Spencer Nusbaum

As expected, top prospects Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora were among the first cuts at Nationals spring training.

They will head to MiLB camp alongside Andry Lara, Eddy Yean and Max Romero.

Andrew crystallized, to me, what it takes to be a great reporter. That’s by being yourself — which, in Andrew’s case, meant being kind, grounded, funny and eager to poke at anything that made him curious.

This role, as such, is a perfect fit. He’s gonna crush it.

Thank you! I feel welcomed already!

Will keep you posted, but it appears likely!

lol that’s all you!

Thank you! I’m amped! And will post here when I have that date locked down!

Oh, yeah, subscribe to @theathletic.com

Yes, this is surreal. Yes, this is quite the list of people to see my name alongside.

And if you’re curious about the beat structure, I’ll have more on that soon! But it’ll be a whole lot of me talking to you all, you all talking to me, and deep reporting. Let’s ride!

The Athletic Welcomes New Colleagues | The New York Times Company We’re excited to announce the hiring of several Washington Post journalists as The Athletic expands its coverage of the Commanders, launches a new Nationals beat and adds to its growing roster of…

Well, Nats fans, I’m sticking around.

Thrilled to announce that I’m joining the @theathletic.com as the Washington Nationals beat reporter.

I’m amped about our plans for the beat, and believe you will be, too.
www.nytco.com/press/the-at...

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-...

Anyways, yeah. This is an incalculable loss for the region and sports journalism. It will be jarring to wake up in the morning — in one of the biggest metro areas in the country — and not have a sports section (and so many other great parts of The Post) to turn to.

Also, it was really nice that my final story for the Post was one I co-bylined with @andrewcgolden (and was edited, as always, by an incredible team of editors).

We did some great work together

The sports section basically taught me how to read growing up. Somehow, years later, they let me write in those pages. I’ll cherish that forever.

I was laid off by The Washington Post today. This is gutting for our readers and our section, but I’m grateful for the 4 years I had to cover sports alongside friends and legends.

If you’re hiring or know of someone who is: spencernusbaum(at)gmail(dot)com

Just wanted to take a minute, for no particular reason whatsoever, and celebrate some of the brilliant work that my
@postsports.bsky.social colleagues have done in recent weeks.

These stories take time and resources. They're also what make The Post so great. All gift links/free to read...

He keeps every story I write in boxes in his home. He calls me to ask if I know when my stories make it on the front page of the sports section.

It’s an honor to be part of the @postsports.bsky.social team. Always have felt that way but especially today.

If nothing else, I’ve always hoped our work in the Washington Post’s sports section could give readers a meaningful connection to (and understanding of) something bigger than themselves.

I’ve seen today: It has. Forever grateful to be a part of this team. #SaveThePost

They were traded for MacKenzie Gore. Here’s what MLB evaluators see. The Post talked to several talent evaluators employed by teams across MLB, asking them about the return for MacKenzie Gore. Here’s what we learned.

I know what you're thinking: man, I wish @spencernusbaum.bsky.social and Andrew had a story detailing what they've heard from talent evaluators across baseball about the prospects acquired in the MacKenzie Gore trade.

Lucky for you, we came through:

The Washington Nationals are acquiring five prospects back from the Rangers for MacKenzie Gore, per source. Biggest names among them: SS Gavin Fien and RHP Alejandro Rosario.

Matt LeCroy will stay on as the manager of the Nationals’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, per sources.

LeCroy is a popular figure in the organization and has managed Rochester for the last five years. This’ll be his 18th year with the organization.

Can confirm that LHP Zach Penrod and the Nationals are in agreement on a minor-league deal. @willsammon.bsky.social was first.

Penrod, a former Red Sox prospect, made 7 big league appearances with Boston in 2024.

Can confirm that the Nationals have signed righty reliever Trevor Gott to a minor league deal, per source. @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social first.

Gott had good underlying metrics in ‘22/23 but had TJ in April ‘24 and hasn’t pitched in the majors since. 9.16 ERA in limited AAA stint last year.

Are you or someone you know going to the Caps' Pride game on Saturday? Have you watched Heated Rivalry? Is, by chance, anyone going to the game *because* they watched Heated Rivalry?

If any of that fits you, my DMs are open. Working on a story and would love to chat!

Ahead of spring training, some Nats minor leaguers will get an extra camp The Nationals are expected to have around 60 minor leaguers participate in a supplemental training camp at the team’s facility in Florida, which will start later this month.

Next week, the Nationals are hosting a supplemental camp for ~60 minor leaguers before spring training starts. Talked to AGM Devin Pearson about why.

That, plus some prospects who will be there, updates on new technology/spending and more:

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

The Nationals have claimed pitcher Paxton Schultz off waivers, per source.

Schultz pitched in 13 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. Was used as a reliever/opener in 2025. He was DFA’d so Toronto could clear space on their roster for Kazuma Okamoto.

Nats avoid the awkwardness of arbitration with all but one player Infielders CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr., and pitchers MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin agreed to contracts for the upcoming season. Cade Cavalli and the club remain at odds.

Story with @andrewgolden.bsky.social on the Nationals’ arbitration situation (which includes a $75k gap between what they filed and what Cade Cavalli did, the smallest arb gap in MLB) and some other details in here: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

He did a bit of a study abroad in Japan. It changed him as a pitcher. The Nationals signed Foster Griffin, a left-hander who throws seven pitches, to a one-year contract worth up to $6.5 million.

Every year, MLB pitchers throw harder and harder. But behind the scenes, they’re also embarking on a quieter quest: learning more and more pitch types.

Enter Foster Griffin, who returns from Japan with seven pitches and the chance to step up with the Nats:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Nationals’ Paul Toboni hires his No. 2: A 31-year-old GM The hiring of Anirudh Kilambi from the Phillies as the new GM aligns perfectly with the Nats’ Venn diagram: Young, from a competitive organization and steeped in data.

The Nationals have a new general manager in Anirudh Kilambi. And the background he will bring is becoming increasingly common in DC:

- In his 30s.
- From a competitive organization.
- Data guy.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Nationals take a chance on a left-hander who lands a second MLB chance Foster Griffin, 30, spent the past three seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

The Nationals have their first free agent signing of the winter: Foster Griffin. More here on the 30-year-old lefty who spent the last 3 seasons in Japan:

Should the Nationals trade MacKenzie Gore? Spencer and I think so. Here’s why. #mlb #wintermeetings #Traderumors #baseball #mackenziegore TikTok video by Andrew and Spencer

One other note that doesn’t fit in this lil format: shortstops don’t carry the same injury risks that pitchers do, so the Nationals (probably) don’t have to worry as much about a big blow to Abrams’ value the same way they would Gore. That’s something we touched on here: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrgCpP3A/