District Territory

With a dearth of right-handed hitting outfielders available on the market, and the ink still drying on Jacob Young’s contract extension, one name on the Washington Nationals has emerged as a popular trade target at the general managers’ meetings: outfielder Dylan Crews. The District Territory crew talks through the case for and against trading Crews, as well as four of Spencer’s other takeaways from MLB’s GM meetings in Las Vegas, including CJ Abrams (who is expected to be back), the relief pitching market, their analytics department and a hole at backup catcher.

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Following Jacob Young’s 4 year, $23 million extension with a club option for a 5th season, Kevin Frandsen and Eric Shellhouse of District Territory discuss how this starts to solidify a core for the Nats entering next season. With a lockout looming less than a month away and GM meetings beginning this week in Las Vegas, what other moves will they make before December? Plus, an update on acquiring left handed relief pitcher Reiver Sanmartín from the San Francisco Giants.

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The Nationals sorted out more of their 40-man roster this week. We talk through Jose Tena, Mitchell Parker, PJ Poulin and several others to determine whether the Nats need to find an archetypical replacement for those folks, or if they are better off targeting other types of players on the roster. That, plus a discussion of James Wood and CJ Abrams' Silver Slugger nominations.

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Free agency opens on Monday, the World Series is over, and the Nationals are on the hunt to fix a bullpen that set the single-season blown saves record in 2026. They should take cues from their peers with elite bullpens: Usually, you want one big external arm to round things out. The District Territory crew, therefore, looks at 10 names who could fit the bill as the Hot Stove starts to warm up: Evan Phillips, A.J. Puk, Jonathan Loáisiga, Alex Vesia, AJ Minter, Steven Okert, JoJo Romero, Emilio Pagán, Kevin Ginkel and Camilo Doval.

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The 2026 MLB postseason is officially over, with the Milwaukee Brewers taking down the Tampa Bay Rays to become World Series Champions for the 1st time in franchise history. The District Territory crew sits down to discuss what they saw from each team during the fall classic, as well as what the Nationals can learn from each roster. What moves will need to be made to construct a roster that can clinch a playoff birth next season? Plus, how will an impending lockout impact how teams will spend in free agency, and when will they do so?

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The District Territory crew recaps the first two games of the World Series and looks ahead to the bullpen and offensive matchups that could define this series. Also, a brief chat about the potential for the automated check-swing system.

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The District Territory crew talks about the top baseball movies ahead of the World Series. Well, talk may be a stretch. One host has seen them, and the other... has not. Talking through Moneyball, Rookie of the Year, A League of Their Own and The Sandlot, among other classics.

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The Nationals will need to make some external adds to the bullpen in free agency, but the hot stove won't be the only way their bullpen could get better. The District Territory crew talks through the internal options for Washington, including big-league returns Erik Tolman, Yovanny Cruz, Orlando Ribalta and Josiah Gray, as well as some prospects to get excited about like Jarlin Susana, Ben Grable and Joe Glassey. Do these names strike you as late-inning relievers or future bullpen arms? Let us know in the comments.

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The Washington Nationals will enter this winter with approximately $57.3 million on their books, almost $25 million less than any other major-league team. There should, then, be savvy moves available to augment last year’s 77-85 roster. Otherwise, the Nationals would enter 2027 with a conspicuously paltry payroll, have fans yell at the Lerners, and run it back with a bullpen that just set the single-season record for blown saves. We talk through the budgetary scenarios that could be available and the players available in those buckets.

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The District Territory crew talks about their ideal starting pitching fits this winter for a national rotation that could use some dependability and certainty, including guys like Max Scherzer, Shota Imanaga, Robbie Ray, Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, Kris Bubic and others. The Nationals should have quite a bit of payroll flexibility. The big question is whether or not they will be able to use it on one of these arms.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays have punched their tickets to the Championship Series. The District Territory crew breaks down what stood out from each of their Division Series victories. Will the Rays start to unleash more weapons from their bullpen? Should the Dodgers be concerned about their lack of hitting with runners in scoring position? Plus, looking at Game 4 of the White Sox and Guardians ALDS and making predictions on who meets in the World Series. 

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The District Territory crew talks about the 40-man and arbitrations decisions ahead, putting up a green or red light on the players who have reached at least three years of service time. This includes decisions and discussions about Josiah Gray, CJ Abrams, Richard Lovelady, Jake Bird, Jake Irvin, Ken Waldichuk, Jacob Young and Mitchell Parker. We also rope in discussion of the Nationals payroll situation, which is set to be the lowest in MLB heading into the winter.

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The District Territory crew talks through the Nationals' roster bubble, which includes players like Jose Tena, Nasim Nuñez, Jorbit Vivas, Clayton Beeter and several other bullpen arms, and discusses which ones should either be cut from the organization or be sent to Triple A at the start of next season to keep refining their craft. Unsurprisingly, there are a number of relievers who make this list after the Nationals shattered the MLB record with 42 blown saves.

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The Washington Nationals have a slew of interesting roster decisions ahead of next season. Among the players who are on the margins and should be brought back: Andrew Alvarez, Andres Chaparro, Yovanny Cruz, Brady House and Riley Cornelio. Listen to District Territory for a breakdown of the roster crunch and the decisions that lie ahead for these five and the Nats.

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On the latest episode of District Territory, we discuss how the Washington Nationals can relate to the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves -- or, more specifically, where those teams are far ahead and where the Nationals can catch up. The Nats seem far away, in some senses, but are aiming to catch up in international scouting, analytics and in the field, and could be primed to take some shots in free agency with a strong core of James Wood, CJ Abrams and Cade Cavalli.

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Nasim Nuñez and CJ Abrams have had virtually polar opposite seasons. One has been terrific in the field and struggled at the plate, and the other has flipped those clauses. But on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers, they were largely responsible in securing a win for the Washington Nationals, who are up to 75 wins with three games to go. The District Territory crew discusses this, Josiah Gray's return and Yohandy Morales' possible breakout.

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The Washington Nationals are set to start DJ Herz on Monday, an enticing development given how well the lefty pitched in his rookie season two years ago. With roughly three spots locked up in next year's rotation and some money coming off of the books this winter, how might he factor into the 2027 rotation? That, plus discussion of the Nats' blown saves record (which continues to climb) and a red-hot Jorbit Vivas.

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The Nationals agreed to a 4 year, $47 million contract extension with starting pitcher Cade Cavalli ahead of his Friday start. The District Territory crew dissects the significance of the contract, and what it could mean about ownership's spending habits as the offseason approaches. Additionally, Josiah Gray returned to MLB action for the first time since April 2024, and CJ Abrams became the 2nd National to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases (and 30 doubles) since 2005. Lastly, discussing Blake Butera's decision to pull James Wood for a lack of hustle in Saturday night's game.

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The Nationals have revitalized a once-antiquated and underwhelming farm system by doing the things others did years ago, adding new coaches and new technology, altering their pre-game work, cutting out the infighting and ensuring that details at every level flowed back to what has become an organizational mantra:
Smash strikes in the air and throw nasty s— in the zone. The District Territory crew talks about Spencer Nusbaum’s latest piece at The Athletic, the improvements on the farm, the Nationals’ four game winning streak and Roberto Clemente award nominee Nasim Nuñez.

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An imagination can run wild after a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, who seem bound for 100 losses. But as the Nationals illustrated this weekend, they have gathered enough offensive depth to quell concerns about regression and start spending on pitching this winter. The District Territory crew talks about the players who stepped up, including Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Harry Ford, as well as the gains they have made on the mound with Riley Cornelio's recent breakout.

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The Nationals finally snapped a seven-game losing streak, and all they needed was a slew of unsung heroes to step up. It, of course, begs the question of who is auditioning for a role on next year's roster. Does Jorbit Vivas have a spot locked up? Is Andrew Pinckney competing for a spot here or elsewhere. What about Clayton Beeter, who was demoted, or Harry Ford, who hurt his wrist? We work trhough the possibilities on the latest episode of District Territory, with the promise of a full walkthrough this winter.

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The Nationals just wrapped up an awful, 0-6 road trip that seemed to show just how far away they were. Except, even within that framework, even amidst the blown saves, there was clear progress that shows this team will be ready sooner than you think. Which we know sounds ridiculous…. Until you hear our discussion on the Nationals’ farm system, touching on their depth, their ability to teach power and swing decisions, their stuff and the budding star that is No. 1 pick Eli Willits.

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The Nationals bullpen has gained a handful of young arms in the recent weeks since rosters expanded, and they'll be tested in big ways just as the rest of their relief staff has been all season. Following a record tying 37th blown save Sunday night, the District Territory crew highlight which names will be tested most in the final stretch. Plus, what it would mean for CJ Abrams to finish with a 30/30 season, and discussing Conelly Early's first outing against live batters.

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The Nationals and Dodgers played the first of their three games in Los Angeles, and the reminders of the disparity in payroll were abundant. The idea, then, is a fair one to bring up: While the Nationals do not have the financial might to pay Tucker $60 million annually — or the depth to take that sort of plunge and survive his disappointing season without drastically reducing their World Series odds for years to come — they are in a better position than most franchises to start taking financial risks this winter.

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What do Yohandy Morales and Jared Simpson’s promotions tell us about the Nationals’ plans? What does it say about the farm system? How about what it says about Seaver King, and why he isn't up? We answer these questions and more on District Territory, as well as discuss James Wood’s return to the struggling lineup and what Daylen Lile’s resurgence could mean for the Nationals of now and beyond.

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The Washington Nationals bullpen blew it again, prompting the question: Is
it time for them to start spending real money on bullpen help in free agency?
And if so, why? Washington should be able to assume some risk, and the
market for relievers is pretty deep this offseason. David Bednar, Adrian
Morejon, Bryan Abreu, Jason Adam, Raisel Iglesias and José Alvarado are
among the most compelling options this winter. The District Territory crew
also recaps the Nationals 35th blown save of the season, which is two shy
of the MLB record, as w...

Are the Washington Nationals interesting again? That depends on your
definition, but the youth movement is fascinating (when the young guys
 are actually out there). On Friday, they pushed Jackson Kent to his absolute
limit, and he shoved. Can he reel in the walks? This week, they've watched
Daylen Lile get out of his own head, and he's raked. Does he have an
extension coming? Then there's Brady House, who hit a ball 445 feet and
seems to be figuring it out against right-handed pitching. How much runway
will he get against righties n...

After the demotion of Jake Bird and the DFA of Trevor Williams, the Nationals roster
welcomes in Luis Perales and Matt Waldron to the big league pitching staff. District
Territory's crew analyze how the most recent transactions will impact the team, and
what it means for the organization down the stretch and into 2027. Plus, Daylen Lile
keeps his hot streak rolling (at the same time he caught fire in 2025) and Cade Cavalli
picks up his 9th straight quality start in Monday nights victory.

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After being swept by the Marlins in Miami, the Nationals return home from a 1-8 road
trip to face the Colorado Rockies. The District Territory crew analyzes the current make
up of Washington's struggling offense following the departures of Luis García Jr. and
Curtis Mead at the deadline. Who needs to step up with sluggers CJ Abrams and James
Wood sidelined by injury? Plus, a breakdown of Erik Tolman's resilience in path to his major
league debut, and a highlight of Jacob Young's spectacular catch on Sunday.

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The Washington Nationals are without star outfielder, James Wood and star shortstop
(or second baseman, I guess), CJ Abrams. They have been one of the worst teams in
MLB since late July, which is to say that they probably will not finish with a winning record
in 2026, but can pull some levers that could help them earn one in 2027. We talk about
whether they need their platoon bats like Brady House, Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile to
step up, whether Cade Cavalli can cross the 200 strikeout threshold, whether pitchers could
transition from starters...

