<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-nationals-sign-2023-all-star-to-1-35-million-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals sign 2023 All-Star to $1.35 million deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Josiah-Gray-has-returned-to-the-Nationals.jpg"><figcaption>Greg Lovett / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals sign 2023 All-Star to $1.35 million deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T17:04:50-08:00">December 12th, 5:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T17:04:50-08:00">December 12th, 5:04pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals and starting pitcher Josiah Gray have come to an agreement on a one-year contract that will allow the team and the pitcher to avoid arbitration. Gray has agreed to a new deal that will pay him $1.35 million in the 2026 season, according to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan.</p><p>Gray was an All-Star for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-news-mackenzie-gore-trade-talks-nationals">the Nationals</a> during the 2023 season he pitched 159.0 innings for the Nationals. He had an 8-13 record that season with a 3.91 earned run average. He made 30 starts for the Nationals that season and he struck out 143 batters in 159.0 innings.</p><p>Gray made just 2 starts in 2024 before he was disabled by the Nationals. He had Tommy John surgery as a result and missed all of the 2025 season. Gray will earn the same amount of money he made last season while he was out of commission.</p><p>The 27-year-old Gray has 4 Major League seasons to his credit, including 3-plus seasons with the Nationals and one partial season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a 17-27 career record with a 4.84 ERA and 382 strikeouts in 386.2 innings. The Nationals are hoping he can demonstrate the durability that he had 2022 and ’23. He made 28 starts in ’22 before his 30-start season in ’23.</p><h2><b>Nationals looking for improved pitching</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-jeff-passan-teases-mackenzie-gore-cj-abrams-trade-package">The Nationals</a> have five players who are scheduled for arbitration at this point, including three pitchers. Those hurlers include right-handers Cade Cavalli and Jake Irvin, and left-hander MacKenzie Gore.</p><p>Irvin did a decent job for the Nationals and he was their most dependable starter last year. He made 33 start and had a 9-13 record. He pitched a team-high 180.0 inning and struck out 124 batters with a 5.70 ERA.</p><p>Mitchell Park made 30 starts and he finished the season with a 9-16 season. He struck out 103 batters while pitching 164.2 innings. He had a 5.68 ERA for the Nationals.</p><p>Gore also made 30 starts for the Nationals and he had a 5-15 record with a 4.17 ERA. Gore struck out 185 batters in 159.2 innings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals sign 2023 All-Star to $1.35 million deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-trade-cj-abrams-gore-toboni');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: The trade candidate 1 insider would be ‘surprised’ to see moved');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Washington-Nationals-Rumors.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Mills-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: The trade candidate 1 insider would be ‘surprised’ to see moved</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T12:19:03-08:00">December 11th, 12:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T12:19:03-08:00">December 11th, 12:19pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals entered the 2025 Winter Meetings with a clear message — they are open for business. But even as calls pour in from rival clubs, there’s a limit to how far the Nationals front office will go. The balance between activity and caution defines <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/mlb-rumors-nationals-mackenzie-gore-emerging-as-serious-trade-candidate">the Nationals 2025 MLB offseason</a> plans, led by newly hired President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni.</p><p>According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, who reported from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, the Nationals <a href="https://fansided.com/mlb/winter-meetings-takeaways-what-the-yankees-orioles-mets-red-sox-and-more-are-planning-next" rel="noopener">are drawing significant attention</a> around several young talents. He noted the following in a feature post.</p><p>“The Nationals are receiving interest in MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, among others. Gore seems like a realistic possibility to move with the interest is massive. Teams have tried on CJ Abrams, but I’d be surprised if he moved. Still, the Nationals are open for business, and teams will keep calling them all winter.”</p><p>Murray’s insight underscores how trade talks surrounding MacKenzie Gore have intensified this winter. Multiple teams view the southpaw as a strong trade candidate and continue to explore ways to add him to their rotation. Gore holds significant value, and as the Nationals reshape their roster, they may move him to secure impactful assets for the future.</p><p>The bigger headline, though, comes from the persistent trade rumors <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-jeff-passan-teases-mackenzie-gore-cj-abrams-trade-package">linked to CJ Abrams</a>. Toboni heard the rising speculation around the shortstop and expressed surprise at how quickly it spread. Despite heavy interest from opposing teams, Toboni and the Nationals front office remain firm on keeping Abrams, who stays under team control through 2029. The level of contractual stability raises the asking price to a franchise-altering return before the Nationals would even consider a deal.</p><p>For now, the Nationals are expected to continue fielding calls through the winter. But all indications suggest Abrams will be anchoring shortstop when Opening Day arrives — while <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-washington-rushing-trade-mackenzie-gore">Gore’s name could headline</a> the next big trade.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: The trade candidate 1 insider would be ‘surprised’ to see moved

