The Washington Nationals are clearly entering a new era, and it starts with addressing some long-standing issues that have plagued the organization for years. Under the leadership of new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni, there’s a noticeable shift in priorities - and it’s not just about building for the future through better drafting and player development. It’s also about finally fixing a bullpen that has been a sore spot for over a decade.
Nationals fans know the story all too well. Even during the team’s rise in the 2010s - when names like Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard were anchoring the pen - the bullpen never quite held up when it mattered most. Those postseason letdowns became part of the narrative, and while some of that criticism may be unfair in retrospect, the lack of consistency from the relief corps has been a recurring theme.
Fast forward to 2025, and the bullpen issues didn’t just linger - they hit rock bottom. Last year’s group wasn’t just bad by league standards; it was historically ineffective.
The unit struggled across the board, with rough outings from veterans like Colin Poche, Lucas Sims, and Ryan Loutos. Walks piled up, leads evaporated, and the bullpen became a nightly question mark.
But even in the rubble, there were a few bright spots. One of them was Konnor Pilkington, a 28-year-old lefty who quietly put together some solid stretches.
He showed real strikeout potential - 34 Ks in just over 28 innings - and flashed the kind of stuff that can play in a major league bullpen. So when the Nationals designated him for assignment, it raised a few eyebrows.
What makes the move even more puzzling is the sequence that followed. Pilkington was DFA’d to make room for Tsung-Che Cheng, who didn’t stick around long.
Cheng was waived for George Soriano, who is also no longer with the club. In the end, the Nationals cycled through two players without either making a meaningful impact - and lost a potentially useful lefty in the process.
Pilkington elected free agency on Thursday morning, officially ending his time in Washington.
Now, let’s be clear: Pilkington wasn’t perfect. His 4.45 ERA and 1.376 WHIP tell part of the story, and the 17 walks he issued were a real problem.
Command has been his Achilles’ heel, and until he reins that in, he’ll likely remain on the fringe of big-league bullpens. But the raw tools are there - enough to suggest he’ll land a minor league deal somewhere, even if it’s not back in D.C.
For Toboni and the Nationals, the message is clear: the bullpen is no longer going to be an afterthought. Whether that means giving more opportunities to high-upside arms or simply refusing to settle for mediocrity, the approach is changing. And after a season where the bullpen was a glaring liability, that change can’t come soon enough.