Although the hot stove season has just begun, activity is brisk, both within the league and with the team.
First, MLB has decided that it would be best for the clubs to have a full offseason to adjust to a salary cap/floor and now proposes the new rules for the 2028 season (instead of 2027). MLB also proposes slightly higher numbers for both the floor and the cap, with the 2028 floor set at $180.2 million and the 2028 cap set at $258.2 million.
Not surprisingly, the Players’ Association still considers a salary cap to be a non-starter, arguing that the only motivation is to allow the owners to make more money. Since the parties must agree on this to avoid a lockout, it’s still looking like a lockout on Dec. 1.
The Nationals recently made a flurry of roster moves. On November 2, the team had to activate players from the IL and set the 40-man offseason roster. This resulted in the following changes to the roster:
| Player | Status / Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Millas (C) | Activated from 60-day IL (fractured finger) | Retained on 40-man roster |
| Matt Waldron (RHP) | Activated from 60-day IL (chest inflammation) | Retained on 40-man roster |
| José Tena (INF) | Designated for assignment (DFA) | Removed from 40-man roster |
| Paxton Schultz (RHP) | Designated for assignment (DFA) & claimed off waivers | Claimed by Cincinnati Reds |
| Mitchell Parker (LHP) | Claimed off waivers | Claimed by Atlanta Braves |
| PJ Poulin (LHP) | Cleared waivers & outrighted | Elected free agency |
| Ken Waldichuk (LHP) | Cleared waivers & outrighted | Elected free agency |
While I am sorry to see Tena go, the Nationals have a surplus of utility players and many more in the farm system who will be ready to fill any spots in the lineup.
And, the team recently traded for another utility infielder — Nate Furman. Nate joins the team from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league LHP Tony Neubeck. Welcome to the team, Nate!
Today in Washington, we woke up to what feels like a new regime. Perhaps that emboldened Paul Toboni to release his state of the Nationals letter to the fans today. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can read the letter here: https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/the-work-beneath-the-surface-our-quest-to-keep-building. I found the following statements in the letter enlightening:
The Nationals run differential improved from -212 in 2025 to +6 in 2026. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 218-run improvement was the greatest season-to-season jump in Nationals history.
One hundred percent of the team hits this season came from players under the age of 30 -– just the second time in Major League history that has happened.
Our Minor League winning percentage increased from .463 in 2025 to .531 in 2026, going from 24th to fifth in all of baseball.
Toboni also spoke about the culture of the team and the camaraderie among the players. Perhaps my favorite point that he made was how much he enjoyed talking to the players’ parents at the ballpark. I certainly had the same experience in September visiting with the parents on the California rode trip. According to Toboni, “I found myself saying the same thing again and again: ‘Your son is a great player, but I love the person 100 times more.’”
Missing from the letter is a discussion of the Lerner family’s willingness to support growth with funding (although a salary floor will certainly help, should one be agree to).
Overall, as a fan who bleeds red and blue, I am optimistic.
Let’s become the envy of sports.
#thenatslady #theswarm
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