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-news-mackenzie-gore-trade-talks-nationals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Orioles in talks with Nationals about possible MacKenzie Gore trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Baltimore-in-talks-with-Nationals-about-possible-MacKenzie-Gore-trade.jpg"><figcaption>Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Orioles in talks with Nationals about possible MacKenzie Gore trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T20:39:52-08:00">December 9th, 8:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T20:39:52-08:00">December 9th, 8:39pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Orioles</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Baltimore Orioles have reentered the MLB offseason spotlight as they engage with the Washington Nationals in trade discussions involving left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Early indications suggest interest is real, but progress toward a finalized deal remains limited.</p><p>The discussions carry weight for both teams, as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-rumors-baltimore-trade-talks-marlins-starter">Orioles seek a frontline upgrade</a> and the Nationals look to accelerate its rebuild with a significant prospect haul that aligns with its long-term plan.</p><p>MLB Network’s Jon Morosi posted on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, noting the teams have remained in steady contact about a possible move for the young starter. His update <a href="https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1998604184074252458?s=20" rel="noopener">offered</a> rare insight into a potential Nationals and Orioles trade that could influence the trajectory of both clubs in 2026 and beyond.</p><p>“The Nationals and Orioles have had steady communication about MacKenzie Gore, sources said tonight. There is no indication yet that a deal is close.</p><p>The Orioles have not completed a trade with the Nationals since the franchise moved to D.C.”</p><p>If completed, this move would mark the first trade between the organizations since the Nationals relocated to Washington in 2005. The long-standing freeze, largely fueled by disputes surrounding their shared regional sports network, has made such talks nearly unthinkable for two decades.</p><p>From a baseball standpoint, Gore’s value is clear. The 26-year-old southpaw made his first All-Star team in 2025, posting a 4.17 ERA with 185 strikeouts in 159.2 innings. He remains under team control through 2027, giving Baltimore the type of cost-effective, high-upside arm it has been seeking all winter.</p><p>For the Nationals, moving the southpaw would fit a rebuild strategy aimed at acquiring multiple top prospects. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-news-baltimore-farm-system-still-ranked-no-1-after-corbin-burnes-trade">Baltimore, armed with</a> one of baseball’s deepest farm systems, could meet that price if it decides Gore is the missing piece to elevate its playoff hopes.</p><p>While there’s no indication a deal is imminent, the conversation itself signals progress — perhaps the thawing of the coldest rivalry in modern baseball history.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Orioles in talks with Nationals about possible MacKenzie Gore trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-washington-rushing-trade-mackenzie-gore');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: Washington not in any rush to trade MacKenzie Gore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nationals-pitcher-Mackenzie-Gore-vs-Marlins.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Rassol-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: Washington not in any rush to trade MacKenzie Gore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T11:06:29-08:00">December 9th, 11:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T11:06:29-08:00">December 9th, 11:06am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/mlb-rumors-nationals-mackenzie-gore-emerging-as-serious-trade-candidate">push through the Winter Meetings with a clear message</a>: <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-mlb-insiders-pump-brakes-mackenzie-gore-trade">they are listening on MacKenzie Gore, but they are not rushing into a trade</a>. Teams continue to call. Executives continue to probe. And yet the trade conversation remains steady because the Nationals sees value in patience. They see a young arm with upside, team control, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era">and room to grow under a revamped system</a>.