The Nationals have a real decision on their hands at catcher, and Keibert Ruiz is right in the middle of it.
A year ago, Ruiz’s contract looked like a problem. Now it looks a lot more manageable. After a rough stretch in 2024 and 2025, he turned in a much better 2026, and Washington has to decide whether that’s the right time to cash in or whether it makes more sense to keep the bat and the glove they’ve got.
Ruiz first landed in Washington in the 2021 deadline deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. The Nationals believed they’d found their long-term catcher, and after one full season, they doubled down with an eight-year extension heading into 2023. The contract guaranteed $50MM and included two club options, covering his age-24 through age-31 seasons and potentially all the way through age-33.
The problem was what came after that. Over 752 plate appearances in 2024 and 2025, Ruiz almost never struck out, fanning in just 10.6% of his trips.
But the rest of the offensive line was rough. His 3.2% walk rate was the lowest among the 202 players with at least 750 plate appearances in that span.
He hit 15 homers, posted a .235/.266/.345 slash line and finished with a 67 wRC+. Only Orlando Arcia and Ke’Bryan Hayes were worse in that group.
The defense didn’t give Washington much cover, either. Defensive Runs Saved had him a bit above average, but the framing numbers were ugly across the board. Fielding Run Value pegged him at minus-18 for the 2024-25 seasons, the worst mark of any catcher in the majors.
That’s why there were clear signs the Nationals were ready to change course behind the plate. President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo was fired in 2025 and eventually replaced by Paul Toboni.
Not long after taking over, Toboni dealt reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners, and the centerpiece coming back was catching prospect Harry Ford.
Even with Ruiz’s deal running through 2030, the direction of the front office had changed. The people who acquired him and signed him were gone. The new regime had also brought in a top catching prospect, which only sharpened the question.
Then 2026 happened.
The Nationals opened the season with Ford in the minors, and Ruiz responded with a rebound. His 4.5% walk rate was still low, but it was at least a step up for him.
He hit .280/.316/.443 with a 105 wRC+. He also took a noticeable step forward defensively, earning 7 DRS and 1 FRV.
FanGraphs, Statcast and Baseball Prospectus all viewed his framing as above average.
Ford’s season went the other way for a while. A shoulder injury slowed him down, and his Triple-A production reflected that.
He hit .223/.370/.335 for a 96 wRC+ in the minors, then .190/.314/.350 in the majors for an 87 wRC+. The defensive grades were roughly average, though in only 38 games.
That leaves Washington with a pretty interesting call.
Ruiz’s contract still has four guaranteed years left, and none of those seasons climb above $9MM. If the Nationals want to maximize value, this is the kind of spot where selling high makes sense, especially because his underlying contact quality still isn’t fully convincing.
His average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate all improved in 2026, but they were still below league average. With the way he approaches the plate, another slump can’t be ruled out.
At the same time, it may be too soon to turn the job over completely to Ford. He still has options, so Washington could always send him back to the minors or split time between the two.
Ford’s own 2026 numbers offer some hope, though. Before May 7, he hit just .183/.294/.215 at Triple-A.
After that, he was much better at .257/.426/.434. When he reached the majors in July, the overall line was ugly, but the 14.4% walk rate stood out and a .232 batting average on balls in play dragged things down.
The bigger picture matters here, too. The Nationals flirted with contention in 2026, but 2027 could easily turn into another year of evaluation.
The pitching staff remains one of the worst in the league, and after sending Curtis Mead and Luis García Jr. away at the deadline, the lineup looks thinner than it did a few months ago, even with James Wood and CJ Abrams still in place. If that’s another development-focused season, Ford could use the reps and get more comfortable with Washington’s pitchers.
Of course, the Nationals could just keep both catchers in the mix. Ruiz could split time with Ford, or Ford could head back to the minors while still carrying options. That would give Washington insurance if Ford isn’t ready, while also buying more time to see whether Ruiz’s rebound is real.
And even after the bounceback, Ruiz might not be the most obvious catching target on the market. Ryan Jeffers, Carson Kelly, Tyler Stephenson and others are set to be available in free agency.
William Contreras is due for free agency after 2027, which could make him a trade candidate this winter if the Brewers decide to move him. The Cardinals could also make Iván Herrera and/or Jimmy Crooks available.
So the Nationals are left weighing upside against certainty. Ruiz has regained some value.
Ford still needs runway. And Washington has to decide whether to strike now or keep waiting.
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