2025-2026 Offseason Discussion Thread

[Slateman]

then of course there's the Tolles and Yesavages. If Imref means a Tolle in a package for Gore, then I can see it, but I am not sure Tolle is top of the rotation.

We're not getting Tolle or Early. Honestly, I think a lot of folks are going to bring whelmed by the Gore return. He's a project at this point.

[HalfSmokes]

That's usually how trading major league players works

Except now we’re pushing the window back again. Trading away a player with 2 years of team control left is something teams do when they’re too cheap to even bother pretending

[IdahoNat]

Still waiting for the 15 year contract extension for Jacob Young.

[Slateman]

Except now we’re pushing the window back again. Trading away a player with 2 years of team control left is something teams do when they’re too cheap to even bother pretending

There is no "window."

The team will be better in 3-5 years, but there isn't a window. Window implies a commitment from ownership to compete for a championship. All that matters to current ownership is maximizing profits

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Fangraphs has a "power ranking" for all 30 AL and NL teams going into the offseason. The good news - we are projected for 75 wins. The bad news - we are ranked 28th. We are in a 3 team tier of "perpetually  rebuilding" teams along with the Angels and White Sox.

The Nationals moved on from Mike Rizzo in July and hired Paul Toboni to take over as president of baseball operations, marking a new direction for the franchise. Toboni now faces the difficult task of modernizing and reimagining the organization’s priorities and development practices. One of the first big decisions he’ll have to tackle is what to do with MacKenzie Gore; the left-hander has two years of team control remaining and could bring back a huge haul of prospects if the Nats were to make him available this offseason. Of course, Toboni’s job will be made a little easier thanks to the one thing the Nats have that the other teams in this tier don’t: a burgeoning superstar in James Wood. If the team can create an environment where Wood is able to thrive, he and a supporting cast that includes CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, and Daylen Lile could short circuit the current rebuilding cycle by a few years.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-power-rankings-offseason-2026-no-18-30/

[HalfSmokes]

There is no "window."

The team will be better in 3-5 years, but there isn't a window. Window implies a commitment from ownership to compete for a championship. All that matters to current ownership is maximizing profits

In 5 years we’ll be trading Crews for prospects because it won’t make sense to pay him before the team is ready to contend

[HalfSmokes]

Fangraphs has a "power ranking" for all 30 AL and NL teams going into the offseason. The good news - we are projected for 75 wins. The bad news - we are ranked 28th. We are in a 3 team tier of "perpetually  rebuilding" teams along with the Angels and White Sox.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-power-rankings-offseason-2026-no-18-30/

It’s cute that they think the pirates are going to do anything to improve

[Slateman]

Fangraphs has a "power ranking" for all 30 AL and NL teams going into the offseason. The good news - we are projected for 75 wins. The bad news - we are ranked 28th. We are in a 3 team tier of "perpetually  rebuilding" teams along with the Angels and White Sox.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-power-rankings-offseason-2026-no-18-30/

This is before we trade Gore and CJ ...

In 5 years we’ll be trading Crews for prospects because it won’t make sense to pay him before the team is ready to contend

Or we will be trading him to recoup losing him to free agency. That's what the Rays and Brewers do.

[imref]

Next up: Non-tender deadline of this Friday, November 21.

Here again are our arbitration eligibles and projected salaries:
    Luis Garcia Jr. (4.142): $7MM
    Josiah Gray (4.075): $1.35MM
    MacKenzie Gore (4.000): $4.7MM
    Riley Adams (3.171): $1.5MM
    CJ Abrams (3.130): $5.6MM
    Jake Irvin (2.152): $3.3MM
    Cade Cavalli (2.141): $1.3MM

Gray, Gore, Abrams, and Cavalli will get offers.  Garcia, Adams, and Irvin are the ones to watch.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Moved discussion of a potential  rule 5 pick, McGarry  from Philly,  to the thread on Rule 5 stickied in the Farm forum on the board.

[imref]

Interesting day for LGJr. Do the Nats settle with him on a contract today, release him, or offer arb? I know that, for a few guys, they've offered arb and settled before the hearing, and occasionally actually gone to hearings on guys.

IIRC, if you offer arb and the team loses the hearing, they can release the player after paying a % of the amount set by the arbitrator. I just don't think the Nats would be  happy paying, say, 20% of $7 million, if they don't settle today or cut him.

Adams is an interesting decision as well. He's cheap, but would they be better off grabbing the Rule-5 guy out of Oakland?

We certainly get our first peek into the Toboni approach today.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Adams is an interesting decision as well. He's cheap, but would they be better off grabbing the Rule-5 guy out of Oakland?

We certainly get our first peek into the Toboni approach today.

I think they are better off with Millas, tbh.  I would not waste  a Rule 5 pick on Susac.

[Slateman]

I think they are better off with Millas, tbh.  I would not waste  a Rule 5 pick on Susac.

With you. I think Millas should be the primary catcher and they should let Ruiz be the backup and DH him. At least to start the season.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

As long as we are spitballing potential Gore destinations, we probably ought to put the Rangers on the list given the age of DeGrom and Eovaldi and the lack of depth. I haven't thought much about the trade targets and where they have some depth.

