ORLANDO, Fla. – As he officially completed his first trade as Nationals president of baseball operations Saturday, Paul Toboni didn’t pause to consider the significance of that moment for him. Not that trading Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for two young players, including top catching prospect Harry Ford, wasn’t a big deal. But in his mind, it was

ORLANDO, Fla. – New Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is acing his first Winter Meetings. Albernaz came across as relaxed and prepared during his 20-minute media session this afternoon, eager to share information and toss out the occasional quip. He confirmed that Ryan Helsley will be the closer rather than working multiple innings after signing a two

Creating The Next Envy of Sport  by Paul Toboni, Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations   Baseball’s Winter Meetings begin this week, marking the unofficial start to what baseball people call the “hot stove season” – a throwback to a time when if you wanted to talk baseball in the winter, you literally gathered around a hot stove. In that same vein, I wanted to take this chance, metaphorically, to gather Nationals fans around to talk not only about how we’re going to approach this offseason, but the long-term future of our ball club.  When I left a great job at the Boston Red Sox to take the job of president of baseball operations in Washington, I said that my goal is to make the Nationals the envy of sport.  To me, that means an organization defined by our relentless pursuit of excellence, strengthened by our connection to each other and fueled by our positive energy. As a result, we become an organization that players and staff are itching to join because they know it’s where they will develop and thrive most; a place that energizes our loyal fans and attracts new ones, and where success is achieved – and sustained – over time.  In pursuing that goal, we have several advantages, including young, exciting talent, a vibrant city, and passionate, smart fans. It is my job to support and insulate that talent with a better pipeline, and, just as importantly, help current Major League players find the extra gear they need to fulfill their potential.  Late DeMatha High School coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Morgan Wootten often talked about a winning effort being the precursor to actual wins. The same is true in baseball. What players and coaches do or don’t do shows up every night in the box score in black and white. That’s the kind of visible scoreboard I embrace.  I intend to take accountability for our organizational consistency. That means our coaches and development staff speak with a unified voice, from our academy in the Dominican Republic up through the Major League level, so that players continue to get the same messages as they progress through their careers.  It also means that every player in our system will enhance his talents and work hard to eliminate deficiencies through individualized player plans. We will create “priority goals” for each player, ranked by those which offer the greatest benefit once improved. Perhaps that goal is developing a pitcher’s third pitch, improving a hitter’s strike zone discipline, or increasing an infielder’s range. Each goal achieved unlocks the next, creating a journey, and eventually a culture of continuous improvement.  Somewhere out there, the players who will comprise the next great Washington Nationals teams are taking shape, and they will largely be developed inside our walls. Our coaching and development staffs are already at work setting priority goals, systematically identifying and tackling them one by one. Improvement won’t just happen by accident – it will be the product of excellent planning, thoughtful collaboration and diligent execution.   One thing that has been gratifying for me to see early in my tenure with the Nationals is how a commitment to continual improvement is taking place in all areas of our organization, which can create a meaningful flywheel effect. After all, a strong business can support better baseball – and vice versa – and it’s that high-functioning partnership that can ultimately drive sustainable winning.  Progress comes from stacking good decisions on top of good decisions. In the two months I’ve been here, this has manifested itself most visibly in the construction of our baseball operations staff, hiring and maintaining some of the best talent in the industry to oversee player development, work in research and development, and oversee our hitting and pitching programs.   The biggest piece of our offseason so far has been hiring Blake Butera as our manager. Blake is an exemplary person who is aligned with our values and goals and understands what it takes to create a culture of sustained success. Blake’s time in the dugout and in the front office also uniquely position him to lead our Major Leaguers as we seek to push our big-league players to find their next gear.   Building a team that becomes the envy of sport is an ambitious goal. Some days it will feel as if we’re moving quickly; others might feel like we’ve hit rush-hour traffic on the Beltway. There will be pockets of frustration. It will certainly take time, measured in years. And baseball is a game that involves luck as well as skill – injuries suffered or avoided; balls that drop in that could just as easily been caught. We can only control what we can control. But the most important thing is that we’re continuing to move forward.  It has been two months since Washington, D.C., and Nationals fans everywhere welcomed me and my family to your region and your team. With each day that passes, we’re becoming more familiar with this vibrant and diverse city, and we love how it brings together people from all walks of life.   Baseball, too, brings people together. Growing up in San Francisco, I remember going to the yard and watching players like Barry Bonds and Tim Lincecum, and how the entire community came alive knowing every pitch had the chance to be special. During my time with the Red Sox, I felt the electricity throughout the city during our 2018 World Series run; an energy which ran through Washington the following year.  My hope is that by building sustainable success, Nationals Park can be grounds for childhood memories, family gatherings, work outings, nights with friends, and, in a city that sometimes struggles to find it, perhaps even political common ground.    I want kids growing up in the D.C. area to fall in love with the game the same way I did – by coming out to the ballpark. I want fans of all ages to know that when they come to Nationals Park, they’ll see a team that plays hard for them — driven every day by their support.  More than anything, I’m appreciative for the chance to help realize this vision and humbled to be part of the effort. It’s a responsibility – to this fan base and to this city – that I don’t take lightly. 

ORLANDO – Good morning from The Signia Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on the property of Walt Disney World, site of this year’s Baseball Winter Meetings. Yeah, I won’t be using that full title again the rest of the week. You’ll just have to trust me when I refer to the event’s venue, a new one in the traditional rotation that for a long time included

ORLANDO – Time to get this party started. The Orioles trickled into the Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria yesterday for baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. They boarded early and later flights, escaping the cold back home and plunging into the Hot Stove. President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias will sit down with e

As the baseball world comes together in Orlando this week for the annual Winter Meetings, so many questions will swirl around the industry. Which free agents will sign? What big names will be traded? Which teams will appear to be going all-in for 2026? Unfortunately, sometimes the Winter Meetings leave a lot of questions unanswered. On the other ha

Turns out Paul Toboni didn’t want to wait until he arrived in Orlando to make his first significant transaction running the Nationals. The new president of baseball operations got an offer he liked from the Mariners on Saturday and finalized a trade that sends Jose A. Ferrer to Seattle in exchange for top catching prospect Harry Ford and young pitc

It’s easy for offseason waiver claims to slip through the cracks.  Thaddeus Ward and René Pinto, claimed on the same day last November, didn’t end up seeing any major league playing time in 2025. Sam Hilliard, a claim in 2024, didn’t make an impact, either.  Once in a while, though, an offseason waiver claim ends up contributing.  Cole Sulser, clai

Flights will be landing at the Orlando airport all day and night as baseball executives, managers, scouts, agents, media and other personnel descend upon the Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria for baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. Be prepared to see the hotel referenced by multiple names. It’s already caused some confusion because i

The Washington Nationals acquired consensus top-100 prospect catcher Harry Ford and right-handed pitcher Isaac Lyon from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for left-handed pitcher José A. Ferrer on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement. Ford, 22, is currently the No. 42 prospect in Major League Basebal