</p><p>New president of baseball operations Paul Toboni <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6875731/2025/12/09/washington-nationals-mackenzie-gore-trade-decision/" rel="noopener">believes in development</a>. He believes the Nationals can make Gore better. His early moves reflect that vision. He traded for catcher Harry Ford, a defensive upgrade who can sharpen Gore’s strengths. He also vowed to overhaul the Nationals’ information and technology. “We’re sitting here thinking to ourselves, ‘Gosh, it’s going to be really fun to see a player achieve X, Y and Z,’ once we put them in this environment to develop,” Toboni said. Under the lights of the Winter Meetings, that optimism matters.</p><h2>A calculated wait for the Nationals, not a refusal</h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era">MacKenzie Gore has become one of the most popular names</a> in Orlando. His projected 2026 salary is low. His ceiling remains enticing. But the Nationals also know the risks of timing. Gore isn’t a free agent until 2028. If he improves next season, his value spikes. If he stalls or suffers another injury, the window narrows. That tension shapes every call the front office receives. Toboni admits the Nationals must stay open-minded, saying they have to listen when “other teams come our way and give strong offers.”</p><p>Last season showed both sides of Gore’s future. He dominated in the first half with a 3.02 ERA and an All-Star nod. Then he faded, dealing with a 6.75 ERA and late-season injuries. Washington believes the right structure unlocks the earlier version. Rival clubs want to bet on that version, too.</p><p>Now everyone waits. Will a strong trade offer push Washington forward, or will the Nationals bet on MacKenzie Gore reaching his peak in their new system?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: Washington not in any rush to trade MacKenzie Gore

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/mlb-rumors-nationals-mackenzie-gore-emerging-as-serious-trade-candidate');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore emerging as serious trade candidate');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nationals-SP-MacKenzie-Gore.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore emerging as serious trade candidate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-05T17:13:38-08:00">December 5th, 5:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-05T17:13:38-08:00">December 5th, 5:13pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hire-ex-red-sox-assistant-gm-baseball-operations">new leadership duo of Paul Toboni</a> and Blake Butera, the Washington Nationals hope they’ve found a pair of men to lead them to glory for at least the next decade. Toboni, the new president of baseball operations/general manager, is sure to be aggressive in pursuing his vision for the future of the franchise. One way to pursue that agenda? Trading pieces of the current major league roster. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported via X, formerly Twitter, <a href="https://x.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1997069060119711885" rel="noopener">that Washington could deal ace</a> MacKenzie Gore in the near future.</p><p>“Execs report a ton of trade talk going on right now, with some front office types saying teams are more open, more willing than in recent years to discuss a range of players,” Olney posted Friday evening. “There is a perception in a couple of front offices that the Nats’ Mackenzie Gore will definitely be among those moved in the days ahead.”</p><p>Toboni, fresh off a stint as a member of the Boston Red Sox, hired Butera last month to be the Nationals’ new manager. At 33 years old, Butera is now the youngest manager in Major League Baseball. If Toboni <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-jeff-passan-teases-mackenzie-gore-cj-abrams-trade-package">does elect to trade Gore,</a> what kind of package can he receive that will help Washington’s rebuild not only right now, but in the future as well?</p><h2><b>Nationals look to complete rebuild under new leadership</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nationals-president-of-baseball-operations-Paul-Toboni-and-manager-Blake-Butera.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In a Gore deal, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era">Toboni could be facing</a> his first major decision as the lead baseball decision maker for the Nationals. The 26-year-old is certainly good enough to stay with Washington through the rest of their rebuild. At some point, they’ll need a couple of veterans in their rotation. Why shouldn’t Gore be a part of that?</p><p>However, the package that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-red-sox-mackenzie-gore-trade-suitor-padres-reunion">Nationals would receive for Gore</a> could be a pretty big one. For a team look to add more talent to an ongoing rebuild, Toboni could work with any number of potential partners to get the best return. The question right now isn’t if Gore gets traded? Rather, it’s a question of when he’ll be dealt. However it long it takes, hopefully Toboni gets a return ready to help Butera on the major league roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore emerging as serious trade candidate

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-jeff-passan-teases-mackenzie-gore-cj-abrams-trade-package');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: Jeff Passan teases potential MacKenzie Gore-CJ Abrams trade package');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mackenzie-Gore-1.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: Jeff Passan teases potential MacKenzie Gore-CJ Abrams trade package</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T10:23:46-08:00">November 18th, 10:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T10:23:46-08:00">November 18th, 10:23am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era">Washington Nationals are surrounded by rumors</a> for the offseason, there are a few players that some have speculated could be traded, such as MacKenzie Gore. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-mlb-insiders-pump-brakes-mackenzie-gore-trade">Gore and the Nationals being engulfed in trade rumors</a>, MLB insider Jeff Passan would float the idea of a potential package, including the pitcher.</p><p>In Passan’s latest column about previewing the offseason through the winter, one area was talking about how there are teams that are looking into the price for shortstop CJ Abrams. Saying that there is an anticipation that Gore is traded, a deal with him and Abrams <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman" rel="noopener">“would be tough to beat.”</a></p><p>“Teams are gauging the cost to acquire Washington shortstop CJ Abrams,” Passan wrote. “It’s not quite Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers in 2021, but a Gore/Abrams package would be tough to beat.”</p><p>“Executives anticipate Gore will be dealt,” Passan continued. “This is where the specter of an extended lockout is muddying the market. Gore has two years until free agency. Teams will want to price the uncertainty into any potential deal, and that could force new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni to wait until the trade deadline.”</p><h2><b>Nationals trading MacKenzie Gore is not a certainty </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MacKenzie-Gore.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-trade-they-must-offer-nationals-for-mackenzie-gore">trade offers to the Nationals for Gore</a> could be plenty from other teams, there are people in the baseball world who are pumping the brakes on a deal. One such as Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6816195/2025/11/18/seattle-mariners-jorge-polanco-market-mlb-notes/" rel="noopener">who would explain why</a> a Gore deal might not happen.</p><p>“Washington lefty MacKenzie Gore, under club control for two more seasons with a projected arbitration number of $4.7 million, would seem a more obvious candidate to move,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. But even with Gore, who plays for a rebuilding club, there is an argument to wait,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote.</p><p>“Gore, who turns 27 in February, is one of the Nats players new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni believes might find ‘another gear,'” they continued. “The interest in him at the trade deadline, when free-agent alternatives are not available, should be even more intense. And naturally, the Nats think Gore might benefit from working with their new pitching coach, Simon Mathews.”</p><p>Washington looks to improve after finishing 66-96.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: Jeff Passan teases potential MacKenzie Gore-CJ Abrams trade package

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-mlb-insiders-pump-brakes-mackenzie-gore-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: MLB insiders pump brakes on MacKenzie Gore trade certainty');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aug-26-2025-Bronx-New-York-USA-Washington-Nationals-starting-pitcher-MacKenzie-Gore-1-pitches.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: MLB insiders pump brakes on MacKenzie Gore trade certainty</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T07:13:42-08:00">November 18th, 7:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T07:13:42-08:00">November 18th, 7:13am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The MLB offseason has arrived, and while the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hires-former-reds-assistant-pitching-coach">Washington Nationals might be looking to make improvements</a> that will help the club’s long-term future, the front office might not view <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-trade-they-must-offer-nationals-for-mackenzie-gore">trading starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore</a> as a wise strategy.</p><p>According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Nationals <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6816195/2025/11/18/seattle-mariners-jorge-polanco-market-mlb-notes/" rel="noopener">could choose</a> to keep Gore on the team even though other clubs could be interested in a potential trade.</p><p>“Washington lefty MacKenzie Gore, under club control for two more seasons with a projected arbitration number of $4.7 million, would seem a more obvious candidate to move. But even with Gore, who plays for a rebuilding club, there is an argument to wait,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote.</p><p>“Gore, who turns 27 in February, is one of the Nats players new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni believes might find “another gear.” The interest in him at the trade deadline, when free-agent alternatives are not available, should be even more intense. And naturally, the Nats think Gore might benefit from working with their new pitching coach, Simon Mathews.”