Feedback loops? Banger sliders? As much as any hire can, the Nationals new 30-year-old pitching coach represents a pivot in the organization: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Monday’s press conference certainly was not the first time Blake Butera had been asked about his age. It certainly will not be the last. No one seemed to be more aware of that than Butera, who didn’t seem to mind as he spoke about being himself:

The Nationals are hiring Tyler Smarslok as the team’s field coordinator, sources tell @chelseajanes.bsky.social and me. Smarslok was the Marlins’ 1B coach last season. He was also responsible for coaching Miami’s base running and infield defense.

Some quick thoughts on the three players the Nationals added to the 40-man roster yesterday:

Butera’s full quote on Sean Doolittle:

Paul Toboni just told us that Sean Doolittle will remain on the staff. Exact role is TBD. Blake Butera said he’s talked to 20+ players. Every pitcher, unsolicited, brought up how impactful Doolittle was in their careers. Also had a previous relationship w/Simon Mathews.

“When we look up a year from now, I think everyone will see that we’re going to grow significantly.” On what we learned in Vegas about Toboni, the coaching staff, the front office and what comes next for the Nationals: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

"This is a long way to travel to come up short." The game story from Washington's 16-13 overtime loss to Miami in Madrid: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Source confirms the Nationals signed reliever Eddy Yean to a MiLB contract with an invite to MLB spring training. @francysromero.bsky.social first on it. Righty had a 3.06 ERA in AAA last year. Power arm, and the Nats hope they can help him develop more swing and miss. Just 24 y/o.

The Nationals will look to add starting pitching this winter, and will be open to what comes their way at 1B and C. This, and more from the GM meetings, in here: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

There was a time when Paul DePodesta had the reputation as the kind of front office wunderkind who might, say, figure out how to win at Coors Field someday. But that was many jobs and an NFL jaunt ago. Can he really pull this off? www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Nationals are planning to introduce their new manager Blake Butera on Monday at 1:30.

From Vegas: What we know (and what Nationals POBO Paul Toboni said) about MacKenzie Gore, the pace of the offseason, payroll and extension conversations: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

From @chelseajanes.bsky.social and me:

Bobby Wilson will be the Nationals big-league catching coordinator, sources tell @chelseajanes.bsky.social and me. The 42-year-old comes over from the Texas Rangers. Had a big role in Texas.

Source confirms the Nationals are hiring Simon Mathews as their next pitching coach. Comes from the Cincinnati Reds, where he was their assistant pitching coach. @Russ_Dorsey1 and @Jake_Mintz on it first.

Can confirm @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social’s report that Michael Johns will be the Nationals’ new bench coach. He was the Rays’ first-base coach the past two seasons. He was also TB’s minor league field coordinator during Blake Butera’s 4 years as an A-ball manager.

1. Per @baseballamerica.com, the Nats had the most minor leaguers elect free agency (34) of any org, so additions should be otw 3. A few pitchers surprised me. Most notable departure, tho: OF Nick Schnell. Good find, dev. May have better chance as an OF elsewhere. Could sign him back

Rochester Red Wings who elected free agency: Joan Adon, Juan Yepez, Nick Schnell, Francisco Mejía, Erick Mejia, Garrett Davila, Jackson Cluff, Daison Acosta, Parker Dunshee, Adrian Sampson, Bryce Conley, Michael Cuevas, Carlos De La Cruz, Chase Solesky, C.J. Stubbs & J.T. Arruda.

The Nationals’ new manager is an outside-the-box hire. Here’s what set him apart — and what we know about what comes next: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

New Nats roles from Paul Toboni: Devin Pearson (AGM) will oversee the Nationals' player development operation. Justin Horowitz (AGM) will oversee acquisitions (amateur scouting, trades, international scouting). Mike DeBartolo (SVP and AGM) will help oversee baseball ops.

Even more unbelievable than becoming an MLB manager at 33 years old: Blake Butera became a father yesterday, too. He and his wife, Caroline, welcomed their first child, Blair Margaux Butera, on Thursday.

Blake Butera in 2014, h/t to Nationals Reddit:

Curious what we’re hearing about the Nationals new managerial hire? Read @andrewcgolden and my story on the Post, or here on Reddit. What we’ve heard about a) his appetite for analytics b) his ability to teach fundamentals and c) his age and experience. www.reddit.com/r/Nationals/...

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera — a 33-year-old who worked as the senior director of player development for the Tampa Bay Rays — as their next manager, tasking him with guiding a young roster.

From a former colleague of new Nationals manager Blake Butera: “He developed in Tampa, they are progressive and inclusive. He has experience translating metrics and data to players from different backgrounds and ages. Perfect for this diverse roster.”

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:

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.

Shinnosuke Ogasawara and C.J. Stubbs have cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Class AAA Rochester. Eduardo Salazar and Mason Thompson also cleared outright waivers and were assigned to Rochester, but both declared free agency.

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:

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.

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/...

A story 🧵 I profiled Ace Dybantsa. Father of one of the best young basketball players in the world. Man of many, many words (very few of which he'll spend on whether his involvement in his son's career is too much): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Jacob Young will again be an NL CF Gold Glove finalist, this time alongside Pete Crow-Armstrong and Victor Scott II.

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.

The Nats aren’t done making changes.

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/...

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.”

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.

I meant to say 66 wins. I definitely meant to say 66 wins

The Nationals have a new president of baseball operations. Here was my biggest takeaway from his introduction.

In here, among other things, Toboni’s thoughts on the future of former interim GM Mike DeBartolo.

That’s a wrap on Year ✌️! Hope you all enjoyed our coverage in 2025. I would never say it to his face but I am very grateful to do this job with @andrewgolden.bsky.social (and eternally thankful for our editor, @sarahlarimer.bsky.social) Up next: A very important offseason!

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.”

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:

The Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Red Sox AGM Paul Toboni as their new head of baseball operations. Here’s what we know, with @andrewgolden.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

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: