The Washington Nationals tendered contracts to all seven of their arbitration-eligible players on the non-tender deadline. The team also agreed to a one-year deal with catcher Riley Adams. This marks the first major roster decision under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
The Washington Nationals made a key move ahead of the non-tender deadline, opting to tender contracts to all seven arbitration-eligible players, as announced on Friday. This decision came as a surprise to some observers, given the mixed performances of several players in the 2025 season. The team also reached an agreement on a one-year contract with catcher Riley Adams, though the salary figure has not been disclosed.
The arbitration-eligible group includes catcher Riley Adams, second baseman Luis García Jr., shortstop CJ Abrams, and pitchers Cade Cavalli, Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, and MacKenzie Gore. Paul Toboni, hired in late September, chose not to non-tender any of them, signaling a bet on internal improvements under the new coaching staff. Analysts noted that players like Adams, Irvin, and García Jr. were potential non-tender candidates due to their 2025 struggles.
Adams, 29, earned $850,000 last season and stepped up with 74 starts while Keibert Ruiz recovered from concussions. He hit .286 in 49 second-half games but .152 in 34 first-half games, with an overall .186 average and .560 OPS for the year. Despite grading poorly as a framer and blocker, his 78.3 mph average bat speed highlights untapped power potential.
García Jr., 25, the longest-tenured Nat, earned $4.5 million in his first arbitration year, slashing .252/.289/.412 with 16 home runs and -7 outs above average—a dip from 2024. His projected 2026 salary is around $7 million, though concerns linger about the middle infield defense alongside Abrams.
Irvin, 28, posted a 9-13 record with a 5.70 ERA over 180 innings in 33 starts, earning $774,600—down from a 4.41 ERA in 2024. His projected salary is $3.3 million. The Nationals' rotation remains intact with Gore, Irvin, Cavalli, Brad Lord, and Andrew Alvarez, while Gray made three rehab starts post-Tommy John surgery.
Last offseason, under former leadership, the Nats non-tendered closer Kyle Finnegan and reliever Tanner Rainey but later re-signed Finnegan. Despite the tenders, the team can still trade these players as they negotiate or head to arbitration.