I cannot overstate enough: This rating remains in effect.

Please, please support Mark! He does great work, and as the only independent Nats beat writer, he deserves your support.

good blog

A little off my usual topic, but: I wrote about the Washington Post layoffs, how avoidable they were, and how much we (Nats fans, DC residents, anyone) are losing in the process. wfcg.substack.com/p/wfcg-7-jef...

I am beyond angry about what's happening at the Post today. A newspaper must not be a plaything for billionaires. This decision spits in the face of every DC native who cherished the Post, not to mention its incredible staff. Needless to say, my subscription is canceled.

I'm so sad to see this. Dan was one-of-one. I'm thinking of his family.

Bluesky gets the alt version of my take on this, which is: no god please no

If nothing else, I’ve always hoped our work in the Washington Post’s sports section could give readers a meaningful connection to (and understanding of) something bigger than themselves. I’ve seen today: It has. Forever grateful to be a part of this team. #SaveThePost

really hate the idea of a “heavy model/surplus value deal” wfcg.substack.com/p/wfcg-6-nat...

I dislike the Nationals being smart now

Fien was the 12th overall pick in this year's draft, a high school shortstop whose bat is ahead of his glove. Rosario was a huge pop-up name, who broke out in 2024 and looked like an ace until he needed Tommy John. He should be back this season.

As @ajflax.bsky.social pointed out on the other app, every team has given out a $20 million plus contract since the Nats last gave one out. Embarrassing stuff from ownership

Here are two players who both spent their age 27-29 seasons in NPB. Player A: Throws L Fastball 91-92 315.2 IP 2.57 ERA 9.1 K/9 2.0 BB/9 7.3 H/9 Player B: Throws L Fastball 91-92 411.2 IP 2.69 ERA 9.1 K/9 1.7 BB/9 7.3 H/9 Player A is Foster Griffin. Player B is Shota Imanaga.

I'm guessing the Nationals told Griffin he'd have a spot in their rotation. If so, I think it looks something like: Locks: Gore (pending trade), Cavalli, Griffin Inside track: Irvin, Lord Returning from injury: Gray, Herz In the mix: Parker, McGarry?

Foster Griffin Explores the Cosmos, is that anything

On Griff, and I have written a lot about this, there is this perception that you can move him to the bullpen and it will make the problems less important. The problem has been that it makes them all worse and he has consistently struggled pitching in that role.

Harry Ford is fun and the Nats need some fun developmental projects but people are still gonna have him as the name value of a top 50 guy even though his hit tool and receiving are both kinda fake

I love the Ford/Ferrer deal. The Nats were able to get Ford for Ferrer because he has some warts. He has great plate discipline but meh contact/power. He's athletic but still struggles on defense. I still think he's a great bet at that price, especially with a great catcher coach in Wilson.

As with the Rays doing some DFAs earlier: This will be a rich fishing ground for Toboni.

Now live: My reaction to the Blake Butera hire. Why him, and does this mean the Nationals are restarting the clock on the rebuild? open.substack.com/pub/wfcg/p/wfc…

The MLBTR arb projections are out. The Nationals come in at about $26M (assuming they non-tender Alfaro). My first reaction: I'm not 100% sure they want Jake Irvin at that number.

Read Flax. (Cause a lot of people who click this are also subscribing to my newsletter, since Flax has been kind enough to recommend mine, even though it has nothing to do with baseball) (But also just read Flax) (#ReadFlax)

Now live: My reaction to the Toboni hire. What does he bring to DC, and what is he missing? wfcg.substack.com/p/wfcg-4-nat...

Big fan of this hire. Toboni has a great track record of drafting and developing, which the Nationals desperately need.

We're at the point where it would be a real shocker if the Opening Day outfield next season wasn't Lile - Crews - Wood.

Hi Flax!

I will be on this stream soon!

He just came back from a UCL strain too...

Would the Nats be better if Nationals Park got blown up Bane-style and they had to replenish the roster via a disaster draft? And is this too dark of a topic for a newsletter?

Not bad for $60!

I am at Yankee Stadium and I have seen one (1) Nationals fan so far.

Cade???

I would never have believed you if you told me in December that Lowe wouldn't make it through the year. What a complete mess.

A great time to remember the worst of the Garbage Kyles with the last one finally traded to Detroit!

From Twitter: Alex Clemmey has been promoted to AA. He has a real walk problem, but there's a ton to like. He's so young -- he just turned 20 three weeks ago, and will be one of the youngest players at AA. He suppresses hits extremely well, and led all of High-A with a .180 batting average against.

New on Waiting for Christian Garcia: I break down the Nationals' trade deadline with Baseball Prospectus' @seidler.bsky.social Plus: the new Stone Garrett, and remembering one of @nextyeardc.com's Garbage Kyles. wfcg.substack.com/p/wfcg-3-nat...

From March: This recommendation remains in force.

My fellow UPenn grad! Let’s go Quakers!

I have a new post today breaking down the Nats trade deadline including who has a chance to be in Washington soon and if there's anything we can learn about the new front office. nextyeardc.com/post/TradeDe...

It would go crazy if BlueSky had any sort of functioning Discover page so I don't have to be on my phone 24/7 to see if someone I follow says something interesting.

i’d say the most relevant piece of news we got today in terms of the nats’ future was the fact that the lerners felt the need to defer a one year, $6 mil contract over three years

The skinny: - Swan is a huge dude with electric stuff who is a shortstop convert. Typical guy with great arm who doesn't throw enough strikes. - Linan has posted great numbers with one of the best changeups in all of the minors. Both at High A though Linan seems due for a jump. Great work here.

I really, really like this deal. Probably the biggest return they've gotten for anyone so far this deadline. Swan is new to pitching and has issues with injuries and control, but he has absolutely massive stuff. Liñan has a killer changeup but everything else is meh.

New Nationals OF Christian Franklin deserves a 40-man spot this offseason after going unprotected last year. Good swing decisions. 106.7 90th-percentile exit velocity at Triple-A. (That's Cal Raleigh/Randy Arozarena/Wyatt Langford territory in MLB, btw.) Just hits the ball on the ground a bunch.

Cruz is probably the prize here -- #13 in the system per MLB Pipeline and #17 per BA. Franklin is 14th per MLB Pipeline but not in the BA top 30, so...

Total guess on the return: I don't know. Don't ask me.

Trade breakdown: Angels: Receive two guys the Nationals signed for free Nationals: Receive a guy the Angels got for cash and a 12th round draft pick Kind of a zero for zero trade.

Robert Hassell III deserves some run in the majors after the deadline. Since getting sent back to AAA, he's hitting .331/.430/.512, with almost as many walks (22) as strikeouts (23).

It has never been more over