The Nationals are expected to shop for pitching this offseason, and one name on the radar is a fresh World Series champion with a tricky recent track record: Dustin May.
Washington’s top targets aren’t fully known yet, but the club appears positioned to be more active with its spending this winter. Big-ticket arms like two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon may be too pricey, yet president of baseball operations Paul Toboni could have more room to maneuver than in past offseasons. With a solid group of pitchers available, the Nationals are in the market to upgrade both the rotation and the bullpen.
One pitcher Mike Axisa of CBS Sports thinks Washington could chase is May. As Axisa wrote, "... the combination of age and high-octane stuff makes him a nice upside play on a short-term contract, particularly for a rebuilding team that is willing to run him out there every fifth day regardless of results," Axisa wrote about May.
That description lines up neatly with the Nationals, and Toboni’s background adds another layer. He was with the Boston Red Sox when they acquired May from the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
May, 29, remains an intriguing arm even after a rough stretch. He returned in 2025 after Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2024 season, and the results have been uneven.
He has not posted an ERA below 4.50 in consecutive seasons, though he did finish this year with a Stuff+ mark of 102, which sat above average. He also logged important innings for the Brewers during their run to the World Series title.
He would not be a savior for Washington’s rotation, but he could still be a meaningful add behind Cade Cavalli if the Nationals can help him rediscover the form he had before the surgery. That is the hard part. Milwaukee’s highly regarded pitching lab also couldn’t fully unlock him after the deadline deal, as May put up a 5.65 ERA in 10 regular-season starts and then followed that with a 5.73 ERA over five playoff appearances, including two starts.
Even so, May would represent an upgrade over the pitchers Washington has leaned on in recent years. And because he still has not fully put it all together, he may be open to a short-term contract that gives him a chance to work as a full-time major league starter.
For now, the Nationals look like a team worth watching in the May sweepstakes. The fit makes sense, and he matches the kind of pitcher Toboni and his staff appear to be after.
In Other News...
Nationals Prospects Are Giving Fans A Reason To Watch This AFL Run
The Arizona Fall League has given Nationals fans a useful late-season window into three prospects who are making the most of extra at-bats and innings with the Salt River Rafters. Jarlin Susana has drawn attention for the kind of velocity that can change a scouting report in a hurry, while Kevin Bazzell has used the assignment to show a more polished offensive approach and the ability to get on base. Teo Banks has also helped himself with better power and a steadier feel for the strike zone, giving Washington a trio of young players worth tracking beyond the box scores.
For a Nationals system still looking to turn talent into big-league help, the appeal here is less about one hot week than the broader signs of progress. Susanas stuff, Bazzells rebound at the plate and Banks cleaner offensive profile all point to prospects moving in the right direction, even if the AFL is only one stop on a longer path. The results have been enough to keep Washington followers watching, because each of these players is offering a different reason to believe there could be more coming soon. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Offseason Plan Is Starting To Take Shape
The Nationals have already started shaping their offseason roster, and the first move came via a trade with the Giants for infielder Nate Furman. Washington sent left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck to San Francisco in the deal, then cleared room on the roster by designating Richard Lovelady for assignment, a small but telling sign that the front office is already sorting through its priorities.
Paul Toboni has made it clear the work is only beginning. The Nationals president of baseball operations pointed to bullpen arms, starting pitching and left-handed bats as areas the club wants to address, with both free agency and trades in play as ways to improve. Furman is part of that process, but he looks more like the opening move than the final answer as Washington tries to build a more balanced roster for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Angels May Be Eyeing A Risky Rotation Gamble
The Brewers championship season has already shifted into the offseason, and one of the more intriguing decisions on their board involves Dustin May. Milwaukee is weighing a return for several of its own free agents after a franchise-best 103-win run and a World Series title, but Mays market looks a little different after a rough stretch that included a 5.65 ERA in 10 regular-season starts and a 5.73 mark in five playoff appearances.
CBS Sports still slotted May 25th among free agents, and the fit question now extends beyond Milwaukee. The Brewers may focus first on keeping Brandon Woodruff, Jake Bauers and JoJo Romero, which leaves May as a possible departure candidate, with the Angels, Athletics and Nationals all mentioned as clubs that could be in the mix. [Read more 🡒]