Nats Announce International Signs
The Nats announced the signing of its 2026 International Free Agents, including four guys ranked in the Top 100 by Baseball America.
While the Nats have shied away from spending big on one guy, a strategy that has not yielded results thus far, they did spend nearly $6M on four guys:
● OF Samil Serrano, a 17-y.o. out of the D.R. commanded a $1.97M bonus. He’s listed at 6’3″, 175 and features a fluid lefty swing that for now focuses hit-over-power [insert Seaver King reference here] with room to shift toward hitting homers once he “grows into his man body.” Likewise, his average running skill coupled with an above-average arm will probably shift him from CF to a corner OF slot.
● OF Isaias Suarez, another 17-y.o. Dominican, got $1.9M as a 6’2″, 165 “wiry, quick-twitch athlete” per BA with his baserunning and defensive skills far ahead of his bat, thanks to his plus speed. The challenge for the Nats development guys will be to harness his aggressive approach at the plate.
● OF Angel Ramirez, also 17 and from the D.R., got Dr. Evil’s ransom recently converted from SS. A switch-hitter who’s stronger as a lefty, Ramirez’s swing is a little longer but with more power than contact.
● OF Juan Duran won’t turn 17 until July but nevertheless signed for $1M. He’s built more like a 3B (5’11”, 180) but scouts are pegging him for RF despite his limited athleticism because he also has a 3B’s arm.
Eleven other players signed. As per usual, right now we only know names, ages, positions, and country of origin:
- SS Euris Acosta, 17 (D.R.)
- OF Jawel Garcia, 16 (D.R.)
- C Pedro Guerra, 16 (Ven.)
- 3B Rayniel Lache, 17 (D.R.)
- RHP Santiago Moreno, 16 (Ven.)
- C Carlos Mueses, 17 (D.R.)
- RHP Christopher Navas, 16 (D.R.)
- OF Brad Rodgrigues, 17 (Pan.)
- RHP Josue Rondon, 17 (Ven.)
- RHP Aldemaro Sevilla, 16 (Ven.)
- C Luis Tarifa, 19 (D.R.)
It’s worth noting that most of these signings are the work of the previous front office, given how players agree to sign years before they’re eligible [insert NCAA reference here]. This group is also decidedly younger than in years past, with only one 19-y.o. and one player who will turn 18 during the DSL season.
FWIW, Eric Longenhagen at FG seems to think that the Nats did pretty well. They have four of the top 52 IFA prospects signed:
#12 Isaias Suarez CF
#13 Samil Serrano LF
#45 Angel Ramirez OF
#52 Juan Duran RF
And he ranks by prospect status, not signing bonus. He has Suarez and Serrano as 45+, Ramirez as 35+, and Duran as a 35. The top of the eight 35s listed.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-international-prospect-rankings-and-scouting-reports/
February is the farm club staff announcemegrs ?
Brad Rodriguez switch hitting six four outfielder ?
Fernando Seiguinoil ?
Another little tidbit about (former) Nats prospects from FanGraphs:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-red-sox-prospect-franklin-arias-aspires-to-out-power-luis-arraez/
There’s some quotes from Toboni about Ferrer and the trade. It’s all pretty superficial (“he’s really good”, “he’s got elite control”, etc.), but perhaps gives a bit of insight into his thinking of the team at the moment: he wasn’t actively shopping Ferrer, but was ready to part with one of the few above-average pieces on the major league team. A good reliever on a bad team is different than an OF or SS, but you have to assume Toboni will trade perhaps everyone on the team if the right offer comes in. Wood is the only player I’d refuse to trade, everyone else should be up for grabs for the right price.
I’d give Toboni high marks for his first two deals. the next one may not come until the trade deadline. then again some of the teams that have turned him down up to now may get desperate and overpay.
One has to guess Paul will pick up some march cast offs especially from clubs the brass very familiar with
The last two additions to Rochester with the former Altoona Curve infielder and Mickey Gasper give us an idea of how AAA ROCH shapes up .
Now we just await the release of the coaching staff lists for farm clubs .
Returning players from 2025 injuries is not as watchlist key as how the new teaching philosophies shifts some farm hands .
Could a new wrinkle with Travis Stehle help him advance / mature ?
All eyes on Liam Sullivan 2026
From the WP’s Spencer Nusbaum:
Matt LeCroy will stay on as the manager of the Nationals’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, per sources.
LeCroy is a popular figure in the organization and has managed Rochester for the last five years. This’ll be his 18th year with the organization.