WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals learned today they won their arbitration case against first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Lowe will make $10.3 million this season, the highest salary on the team’s current 2025 roster. He was seeking $11.1 million. Acquired from the Rangers for reliever Robert Garcia in

SARASOTA, Fla. – The decision to sign with the Orioles came easily to outfielder Tyler O’Neill. It wasn’t just the money, though the idea of being paid $49.5 million over three seasons with an opt-out clause after the first year enticed him. “It was always chasing Baltimore last year,” he said. O’Neill caught them via contract negotiations. He spen

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Ask Keibert Ruiz what he thought of his 2024 season, and the Nationals catcher doesn’t mince words. “I was really disappointed with my season last year,” he said. “It wasn’t good, you know? I wasn’t happy.” Ruiz then immediately flips the switch and turns his attention toward the upcoming season, one he can’t wait to get sta

Heston Kjerstad’s reputation is that of a powerful slugger from the left side of the plate. So would you believe me if I told you that he and Jackson Holliday had the exact same career minor league batting average? Or that Kjerstad’s .387 on-base percentage was just three points below Adley Rutschman’s down on the farm? The Arkansas product has pro

SARASOTA, Fla. – Where some people see a logjam, Coby Mayo sees a fighting chance. Seven infielders, six infielders, it doesn’t matter to Mayo. He isn’t expecting to spend his 2025 season riding buses in Triple-A. “I think I’ve said this last year, I think an opportunity will present itself if you can show out and if I can do what I can do,” Mayo s

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The 30 pitchers in big league camp for the Nationals bounce around from practice field to practice field, working on various fundamental drills, all of them participating, all of them encouraging each other. But when it comes time to throw off the bullpen mounds, two of those 30 pitchers are forced to stand off to the side a

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – He arrived from Japan late Thursday night, exhausted from the long flight and time change, but determined nonetheless to be in the Nationals clubhouse by 8 a.m., then on the practice fields a couple hours later for his first bullpen session as a major leaguer. And with a bank of cameras, reporters, fans and even one Japanese

SARASOTA, Fla. – Cedric Mullins is the last man standing, and running, among the trio of young outfielders who made their way from the minors to Camden Yards. Austin Hays was traded to the Phillies last summer and he signed with the Reds as a free agent. Anthony Santander received a five-year deal with the Blue Jays. Mullins is approaching his own

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Mountain is moving in the right direction. Félix Bautista is throwing in the bullpen and his surgically repaired elbow is responding favorably to the workload. He hasn’t experienced any setbacks, nothing that makes him doubt his availability on March 27 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. “I feel really good right now, thank God,” Bau

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – By any reasonable measure, DJ Herz’s 2024 season was a success. The young left-hander pitched well enough in 10 starts at Triple-A Rochester to earn a promotion. And then he pitched well enough in 19 starts with the Nationals (4.16 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings) to feel like he had established his big lea