</p><p>Gore went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA across 30 starts last season as the Nationals sputtered to a 66-96 record as a team. The Wilmington native earned his first All-Star nod after posting a 3.02 ERA over his first 19 starts of the year, but only put up a 6.75 ERA through his final 11 starts.</p><p>According to Baseball Savant, Gore ranked in the 79th percentile <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/mackenzie-gore-669022?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb" rel="noopener">in Breaking Run Value</a> and the 80th percentile in K%.</p><p>It remains to be seen if the Nationals would be willing to part with Gore, but the southpaw could be a name to monitor this winter.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: MLB insiders pump brakes on MacKenzie Gore trade certainty

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-trade-they-must-offer-nationals-for-mackenzie-gore');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ trade they must offer Nationals for MacKenzie Gore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Dodgers-trade-they-must-offer-Nationals-for-MacKenzie-Gore.jpg"></figure><h1>Dodgers’ trade they must offer Nationals for MacKenzie Gore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-17T08:03:16-08:00">November 17th, 8:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-17T08:03:16-08:00">November 17th, 8:03am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers have all the ammunition they need to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/5-most-likely-mlb-stars-traded-2025-26-offseason">swing a deal for Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore</a>. After winning back-to-back World Series championships, Los Angeles knows that acquiring elite starting pitching remains their best path to a third consecutive title and matching the 1998-2000 Yankees. Gore represents exactly the type of controllable, young ace that the Dodgers should be willing to sacrifice their prospect depth for this offseason.</p><p>MacKenzie Gore finished the 2025 season with 185 strikeouts over 159.2 innings for the Nationals, showcasing exactly why he’s one of the most coveted pitchers in baseball. The left-hander led the majors with an impressive 10.4 K/9 ratio and made his first All-Star appearance, establishing himself as a legitimate ace-in-waiting. Most importantly, Gore is under team control through 2027, meaning the Dodgers would lock in years of elite production without breaking the bank on free agency.</p><p>The Nationals are in full rebuild mode and finished last in the National League East with a 66-96 record in 2025. Their rotation outside of Gore was catastrophic, with no other starter posting an above-average ERA-plus. Washington desperately needs to acquire young talent that can help them compete down the line, and the Dodgers’ overflowing farm system gives them plenty to offer.</p><h2>The Perfect Trade Package for MacKenzie Gore</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MacKenzie-Gore.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Dodgers must offer the Nationals a package built on elite prospect talent. Here’s what Los Angeles should propose:</p><p><b>Dodgers Receive:</b></p><ul><li>LHP MacKenzie Gore</li></ul><p><b>Nationals Receive:</b></p><ul><li>Josue De Paula, OF</li><li>Alex Freeland, SS/3B</li><li>Eduardo Quintero, OF</li><li>Mike Sirota, OF</li></ul><p>This package gives the Nationals a genuine foundation for their rebuild while maintaining Los Angeles’ ability to compete in 2026. Jackson Ferris already possesses three potentially plus pitches and has the ceiling to develop into a frontline starter himself. Kyle Hurt provides another high-upside arm who can grow within Washington’s system over the next few years. Noah Schultz represents another young pitcher who can contribute to their pitching depth moving forward.</p><h2>Why This Trade Makes Sense for Both Teams</h2><p>From the Dodgers’ perspective, this deal strengthens their rotation immensely without forcing them to part with their very top position player prospects like Josue De Paula or Zyhir Hope. Los Angeles can afford to trade elite pitching prospects because they have incredible depth on that front, with numerous arms throughout their minor league system ready to contribute. Adding Gore to a rotation already featuring Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto would create an unmatched pitching arsenal in baseball.</p><p>The Nationals receive a haul of young pitching talent that directly addresses their greatest weakness from 2025. Washington desperately needs to build pitching depth behind Gore, and this package gives them multiple arms with legitimate upside. Ferris especially represents the type of front-line starter potential that Washington needs to construct around Gore during the rebuild. Trayce Thompson provides an immediate major league contributor who can play the outfield while the younger players develop.</p><p>General manager Brandon Gomes and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman have shown their willingness to sacrifice prospect depth when acquiring premium talent. This offseason presents the perfect opportunity to go all-in on Gore, a pitcher who remains under control and fits the Dodgers’ championship timeline perfectly. Los Angeles won the World Series in 2024 as defending champs, and acquiring Gore sends a message that another ring is absolutely the goal in 2026.</p><p>The window for the Dodgers remains wide open with their talented core, and Gore provides the missing piece that could establish their rotation as the best in baseball. This trade package balances prospect depth while giving the Nationals legitimate building blocks for their future. Both teams walk away satisfied, and the Dodgers take another major step toward their third consecutive championship.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers’ trade they must offer Nationals for MacKenzie Gore

