It’s pretty clear that the new boss will same as old boss when it comes to the big club for 2026 – veterans will plug the (numerous) gaps and “the kids” (our guys) will be the last resort.
Mark Zuckerman, who’s now on Substack (definition of mixed feelings: Support the Nats best beat writer while also supporting a platform that the kids call “sus”) is already reporting that Luis García Jr. will split time between 1B and 2B, which cuts down on Yoyo Morales’s chances.
He’s also reporting that Keibert Ruiz appears healthy and willing to modify his setup to prevent injury. Given his contract, and Harry Ford’s lack of MLB experience, Ruiz can’t be easily written off (as much as many people may want to).
Need more proof that rookies have long odds? Look no further than the half-dozen-plus waiver claims—one of which has already been traded—and the signing of a 37-y.o. journeyman to compete for spot in the rotation.
Perhaps the best chance for one of the watchlist guys to make the Opening Day roster is in the outfield, given the lack of offense from Jacob Young and Robert Hassell.
The next-best chance is, as usual, the bullpen… Last year, Brad Lord got the call. Could Riley Cornelio or Andrew Alvarez be the next? Much depends on how the rotation shakes out. Lord, for example, could be a starter given that both Trevor Williams and DJ Herz will start the season on the 60-Day I.L.
Otherwise, I’ll get back into the habit of writing close to every day again, “covering” spring training with the focus on the prospects and minor-leaguers until roughly St. Patrick’s Day or after the first two or three cuts.