Mark Zuckerman

For Blake Butera, it's about to get real The majors' youngest manager in more than 50 years embarks on his first season with the Nationals, hoping to convince players he's up to the task

Blake Butera stepped into the Nationals' spring training complex for the first time last month when it hit him: "OK, this is real. We're doing this."

Yep, the majors' youngest manager in more than 50 years is really doing this. No turning back now.
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News and notes from day one of spring training A majority of position players have already reported, plus news of a new reliever acquisition, Luis García Jr.'s position switch and the health of Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray

News and notes from day one at Nats camp, including ...
* Luis Garcia Jr.'s position
* Keibert Ruiz's health
* Josiah Gray's push for Opening Day
natsjournal.com/p/news-and-n...

Nats acquired RHP Andre Granillo from Cardinals for RHP George Soriano (who was DFA'd last week, shortly after getting claimed off waivers). Granillo, 25, pitched in 14 games for STL last year, with 4.71 ERA. Had 1.21 ERA in 29 games at Memphis in 2024.

RHP Trevor Williams moved to 60-day IL.

Way ahead of you!
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Live from West Palm Beach ... it's reporting day! Nationals pitchers and catchers officially report for spring training today. Here's what's on tap, plus a shoutout to some other local sportswriters on Substack.

Good morning from CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Glad to be here with MLBdotcom's Jessica Camerato. Wish our friends @andrewgolden.bsky.social, @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and @chelseajanes.bsky.social were here, too.

Here’s what’s on tap today: natsjournal.com/p/live-from-...

Over 2,000 total subscribers on day one. Thank you all. Talk to you from West Palm Beach tomorrow morning!

Officially 62 players to start camp. Have a subpage on the new site that will be updating the current roster all season long: natsjournal.com/p/current-ro...

#SweetFancyMoses Thank you everyone!
natsjournal.com

Welcome to Nats Journal Your new home for Washington Nationals news, analysis, podcasts and community

Pitchers and catchers report for spring training tomorrow. And so do I.

Welcome to Nats Journal. Hope you'll join me on this new endeavor, and hope you'll help spread the word!
natsjournal.com/p/welcome-to...

C Harry Ford (Great Britain) and 1B Matt Mervis (Israel) are the only Nationals players in big league camp this spring who will be participating in the World Baseball Classic.

Nationals announce spring training broadcast schedule, with 8 games on TV/streaming and 15 games on radio/streaming.

Nationals have claimed LHP Ken Waldichuk off waivers from Rays and designated RHP George Soriano (who was claimed last week) for assignment. The 40-man merry-go-round remains at full-speed.

LHP Konnor Pilkington, who was DFA'd last week, cleared waivers and declared for free agency instead of an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester.

Baseball America’s 2026 rankings have the Nationals’ farm system 16th out of 30 clubs. They ranked 14th last year, 15th the year before that.

Hmm, I guess it’s time to put an end to that streak!

Really hope Cheng didn’t buy a condo, because he’s already been DFA’d, with the Nationals now claiming RHP George Soriano off waivers from the Braves. (And you thought the journalism industry was brutal!)

I don't know exactly what's next for me, but I intend for it to include continued coverage of the Nationals in one form or another. Keep listening to @natschatpodcast.bsky.social and follow along here for an update: Once I know, you'll know!

Farewell after 10 wonderful years I wish I could say this is the first time I’ve written one of these columns. But I’ve been a professional sportswriter for 27 years now. It’s part of the job description.You get hired by one outlet, y...

Bidding farewell to MASN, who for the last 10 years gave me the opportunity to write and talk about the Nationals through a decade of highs and lows. And a thank you to my colleagues and all the readers and viewers for their unwavering support.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/f...

Nationals have claimed LHP Richard Lovelady off waivers from Mets and DFA’d UTIL Mickey Gasper (who was only recently claimed himself). The 40-man roster merry-go-round continues.

Nats announce minor league coaches and player development staff The changes new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni made to the Nationals’ minor league system and player development department are now known, with the club officially announcing the coaches...

Paul Toboni wants to turn the Nats into a "player development machine."

Here are the minor league coaches, coordinators and staff he is entrusting to help him do it. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...

Here’s the full Nationals’ 2026 player development staff, including all levels of the minors and coordinators:

I’ve not only worked with Dan Kolko but have been blessed to call him my friend for more than a decade. So proud of his professional and personal growth through it all, and to now see him officially get this opportunity to be the Nats’ full-time play-by-play announcer.

2026 TV crew has officially been announced.

Riley Adams cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A. The split contract he signed this fall guarantees him a $500,000 salary in the minors ($1 million if he returns to the majors).

Nationals claimed SS Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from Mets and designated LHP Konnor Pilkington for assignment. Cheng, 24, played 3 games with Pirates last season, had been claimed by both Rays and Mets this month. Hope he didn’t buy a condo anywhere.

RHP Andry Lara, who was DFA’d last week, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester.

Some notable names on this list, though Sykora and Susana will still be rehabbing from last summer's surgeries.