When Paul Toboni took over as President of Baseball Operations for the Nationals, he made one thing clear: this rebuild wasn’t going to be fueled by empty promises. “We keep score for a reason,” he said during his introductory press conference, underlining a culture of accountability he hoped to instill. Now, as Spring Training looms just days away, that accountability is being put to the test - not just in words, but in action.
At the team’s recent Hot Stove event, Toboni told fans to judge the front office not by what’s said in interviews or on stage, but by the moves actually made. “Judge us on the actual actions of the players and the decisions we make,” he said.
Fair enough. But those decisions - or the lack thereof - are now under the microscope, especially with the Nationals sitting $30 million below their 2025 Opening Day payroll.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about chasing headlines or throwing money at the biggest names on the board. But it is about building a roster that’s competitive, balanced, and has a clear direction.
Toboni acknowledged just two weeks ago that the roster wasn’t set heading into West Palm Beach. “By no means do we feel we’re set going into West Palm,” he said during a pair of interviews.
He also noted the team was “actively looking in that [pitching] market” and hinted at a potential signing within a week or two.
Since then, the only major league deal above the league minimum has gone to left-hander Foster Griffin - a $5.5 million investment in a rotation piece. Beyond that, the front office has mostly stayed quiet, aside from arbitration settlements and the trade that sent MacKenzie Gore (and his $5.6 million salary) out the door. That deal essentially reset the payroll to where it stood back at the Winter Meetings.
So where does that leave the Nationals? Still with holes, especially at first base and behind the plate - two positions Toboni himself highlighted as areas of need.
The team did address catcher by acquiring top prospect Harry Ford in a trade, but the dream of landing a proven veteran like J.T. Realmuto quickly faded.
At first base, they’ve added Matt Mervis on a minor league deal and brought in Abi Ortiz as part of the Gore trade. Internally, there are options like Luis Garcia Jr., Andres Chaparro, Warming Bernabel, and top prospect Yohandy Morales.
But aside from Garcia, there’s not much in the way of big-league experience.
That’s where the concern really starts to grow. The Nationals aren’t just missing pieces - they’re missing anchors.
Veteran leaders. Players who’ve been through the grind and can help set the tone in the clubhouse.
Ryan Zimmerman, who knows a thing or two about leadership in D.C., said it best on his 11th Inning Podcast: the team needs a veteran on a two-to-four-year deal. “I’m not saying to go crazy to get the top of the [free agent] list - that would be cool too,” Zimmerman added, but the message was clear.
Bring in someone who’s been there before. Someone who can help shape the culture.
It’s not a new concept for this franchise. After the 2010 season, the Nationals made a bold statement by signing Jayson Werth - a move that helped shift the team’s identity and laid the groundwork for future success. That kind of addition doesn’t just help on the field; it helps in the locker room, in the dugout, and in the day-to-day grind of a 162-game season.
Toboni has acknowledged the importance of culture. He’s talked about building a sustainable winner.
But building that kind of team requires more than just talent - it requires leadership. And right now, there’s a noticeable absence of that kind of presence on the roster.
To be fair, the offseason isn’t over. There’s still time to make moves.
But with camp opening in just a few days, the clock is ticking. Fans aren’t demanding a splashy headline or a reckless spending spree.
What they want is clarity. Direction.
A sign that the front office is backing up its words with action.
Toboni’s message was simple: judge us by what we do, not what we say. That’s a standard fans are more than willing to hold him to. Now, it’s on the Nationals to show that the foundation being laid is more than just talk - and that progress, however incremental, is truly underway.