James Wood was a finalist for an NL Silver Slugger but didn’t win the award. Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll and Kyle Tucker are the 2025 NL outfield recipients. Here’s how he stacked up against Carroll/Tucker:

A few roster moves from the Nationals: Trey Lipscomb cleared outright waivers, assigned outright to Triple-A Rochester. The Mariners claimed Ryan Loutos off of outright waivers. Four players reinstated from 60-day IL: Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, Drew Millas, and Trevor Williams

Paul Toboni said that, for the time being, he is not planning a general manager under him.

Paul Toboni also said he actually scouted Blake Butera when he was working for the Red Sox. Doesn't have the scouting report anymore, but does remember Butera playing well one year in the playoffs when he watched him play on the Cape.

If you can barely run, just hit it out. Smart strategy from Bo Bichette.

We just finished this up, feel free to read through the answers from @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and me:

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera, 33, as their next manager, tasking him with guiding their young roster at a critical moment for the franchise. More here from @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and me on the hire:

The Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera as manager, per multiple sources. @jeffpasan.bsky.social had it first. Butera, 33, served as the Rays senior director of player development for the last two seasons. Had a 258-144 record in four seasons as a minor league manager.

Rocco Baldelli on Derek Shelton’s hiring (per @leneal3.bsky.social): “I believe he’ll bring the best out of a lot of guys in that clubhouse and I’ll be pulling for him.” More in the story: www.startribune.com/twins-derek-...

Adding another name into the mix: The Nationals also interviewed Red Sox Double-A manager Chad Epperson for their managerial opening, per multiple sources. Epperson, 53, has managed Class AA Portland since 2022. Spent 2010-2021 as Boston’s MiLB catching coordinator.

By my count, that leaves 41 players (18 position players, 23 pitchers) on the 40-man roster including 60-day IL guys. Three free agents (Bell, DeJong, Law) will bring them to 38 after the World Series. And the Nationals could make more moves to protect Rule-5 eligible players.

Miguel Cairo has been informed he won't be the Nats' next manager, per sources. Most of last year's staff, including Darnell Coles and Jim Hickey, was informed they won't return unless the next manager opts to keep them. More on the staff and search here:

Paul Toboni wants to build a scouting and development monster in Washington. Justin Horowitz, coming over from the Pirates and set to become an AGM with the Nationals, is the latest exec who fits that mold (and has worked with Toboni before): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Some Nationals manager news: hearing Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and interim manager Miguel Cairo interviewed for the job this week. Not necessarily the full list, but the Nats are pushing forward with their manager search.

James Wood has been named an NL Silver Slugger finalist after his first full season in the majors. Award winners will be announced on November 6. The other finalists: Corbin Carroll (ARI), Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), Juan Soto (NYM), Kyle Stowers (MIA) and Kyle Tucker (CHC).

Can confirm that Devin Pearson is expected to join the Washington Nationals as an assistant general manager. First with the news was @alexspeier.bsky.social. Pearson had been Boston’s scouting director since 2023.

We've now learned of 15 MiLB staffers who will not return to the Nats, as well as 3 MiLB managers who will return in unknown roles. That, plus more on the MLB staff, a catching kerfuffle and an internal analytics debate. Via @andrewgolden.bsky.social and me: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Come for the word kerfuffle in Spencer's post, stay for our updated story on the minor league system this season and more:

Paul Toboni said he had a conversation with interim manager Miguel Cairo and told him he'd be a candidate within an extensive search for a new manager. Said he hopes the search will kick off "soon."

Here's what Paul Toboni said when @granthpaulsen.bsky.social asked him if he made decisions on the staff changes or if he received help from others in the process:

The Nationals have let go of at least 12 members of their player development staff and four members of their international scouting department, sources tell @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and me. The names we know, and more, in here:

The Nationals began a massive overhaul of the organization today. Scouts, execs and others have been told they won’t be back. “I think I was a Rizzo guy. Maybe they want to move on from all things Rizzo.”

Hearing at least four scouts have been let go: Dan Jennings, Kasey McKeon, Steve Arnieri, Jay Robertson. Could be more coming.

The Nationals are making sweeping changes to their front office today. Among them: AGM Mark Scialabba and farm director Eddie Longosz have been informed that they aren't returning next season, sources tell @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and me. Stay here for updates.

