Nats-O's agree to five-year exhibition series; four more players cut

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals and Orioles are set to close out their respective exhibition seasons with one final game against each other later this month, but that’s just a precursor to more games against each other in coming years.

The two clubs today announced a five-year deal to play exhibitions against each other, including an annual home-and-home series from 2026-29.

This year’s standalone game is set for Monday, March 24 at 1:05 p.m. at Nationals Park. The Nats also announced today all current and former federal employees are eligible to receive two free tickets to that game “as a special expression of gratitude for their services.” Federal workers can claim their free tickets at the first base box office beginning at 11:45 a.m. on the day of game. Additional details can be found at nationals.com/federal.

The clubs will expand this series with annual home-and-home games beginning in 2026, one game played at Nationals Park, one at Camden Yards. The specific schedule has yet to be announced, but the games are expected to take place on the Sunday and Monday prior to Opening Day, which would require the Nats to finish spring training in Florida one day earlier than usual.

This is a return to a previous era when end-of-spring exhibitions between the Nationals and Orioles was commonplace. They met each other every year from 2006-09, with games played in both cities.

The teams have played, and will continue to play, regular season interleague series against each other since 2006. This year, the Nats host games April 22-24, with the Orioles hosting May 16-18.

* The Nationals made another round of cuts prior to tonight’s game against the Mets, dropping four players from their spring training roster.

Right-handers Cole Henry and Andry Lara each was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, with right-hander Joan Adon and lefty Konnor Pilkington reassigned to minor league camp.

Henry had looked impressive in three spring training appearances to date, striking out nine without allowing a run over 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old, a second-round pick from LSU in the 2020 Draft, is in the process of converting into a full-time reliever after injuries disrupted his starting career in the minors.

Lara, who was just added to the 40-man roster for the first time this winter, is only 22 and only reached Double-A Harrisburg for the first time last summer. He made three spring training appearances, allowing two runs on two hits over three innings.

Adon, who was dropped from the 40-man roster this winter, has pitched in four spring games, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings. Pilkington, signed to a minor league deal during the offseason after previously pitching in the majors for the Guardians, allowed one run on four hits over four spring outings.

Today’s moves leave the Nationals with 48 players remaining in major league camp. Two of those players (Josiah Gray, Mason Thompson) have already been placed on the 60-day injured list.