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The District Territory crew talks through the rotation options for the Washington
Nationals in 2027, going beyond the obvious names like Cade Cavalli and Connelly
Early to see who fits in the plan. How much runway will Jackson Kent and Luis
Perales get? Do DJ Herz, Andrew Alvarez, Jake Irvin, Josiah Gray and Brad Lord
get a shot? Who else fits into the timeline? That, plus more discussion of CJ Abrams'
upcoming move to second base, Jacob Young's impressive season and Kent's poor<...

The Washington Nationals are trending in the wrong direction and running out of time
to make up ground, which all but solidifies their focus on the future. With that, we talk
about a few of the most important Nationals down the stretch, including  Abimelec Ortiz
(ahead of his revenge series against the Texas Rangers), CJ Abrams (ahead of a move
to second base) and Seaver King (who is raking with Triple-A Rochester). That, plus some
discussion of the trade deadline acquisitions and what to keep in perspective given pre-
season expectations for one o...

Friday the Washington Nationals announced a major change in the organization's future,
as CJ Abrams is expected to begin playing second base in the coming days. The District
Territory crew reacts to the bold in-season move and discuss what it means for the team.
Could this potentially open the doors to a Seaver King call up in the following days? Plus,
a preview of this weekend's match up versus New York Mets and a recap of Cade Cavalli's
career game against the Chicago Cubs

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The Washington Nationals are shuffling through the roster yet again, as Miles Mikolas
was designated for assignment and Jackson Kent was promoted. We talk through the
 Nationals youth movement, as well as the power surge from Jacob Young, who has
been one of the best hitters in MLB in the second half, as well as updates on James
Wood, Dylan Crews, Harry Ford and other members of the Nationals core on District
Territory.

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The Washington Nationals seemed dead in the water after the trade deadline, but as
it just so happens, they may have a shot to Moneyball their way back into the postseason
hunt... or at least into a chance to finish over .500 for the first time since 2019. Even without
James Wood in the lineup, an upgraded bullpen that included stellar efforts from newcomer
Yovanny Cruz, a first base platoon of Abimelec Ortiz and Andres Chaparro and other contri-
butors across the roster helped the Nats swept the Cincinnati Reds. The District Territory
crew talks...

Luis Perales and Jackson Kent not only look like big-league starters but, in the eyes
of multiple people in the organization, could hold their own in the majors right now.

The District Territory crew talks about Kent and Perales, as well as more on the bullpen
 help that could be on the way after the trade deadline.

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The District Territory breaks downs a variety of subjects following the Nationals 10-4
victory over Philadelphia, snapping a season high 7 game losing streak. How does James
Wood's departure influence Blake Butera's lineup? Which pitchers will get opportunities 
in the rotation following the DFA of RHP Zack Littell? Plus, an analysis of Washington's
new look bullpen.

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The Washington Nationals were sellers at the this year's trade deadline, though
there was a bit more nuance to what they did on Monday as they kept around fran-
chise pillar CJ Abrams. We talk about the returns for Foster Griffin, Luis Garcia Jr.,
Curtis Mead and Christian Franklin, what this deadline says about the Nationals'
season, and what to know down the home stretch. Also, we chat about Blake Butera's
first career ejection.

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After a heart breaking 5-4 loss Thursday night to open a critical 4 game set against the
Atlanta Braves, the Nationals will hand the ball to ace Foster Griffin Friday looking to
bounce back. Will this be his final appearance in a Washington uniform as the deadline
rapidly approaches? The District Territory crew previews the remainder of the Atlanta series
while a conundrum of possibilities surrounds the team as they sit just 2.5 games out of a Wild
Card spot.

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The trade deadline is less than a week away, and the Washington Nationals are expected
to make more moves after trading infielder Curtis Mead for lefty Connelley Early over the
weekend. As such, we wanted to field your fake offers, many of which, candidly, were impressive.

The Nationals are still figuring out what they’ll do. Here’s a mix of buy and sell options, including
deals with CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia Jr. and Foster Griffin, along with teams like the Boston Red Sox,
Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox.

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