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There hasn’t been a whole lot of baseball news coming out of South Capitol Street the last few weeks, but we will have some news today.
It’s arbitration deadline day across the major leagues, with teams and players who have more than three years but fewer than six years of service time required to either agree to terms on their salary for the 2026 season or officially file competing arbitration figures.
It’s hardly the most exciting day of the year, and really all we’re talking about here is how much money these guys will make this season. Nobody’s in danger of losing his job.
But it’s a necessary step in the often complicated arbitration process. And with a new front office now running the show, it may give us some clues about how this group approaches things differently than the previous one did (if at all).
The Nats had seven arbitration-eligible players when the offseason began, but they already agreed to terms with two of them on 2026 contracts. Right-hander Josiah Gray, who is finally ready to return from his 2024 Tommy John surgery, agreed to the same $1.35 million salary he earned last season. Catcher Riley Adams, who faces an uncertain future with Keibert Ruiz already locked up and top prospect Harry Ford acquired from the Mariners last month, agreed to a $1 million deal (up from $850,000 last year).
So that leaves five remaining players who must agree to salaries today or file for arbitration. Those cases will be presented before a three-judge panel prior to spring training, with the panel siding either with the player or the team. The two sides, of course, are always free to continue negotiating right up until the hearing date and settle on their own.
Last year, the Nationals took one player to arbitration: first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who lost his case and wound up making $10.3 million.
The likely highest priced player from this year’s group of five is second baseman Luis Garcia Jr., who has 4 years, 142 days of service time. The 25-year-old made $4.5 million last season while batting .252/.289/.412 with 28 doubles, 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He regressed badly in the field, which could cost him some this winter. Even so, MLB Trade Rumors projects Garcia to earn $7 million.
Double-play partner CJ Abrams – 3 years, 130 days of service time – is arbitration-eligible for the first time and stands to receive a huge raise from his modest $780,600 salary from last season. Though he faded during the second half, Abrams’ overall numbers (.257/.315/.433, 35 doubles, 19 homers, 60 RBIs, 31 stolen bases) still look solid and are projected to earn him a salary around $5.6 million.
MacKenzie Gore enters his second year of arbitration eligibility, having made $2.89 million last season. The left-hander also struggled in the second half but was a first time All-Star after a dominant first half and finished with a 4.17 ERA, 185 strikeouts and 1.353 WHIP over 30 starts. MLB Trade Rumors projects a $4.7 million salary for Gore, whose name continues to come up in trade rumors this winter.
The Nationals’ two other arbitration-eligible players qualified despite having yet to reach three years of MLB service time. Jake Irvin (2 years, 152 days) and Cade Cavalli (2 years, 141 days) are part of the group of so-called “Super-2” players, who are given a fourth year of arbitration eligibility because they are among the top 22 percent of players with more than two years of service time.
Irvin endured through a disappointing season, finishing with a 5.70 ERA, 1.428 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 33 starts. He’s nevertheless expected to receive a salary in the range of $3.3 million.
Cavalli reaches arbitration despite having pitched in only 11 MLB games to date. Because the right-hander needed Tommy John surgery after making his debut (which put him on the 40-man roster), the Nationals had to carry him on their 60-day injured list for the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons, which allowed him to accrue service time even though he couldn’t pitch. He’s projected to earn $1.3 million, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Check back later today for updates as news of the signings – or arbitration filings – emerge.
UPDATE: The Nationals announced they've come to terms on 2026 contracts with three players so far: CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin. Gore will make $5.6 million, and Abrams will make $4.2 million, according to FanSided. Irvin will make $2.8 million, according to the Washington Post. So that leaves just Garcia and Cavalli to get done before tonight's 8 p.m. deadline.
UPDATE II: The Nats also have now announced a 2026 deal with Garcia, who will make $6.875 million, per the Post.
UPDATE III: There was no deal with Cavalli before tonight's deadline, so the two sides filed for arbitration. Cavalli is asking for $900,000, with the Nationals offering $825,000, according to USA Today. They're still free to continue negotiating and settle on a salary before going to a hearing prior to spring training.
