District Territory

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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