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/athletics/athletics-news-joey-meneses-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Athletics agree to contract with ex-Nationals infielder');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Joey-Meneses.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Athletics agree to contract with ex-Nationals infielder</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-15T12:05:40-08:00">November 15th, 12:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-15T12:05:40-08:00">November 15th, 12:05pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Athletics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Athletics have made a veteran addition to their offseason roster plan. MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos reported Saturday that the club reached a deal with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-new-york-contract-nationals-joey-meneses">Joey Meneses</a>, a 33-year-old first baseman and outfielder formerly with the Washington Nationals.</p><p>Gallegos shared the news on X (formerly known as Twitter), <a href="https://x.com/MartinJGallegos/status/1989777086664642807?s=20" rel="noopener">confirming the structure</a> of the contract and summarizing Meneses’ career production.</p><p>“A’s have signed 1B/DH Joey Meneses to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, per source.</p><p>Career .274 hitter with 29 homers, 61 doubles and 165 RBIs in three seasons with the Nationals 2022-24. Spent last season in Mets’ system and played in Mexico this winter.”</p><p>The signing gives the A’s a low-risk, high-reward option as they continue shaping their 2026 roster. Meneses broke out in 2022 after an 11-year Minor League journey, hitting .324 with 13 home runs in 56 games during his remarkable rookie campaign for the Nationals. He followed with another productive year in 2023, batting .275 with 13 homers and 89 RBIs across 154 games.</p><p>However, his 2024 season brought a setback as his numbers dipped to a .231 average with just three home runs before spending time in the Minor Leagues. After a year in the Mets’ system and a productive winter stint in Mexico, the journeyman first baseman now gets another opportunity to prove he belongs back in the majors.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/athletics/athletics-news-a-agree-sign-ex-rays-pitcher-bolster-depth">For the Athletics, the move</a> fits their strategy of finding undervalued veterans who can compete for roster spots in Spring Training. With power bats like Brent Rooker and young prospects such as Nick Kurtz competing for at-bats, Meneses adds valuable experience and depth.</p><p>If he can regain the consistency that made him a fan-favorite in Washington, he could play a meaningful role for the A’s in 2026 — a fitting chapter for one of baseball’s most persistent late bloomers and inspiring comeback stories in recent memory.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Athletics agree to contract with ex-Nationals infielder

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hires-former-reds-assistant-pitching-coach');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals hire former Reds assistant as pitching coach');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gore-Nationals.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Mills-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals hire former Reds assistant as pitching coach</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-11T14:29:47-08:00">November 11th, 2:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-11T14:29:47-08:00">November 11th, 2:29pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut-based sports journalist with over five years of professional experience. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he has covered every sport from fencing to football in the online and print medium. Dan hopes to see his beloved Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After not even sniffing the playoffs over the last six seasons, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes">Washington Nationals decided to make major organizational changes</a>. Now, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-blake-butera-rays-bench-coach-hire">latest addition to new manager Blake Butera’s staff</a> has been named.</p><p>The Nationals <a href="https://x.com/Russ_Dorsey1/status/1988356019538612300" rel="noopener">have hired</a> Simon Mathews as their next pitching coach, via Russell Dorsey and Jake Mintz of Yahoo Sports. Mathews most recently served as an assistant pitching coach with the Cincinnati Reds. He had been with the organization since 2021.</p><p>Mathews is only 30-years-old, having graduated from Georgetown in 2017. However, Butera being only 33-years-old himself, Washington is going all-in on youthfulness. Washington’s manager <a href="https://x.com/MarkZuckerman/status/1988360582785818754/photo/1" rel="noopener">has full belief</a> in Mathews’ abilities despite his age, via Mark Zuckerman of MASN.