Washington’s rotation picture for 2027 is starting to take shape, but the Nationals are still staring straight at their biggest need. Cade Cavalli has emerged as a potential frontline anchor, enough so that President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni extended his contract in September. Around him, there are arms to work with - Andrew Alvarez looks penciled in, Jackson Kent has already been seen, Jake Irvin is known, and DJ Herz and Connelly Early could also push for jobs.
That’s the foundation. It’s not the finished product.
If the Nationals want to move from a 77-win club into a real National League contender, ownership has to give Toboni more payroll room to attack the pitching market. Tarik Skubal is the headliner in free agency, but his price tag is expected to live in the stratosphere. Washington, as the source sees it, should aim a tier below that and make its move there.
The cleanest fit is Michael King. The right-hander is described as the premier target if Washington wants a real swing without diving into Skubal-level money.
There’s already a connection in place, too: King and manager Blake Butera were college teammates and friends at Boston College. At 31, King lines up with the timeline of the young core, misses bats at a high level, and carries top-of-the-rotation upside that could pair with Cavalli to give the Nationals a real one-two punch.
His playoff experience also stands out for a team looking for someone who has been there before.
If the Nationals want something more practical, Tyler Mahle fits that lane. The veteran right-hander is framed as a logical target for a front office trying to blend performance and financial flexibility.
He’s shown he can handle a heavy workload and give a team quality innings in the middle of a rotation. A short-to-medium-term deal for Mahle would ease the pressure on younger options like Andrew Alvarez while the next wave, including Travis Sykora, keeps developing in the minors.
Foster Griffin belongs in that same middle tier. The Nationals know him well and had tried to extend him before he was traded. Like Mahle, he also brings postseason experience, which the source treats as a meaningful plus.
Then there’s Jack Flaherty, the high-upside gamble. He fits Washington’s preference for bounce-back arms, and the profile is clear: flashes of brilliance, but also inconsistency and injuries.
Still, when healthy, he has the stuff to look like a frontline starter. Because of the risk, his contract should reflect that uncertainty.
The Nationals could offer him a guaranteed rotation spot and a fair pitcher-friendly home park, and if Toboni can land him on a creative deal, he becomes the kind of calculated bet worth making.
The message is straightforward: the Nationals do not need a rotation full of $20 million starters, but they also can’t keep leaning only on cheap, unproven arms. There is depth coming in Triple-A and Double-A with pitchers like Jack Cebert and Josh Hartle, but Washington needs a more established piece to stabilize the group.
A move for King would be the boldest answer. Mahle or Griffin would be the steadier one. Either way, the front office needs to fortify the mound - and if Toboni can do that, while also fixing the bullpen and adding another good lefty bat, Washington’s 2027 outlook changes fast.
In Other News...
Former Nationals Prospect Walks Away Earlier Than Fans Expected
Jackson Cluffs pro career ended sooner than many around the Nationals organization might have expected, with the shortstop announcing his immediate retirement from baseball on Instagram. A sixth-round pick by Washington in 2019, Cluff spent eight professional seasons in all, climbing as high as Triple-A and moving through the minor league systems of the Nationals, Mets and Cubs along the way.
For Washington, it is another reminder of how many drafted players never quite make the final leap to the majors, even after years of development and multiple stops. Cluffs message was reflective and appreciative, noting the organizations that supported him throughout the journey, but the abrupt timing still leaves his next step beyond the game as the part left hanging. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Top Pitching Prospect Comes With A Complicated Timeline
Travis Sykoras rise through the Nationals system hit a major pause in July 2025, when the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery. Before the injury, he had flashed real upside in the lower minors, even if Double-A brought a tougher test, and the organization still views him as one of its most important pitching prospects despite the long recovery ahead.
The timeline now stretches into 2027, which makes the next few months especially tricky for Washington. Sykora is Rule 5 eligible and may need to be protected on the 40-man roster this offseason, a decision that could shape how the Nationals manage his development while minor league baseball also faces the possibility of a lockout. [Read more 🡒]
Former Nationals Outfielder Has An Unexpected World Series Connection
The 2026 World Series has put an unusual wrinkle into a familiar reunion for the Nationals, with former outfielder Corey Dickerson now part of the Brewers coaching staff. Dickerson, who retired in 2024 after his playing career, has already moved into the next phase of baseball life, serving as Milwaukees first-base coach after transitioning into coaching.
There is also a Nationals connection on the other side of the Brewers staff, because Michael Johns, who replaced Dickerson in Milwaukee, is now Washingtons bench coach. It is the kind of crossover that only shows up when October gets deep enough, turning a championship matchup into a small world reminder of how intertwined front offices, dugouts and former teammates can be. [Read more 🡒]