The MacKenzie Gore trade might've stolen the spotlight, but the Nationals quietly made another move that could have ripple effects down the roster. On Thursday, they claimed right-handed reliever Gus Varland off waivers from the Diamondbacks and, in a corresponding move, designated catcher Riley Adams for assignment.
Let’s start with Varland. The 29-year-old brings a 4.82 ERA over 42 big league appearances, all coming in the last two seasons with the Brewers, Dodgers, and White Sox.
His 2025 campaign was largely wiped out by a lat strain, limiting him to just eight appearances in the minors. Still, the Nationals see enough upside in his arm to make room on the 40-man roster - and that meant a tough call on Adams.
Now, Adams’ DFA might seem like a standard roster shuffle, but there’s more nuance here. The 27-year-old backstop has been with the Nats since 2021, when he came over from Toronto in the deal that sent Brad Hand north.
He’s logged 251 games with Washington, showing flashes of offensive potential and serving as a steady presence behind the plate. But with top prospect Harry Ford expected to join Keibert Ruiz as the team’s catching tandem, Adams was likely on the outside looking in.
The Nationals seemed to anticipate this logjam. Just last month, they signed Adams to a split contract that guaranteed him $1 million if he made the big-league roster, or $500,000 if he accepted an outright assignment to the minors.
That type of deal is rare - and telling. It gave the team some flexibility while offering Adams a solid fallback if he didn’t stick on the 26-man roster.
Because he’s out of minor league options, Adams had to be DFA’d before being sent down. Other teams could claim him, but they’d also be on the hook for his full $1 million salary.
That makes a waiver claim less likely, especially since Adams has more than three years of service time and could elect free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment. The catch?
He’d likely make less than $500,000 on a new minor league deal elsewhere.
So, the most logical path forward is that Adams clears waivers, accepts the assignment, and heads to Triple-A Rochester - where he’ll make more than most minor leaguers and stay ready in case Ford or Ruiz goes down. It’s not an ideal spot for a player who’s been a regular in D.C., but it’s a strategic move that keeps him in the mix.
Meanwhile, the Nationals have been busy rounding out their spring training invite list.
The club announced four minor league signings with invitations to big league camp - and two of the names are familiar faces.
Reliever Trevor Gott is back in the fold. The 33-year-old righty pitched in D.C. from 2016 to 2018, though his time was rocky, finishing with a 7.39 ERA across 33 appearances.
Since then, he’s bounced around with the Giants, Brewers, Mariners, and Mets, compiling a 4.65 ERA over 255 MLB games. He spent last season in Triple-A with Seattle, and now gets a shot to earn a bullpen spot in camp.
Catcher Tres Barrera also returns to the organization. The 31-year-old played in 51 games for the Nationals between 2019 and 2022, hitting .231 with a .317 OBP.
After a brief stint with the Cardinals in 2023, Barrera spent time in Mexico and then in the Rays’ system last year. He’ll add depth behind the plate and experience in camp.
The Nats also added a pair of pitchers: lefty Zach Penrod and righty Bryce Montes de Oca.
Penrod, 28, saw limited big league action with the Red Sox in 2024, appearing in seven games. He also pitched at the Triple-A level for both Boston and the Dodgers last season. He’s a depth arm with some intrigue, especially if he can harness his stuff more consistently.
Montes de Oca, 29, is a bit of a wild card. He debuted with the Mets in 2022 - including a game against the Nationals - but has battled injuries since.
He missed all of 2025 after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. The right-hander has a big arm when healthy, and Washington is clearly betting on a potential bounce-back.
All in all, these moves are less about making headlines and more about building out the depth chart. Spring training is around the corner, and the Nationals are quietly laying the groundwork for a roster that could see plenty of movement - especially if some of these bounce-back candidates find their footing.