[Slateman]

If we're spitballing, then I think we go to the Red Sox.

We trade Gore to the Red Sox. The Red Sox send Wiylmer Abreu to the Reds. The Reds send us Rhett Lowder and Zach Maxwell (or other small prospect).  The Red Sox send us Tristan Casas, Anthony Eyanson, and another prospect.

Reds get the hitting they need. Red Sox get another top of the rotation pitcher. We get a 1B through 2028, as well as a starting pitching prospect that is MLB ready through 2030, has a ton of experience with analytics, AND has a relationship with our new pitching coach. Maxwell is probably big league ready for the pen, and we the kind of pitching prospect that Toboni loves because they will be able to fix average fastball and still retain command (like they did with Early).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think the Red Sox target Ryan and Peralta before they come for Gore. The three way concept is interesting as Lowder would be a good target. As for Casas, I think he only becomes available if the Red Sox sign one  of the top first basemen. I expect them to pursue those guys.

[varoadking]

In 5 years we’ll be trading Crews for prospects because it won’t make sense to pay him before the team is ready to contend

Not gonna get much in the way of a prospects return for Tyler Moore v2.0...

BTW...Tyler Moore turns 39 in January...

[Slateman]

I think the Red Sox target Ryan and Peralta before they come for Gore. The three way concept is interesting as Lowder would be a good target. As for Casas, I think he only becomes available if the Red Sox sign one  of the top first basemen. I expect them to pursue those guys.

They're moving Campbell to 1st base. His defense is terrible. They can play Mayer at 2B, SS, or 3B, which opens up free agency options like Bregman or Bichette.

[imref]

Not gonna get much in the way of a prospects return for Tyler Moore v2.0...

BTW...Tyler Moore turns 39 in January...

Still the greatest relief pitcher in Nats history. 1 appearance, .2 innings, 0H / 0R

And 1-1 in his only playoff batting appearance.

[harmony]

As long as we are spitballing potential Gore destinations, we probably ought to put the Rangers on the list given the age of DeGrom and Eovaldi and the lack of depth. I haven't thought much about the trade targets and where they have some depth.

Locked On Mariners podcasters proposed a trade of catching prospect Harry Ford, swingman Logan Evans and infield/outfield prospect Tai Peete for left-hander MacKenzie Gore:



... at 31:00.

The 22-year-old Ford, who is blocked by AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, ranks 42nd on the Top 100 prospect list at MLB.com. Ford and the 20-year-old Peete rank fourth and 12th in the stacked Seattle farm system. This year the 24-year-old Evans posted a 4.32 ERA in 16 MLB appearances, including 15 starts, after being named the Mariners' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024.

Thoughts?

[imref]

Whoa, no non-tenders!! Contract offers to everyone and a 1 year contract already with Adams.

[varoadking]

Locked On Mariners podcasters proposed a trade of catching prospect Harry Ford, swingman Logan Evans and infield/outfield prospect Tai Peete for left-hander MacKenzie Gore:



... at 31:00.

The 22-year-old Ford, who is blocked by AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, ranks 42nd on the Top 100 prospect list at MLB.com. Ford and the 20-year-old Peete rank fourth and 12th in the stacked Seattle farm system. This year the 24-year-old Evans posted a 4.32 ERA in 16 MLB appearances, including 15 starts, after being named the Mariners' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024.

Thoughts?

You should post more often... 

[Slateman]

Locked On Mariners podcasters proposed a trade of catching prospect Harry Ford, swingman Logan Evans and infield/outfield prospect Tai Peete for left-hander MacKenzie Gore:



... at 31:00.

The 22-year-old Ford, who is blocked by AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, ranks 42nd on the Top 100 prospect list at MLB.com. Ford and the 20-year-old Peete rank fourth and 12th in the stacked Seattle farm system. This year the 24-year-old Evans posted a 4.32 ERA in 16 MLB appearances, including 15 starts, after being named the Mariners' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024.

Thoughts?

Not enough. Swap Ryan Sloan in for Evans and we have a long conversation.

Unless the Mariners have a plan to dump Castillo, I dont know why they would want another pitcher. I see them as suitors for Abrams

[harmony]

Not enough. Swap Ryan Sloan in for Evans and we have a long conversation.

Unless the Mariners have a plan to dump Castillo, I dont know why they would want another pitcher. I see them as suitors for Abrams

A trade of MacKenzie Gore is unlikely to fetch two Top 50 prospects in Harry Ford and Ryan Sloan:

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/top100/

The Locked On Mariners podcasters, and other Seattle podcasters, have proposed trades of Luis Castillo in salary dumps.

The Mariners hope to improve their lagging defense, making CJ Abrams an unlikely trade target.

[IanRubbish]

Whoa, no non-tenders!! Contract offers to everyone and a 1 year contract already with Adams.

Not good.  The organizational retreads are coming back. 

Toboni is clearly not ready to stand up to Mini Me's dysfunctional ways.  Bringing Irvin, Garcia and co. back means less room for signing actual major leaguers who would need to get paid.  Already have a bunch of bargain bin minor league manager and coaches coming in.  At some point Toboni will have to grow a pair if this is ever going to show any semblance of being a serious franchise.