The Former Nationals Watch (2026)

[welch]

Gore goes 5 IP, 1H, 2BB, 9Ks , no runs. Still throwing a lot of pitches (82)

Ouch. Did the Nats get more than Gavin Fien for him? Fitz-Gerald and Ortiz look like lottery tickets. Right now, it looks like Toboni has lost his trades. Of course, it is too early to judge whether he has made progress toward a "drafting and development monster".

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ouch. Did the Nats get more than Gavin Fien for him? Fitz-Gerald and Ortiz look like lottery tickets. Right now, it looks like Toboni has lost his trades. Of course, it is too early to judge whether he has made progress toward a "drafting and development monster".

I think Fitz-Gerald is not as much of a long shot as "lottery ticket" implies. Cabrera is more of a long shot but interesting.

The big disappointment in the trade is the Rosario arm situation. They knew there was a problem and it looks like they didn't do due diligence on the lack of surgery last year.

I will be disappointed if both Rosario and Perales end up washing out like the pitcher we got for Schwarber.

[tomterp]

https://www.penn.museum/blog/major-league-archaeology/

Brad Lidge is now an archeologist

That was a great read, glad to see he's moved right into a gratifying second career.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/josh-fleming-austin-voth-elect-free-agency.html

Voth DFA'd, cleared waivers, released.

[varoadking]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/josh-fleming-austin-voth-elect-free-agency.html

Voth DFA'd, cleared waivers, released.

WRT Fleming...imagine being DFA'd for Patrick Corbin... 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Josh Bell is off to an incredible start:
51 PAs: .317 / .431 / .634, 4 2B, 3 Hr, 10 RBI, 8 BB, 14 K.

[welch]

WRT Fleming...imagine being DFA'd for Patrick Corbin... 

Isn't Corbin a better innings-eater than Mikolas?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Isn't Corbin a better innings-eater than Mikolas?

interesting question. Their numbers over the last 3 full seasons (2023-2025):

Mikolas: 98 starts, 529.1 IP, 4.98 ERA / 4.49 FIP
Corbin: 94 starts, 510 IP, 5.10 ERA  / 4.67 FIP

I'd say Mikolas was slightly better, but  they have been essentially the same pitcher. That said, Corbin had a better  2025 than Mikolas by about .25 run in ERA and FIP. The  other thing you might say is that those 3 year numbers for Corbin hold in Nats Park, while  Mikolas has been much, much more  effective in Nats Park since 2020 in about 1 start per year. I can see why you might  want to roll the dice on Mikolas rather than Corbin coming into 2026.

[welch]

Extra data re Corbin-Mikolas:

Mikolas makes about $2 million. He has pitched badly.

Corbin make $1 million last year with Texas, and signed on April 3 with Toronto. Baseball Ref does not list his salary, but likely no more than $1 million again. He pitched a decent start in the minors, and will start tonight. Corbin is probably cheaper than Mikolas, but more expensive than Bard Lord or Andrew Alvarez, the guys I would chose to start in place of Mikolas.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Lord and Alvarez are on MLB minimum
 Corbin may make slightly more on a 2 way contract that triggers when he was called up. Mikolas probably makes more at $2 million. The money angle is immaterial. It's also possible that Corbin preferred a 2 way contract with a team that went to game 7 of the world series and has Max to being the old innings eater in a place where he pitched badly

[blue911]

I think Lord and Alvarez are on MLB minimum
 Corbin may make slightly more on a 2 way contract that triggers when he was called up. Mikolas probably makes more at $2 million. The money angle is immaterial. It's also possible that Corbin preferred a 2 way contract with a team that went to game 7 of the world series and has Max to being the old innings eater in a place where he pitched badly

Corbin’s a lefty. Helps balance the rotation. But neither are worth anything.

[welch]

I think Lord and Alvarez are on MLB minimum
 Corbin may make slightly more on a 2 way contract that triggers when he was called up. Mikolas probably makes more at $2 million. The money angle is immaterial. It's also possible that Corbin preferred a 2 way contract with a team that went to game 7 of the world series and has Max to being the old innings eater in a place where he pitched badly

Yes, I'm sure that Lord and Aklvarez are at league minimums. Baseball Ref does not show salaries for them. One of them should go to the rotation.

Mikolas is a waste of space. A sure-fire flop every start.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/angels-designate-jeimer-candelario-for-assignment.html

[tomterp]

Yes, I'm sure that Lord and Aklvarez are at league minimums. Baseball Ref does not show salaries for them. One of them should go to the rotation.

Mikolas is a waste of space. A sure-fire flop every start.

Cot's Contracts, now part of Baseball Prospectus is where you want to go for player comp.  Here's the Nats -
https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/washington-nationals/

[welch]

Cot's Contracts, now part of Baseball Prospectus is where you want to go for player comp.  Here's the Nats -
https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/washington-nationals/

Thanks, Tom

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/phillies-trade-griff-mcgarry-dodgers.html

[imref]

Michael Soroka has 23Ks in his first 3 starts for Arizona. 3-0. 2.87 ERA

[imref]

In the wake of Allbirds transitioning to become an AI company, the Montreal Expos twitter account has announced the following:

The Montreal Expos are exiting the baseball space. During Q2 and Q3 2026, we will transition to acquiring high-performance GPU assets. This is all part of our long-term vision to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider.

[imref]

Ildemaro Vargas off to a hot start in Arizona: .383/.408/.660 with a hit in all 12 games

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ildemaro Vargas off to a hot start in Arizona: .383/.408/.660 with a hit in all 12 games

Jorbiit reminds me a little of Ildy when he was here. Great contact, limited power.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

In the wake of Allbirds transitioning to become an AI company, the Montreal Expos twitter account has announced the following:

[Copecwby20]

Anthony Rendon is on a 21 game sitting streak. I suspect he’ll hit 162 by September

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Anthony Rendon is on a 21 game sitting streak. I suspect he’ll hit 162 by September

he's retired. They may be carrying him on the 60 day IL but he's not playing anymore

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Giolito signs with the Padres for a year

[welch]

Giolito signs with the Padres for a year

I can't find his salary, but he was making about $14 million with Boston. Does he have an option for 2027?

The MLB story says that the Padres are hurting, because Nick Pivetta is out with a "flexor strain". A Nats minor leaguer, he was traded to the Phillies in 2015 for the immortal Jonathan Papelbon, "the Washington Strangler".