In the coming weeks, Paul Toboni will need to answer the team’s most pressing offseason questions. But on Wednesday — just a few hours after he was officially announced as the Nationals’ POBO — he didn’t have them all. Just a vision for the future:

The Nationals are holding a Wednesday press conference at 9am to announce their new president of baseball operations.

Season 4 (🤯) is complete! An extremely eventful one. Thanks to everyone who followed along, really blessed to do this job! A special thanks to my guy, @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social! Should be a busy offseason.

FINAL: White Sox 8, Nationals 0. Washington finishes a tumultuous season at 66-96, five games worse than their 2023/2024 record. The Nationals pitching staff allowed more runs (899) than any team in Nationals history.

The Nationals have gone 9 up, 9 down at the plate so far.

Classy from the Nationals — the whole team came out of the dugout to tip their cap to Bob Carpenter before first pitch:

Brad Lord just gave up a two-out walk to Colson Montgomery on four pitches and then allowed a two-run homer to Miguel Vargas. White Sox are out to an early 2-0 lead.

Michael A. Taylor just announced his retirement from baseball after today’s game. “To be able to play my last games of my career here in this ballpark in front of these fans, it’s just the icing on the cake. I think it’s all part of God’s plan and I’m very grateful for that.”

The Nationals agreed to terms with INF Orelvis Martinez on a minor league deal for next year, per source. Martinez, 23, played one game for the Blue Jays in 2024. A former top 100 prospect who received an 80-game suspension in 2024 for using a performance-enhancing substance.

Paul Toboni is expected to be the Nationals’ president of baseball operations. The intention is for the Nationals to hire a general manager under Toboni, per source as @brittghiroli.bsky.social first reported.

In this story: the Nats hired an executive search firm, Spencer Stuart, to assist with the GM search. And Mark Lerner met with Philadelphia Phillies POBO Dave Dombrowski for advice on the process when their teams played in August, according to a person familiar:

James Wood’s swings in the sixth and eighth innings looked familiar. They were the swings that helped him become a first-time all-star at this very park. On Wood, who reached 30 homers in his first full season in the big leagues: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

FINAL: Nationals 4, Braves 3. James Wood hit two homers to give him 30 on the year. The Braves tried to claw back but couldn't complete the comeback.

Can confirm that the Nationals are finalizing a deal to make Paul Toboni the team's new head of baseball operations. @JeffPassan was first. Toboni, 35, rose to become the senior VP and assistant GM with the Red Sox.

After homering last night, James Wood said he felt like he's been opening up too early and wanted to finish his swing (especially on breaking pitches). He just launched his 30th homer to dead center on a slider over the heart of the plate. I'd say his adjustments are working.

You know, I wouldn't recommend walking back-to-back hitters before facing Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin. But Clayton Beeter did, then struck out all three hitters. The Nats don't have many guys in their bullpen w/swing and miss stuff but Beeter does. 3-1 Nats.

Drake Baldwin hit a homer off Julian Fernandez. Yet another solo homer in this series. 3-1 Nationals.

James Wood just hit his 29th homer of the year to left-center. A vintage swing from Wood and the Nationals extend their lead to 3-0.

Miguel Cairo won't have Andrew Alvarez face the Braves' order for a 3rd time. Mitchell Parker will enter with runners on the corners and one out. Alvarez didn't have his best command but leaves with his team ahead 2-0. A solid five game sample size for Alvarez in Sept.

Josh Bell just hit his 21st homer of the season to dead center and the Nationals lead 2-0.

Andrew Alvarez has four strikeouts through three innings, two swinging and two looking. He's not getting many whiffs (2 in 17 swings), but generating a lot of weak contact.

Death, taxes and Daylen Lile collecting RBI hits. The Nationals have a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Three straight hits for the Nationals.

The Nationals’ top pitching prospects -- Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana -- are sidelined for the foreseeable future. Who’s next? Wrote about Jake Bennett, Alex Clemmey and Jackson Kent, the trio of lefties who ended their seasons in Harrisburg:

The Nationals have nothing to lose except a few more baseball games, so why not experiment a little? On Luis García Jr., who played first base for the first time, and Julian Fernandez, who pitched a clean eighth inning in his Nats debut:

FINAL: Braves 3, Nationals 2. The Braves had 3 solo homers. The Nationals had 1. That was the difference. A quick game.

Julian Fernandez struck out a pair of hitters in a scoreless eighth in his Nationals debut.