As the Nationals turn the page from 2026 and start sorting out 2027, a few arms stand out as names to watch for very different reasons. The roles could shift, the usage could change, and the production could look a lot different next season. Three pitchers in particular jump off the page.
LHP Will Dion
Dion’s first run with Washington came after the Nationals acquired him from the Guardians in the Foster Griffin trade, and he settled in quickly as a bullpen piece. The rookie, who worked as a starter in the Minor Leagues, was used in a multi-inning relief role by the Nats. He went two-plus innings in nine of his 15 appearances and finished with a 3-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, one save and 30 innings.
The results were strong across the board. Opponents hit just .178 against him, and none of the 12 inherited runners he took on crossed the plate. His best outing came on Aug. 15 at Citi Field, when he fired 4 1/3 no-hit innings and struck out seven.
RHP Orlando Ribalta
Ribalta turned heads with a breakout season and emerged as a late-inning option for Washington. He handled high-pressure spots well, holding opponents to 0-for-11 with five strikeouts when the bases were loaded. Left-handed hitters managed only a .132 average against him, and his fastball velocity landed in the 87th percentile at 96.9 mph.
What makes his season even more notable is the path he took to get there. Ribalta began the year in Triple-A Rochester, then spent most of September on the injured list with right forearm inflammation. Even with that interruption, he still logged a career-high in innings.
RHP Josiah Gray
Gray’s return gave the Nationals something they had been waiting a long time to see. A 2023 All-Star and Washington’s 2024 Opening Day starter, he came back in late September after missing nearly three seasons because of injuries. Rather than return to the rotation right away, he worked out of the bullpen to finish the year.
Gray made three relief appearances, picked up his first career save and showed the versatility that has always made him such an interesting arm. He has a seven-pitch mix, though he used five of them in those outings.
His four-seamer averaged 92.3 mph, down from 93.6 mph in 2023, his last full season. Health will remain the priority as the Nationals look to stretch him out this winter, and he is arbitration-eligible.
In Other News...
CJ Abrams Just Became Part Of A Bigger Nationals Dilemma
The Nationals are already looking ahead to 2027, and the shortstop picture is anything but settled. Manager Blake Butera said the job is undecided, even with CJ Abrams still viewed as a player who can handle either shortstop or second base. For a club trying to map out its next core, that matters because the position is tied not just to one player, but to the broader timeline Washington is trying to build around.
Abrams also sits at the center of a separate layer to the conversation, with a report citing Jon Morosi saying he would want assurance he stays at shortstop before agreeing to an extension, though neither he nor his agent has confirmed that. The Nationals have other possibilities in-house, including Nasim Nunez and prospect Seaver King, and they are also weighing the development paths of younger players such as Eli Willits. For now, the organization is left sorting out both the future of the position and the future of one of its most important players. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Youngs Extension Just Raised The Pressure On Dylan Crews
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For Dylan Crews, though, the timing adds a little more heat. Washington is planning to keep a similar outfield mix in 2027, with Young still in center, which leaves Crews needing to force his way into the picture by making real progress. There are no immediate changes coming, but if he does not take a step forward, the Nationals could eventually have a tougher conversation about his future. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Young Deal Just Put Dylan Crews In A Tough Spot
Jacob Youngs new four-year deal, with an option for a fifth season, gives the Nationals a clearer picture of one corner of their outfield future. It also adds another layer to a group that already includes Dylan Crews, James Wood and Daylen Lile, turning what once looked like a promising depth chart into something that may soon require a tougher decision.
Crews still has traits the Nationals like, but his uneven performance has left his standing less secure than it once seemed. With Young now locked in and the outfield getting crowded, Washington may eventually have to sort out whether all of these pieces can stay in place, or whether the surplus pushes the front office toward trade discussions down the road. [Read more 🡒]