. Cant wait for three years from now when we're getting the "payroll will grow organically," speech.

Oh well, I'll just re-watch the 2019 World Series ...

[Smithian]

I heard on the radio the other day that they bought three Trajek machines. One for WPB, one for Nats Park, and one for Rochester. Toboni wants to upgrade Rochester to have all the same facilities as Nats Park to make major league transitions easier.

The Nats Chat podcast mentioned they want Rochester staffed more like the big league club.

You can already see growth in the 2026 Red Wings staff. They added assistant hitting and pitching coaches and expanded the development side. It’s not at MLB levels yet, but it’s a big jump from 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if it keeps growing next offseason. Any organization trying to scale takes time.

Checked the FredNats too, and their staff grew from 2025.

This kind of investment probably costs about what a utility infielder does, but it still matters right now. If they’re not spending big at the top, they should be investing across the system in development and infrastructure, and we have positive signs they're doing that.