</p><p>“Simon brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and a wide range of experience to our staff,” Butera said. “He is grounded, has great perspective on pitching and connects incredibly well with players at all levels. He is widely respected throughout the game and the type of coach that makes everyone around him better. Simon is a tireless worker and is uniquely equipped to help our pitchers reach their full potential.”</p><p>While Mathews is getting a full endorsement on his way in, he’ll have his work cut out for him in Washington. The Nationals finished their 2025 campaign ranked 29th in team ERA with a 5.35 mark.</p><p>Things will get even trickier <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era">if Washington trades away ace MacKenzie Gore</a>. But it’s clear the Nationals are taking their franchise in a completely different direction.</p><p>Mathews will now help lead that charge and gradually get Washington back into contention.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals hire former Reds assistant as pitching coach

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-blake-butera-rays-bench-coach-hire');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals manager Blake Butera brings over Rays confidant as bench coach');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blake-Butera.jpeg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals manager Blake Butera brings over Rays confidant as bench coach</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-10T16:49:49-08:00">November 10th, 4:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-10T16:49:49-08:00">November 10th, 4:49pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals are continuing their overhaul under new leadership, as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-mlb-youngest-manager-over-50-years">first-year manager Blake Butera</a> brings a trusted colleague from the Tampa Bay Rays to join his staff. The Nationals have named Michael Johns their new bench coach, officially beginning a new chapter in the franchise’s rebuild. The move highlights Butera’s intent to blend youthful leadership with proven experience, aiming to create a cohesive, forward-thinking culture built on trust and player development.</p><p>The hire marks one of the first major moves of the Butera era and reflects a growing league-wide trend. More teams are now adopting the innovative methods long associated with the Rays coaching tree. Johns, who served as Tampa Bay’s first-base coach for the past two seasons, also managed several affiliates within the organization and built a strong professional bond with Butera during their time together.</p><p>The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) to <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1987917622000939108" rel="noopener">confirm the move</a>, noting how Johns’ experience will complement Washington’s rookie skipper. He wrote,</p><p>“Michael Johns, the Rays’ first-base coach the past two seasons, will be the bench coach for new Nationals manager Blake Butera, sources tell @TheAthletic. Johns managed the Rays’ Triple A club in 2023 and five other affiliates over eight seasons.”</p><p>The relationship between <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-mike-piazza-glowingly-blake-butera">the Nationals’ new manager</a> and Johns extends far beyond the dugout. Johns once supervised Butera during his time in the Rays’ minor league system, making the reunion both strategic and personal. For the Nationals, it’s a calculated step toward stability as the organization continues to modernize its baseball operations under President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni.</p><p>Johns brings nearly two decades of coaching and development experience to Washington. His arrival helps fill a crucial gap for Butera, who at 33 years old becomes the youngest manager in Major League Baseball since 1972. Their shared history also creates an early foundation of trust and alignment. Together, they plan to install a philosophy centered on analytics, player development, and efficiency. They will also emphasize adaptability and communication—hallmarks of the Rays’ success over the past decade.</p><p>As the club enters the 2026 season, the message is clear. This isn’t just a rebuild — it’s a rebrand of the club’s identity, built on trust, innovation, and shared experience.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals manager Blake Butera brings over Rays confidant as bench coach

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/5-most-likely-mlb-stars-traded-2025-26-offseason');   ga('set', 'title', '5 MLB stars most likely to be traded during 2025-26 offseason');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/5-most-likely-MLB-stars-who-will-be-traded-during-2025-26-offseason.jpg"></figure><h1>5 MLB stars most likely to be traded during 2025-26 offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-10T13:57:05-08:00">November 10th, 1:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-11T07:29:22-08:00">November 11th, 7:29am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Diamondbacks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The MLB offseason is here. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-free-agents-best-players-available-2025-26-offseason">There are several great free agents</a> who are free to sign with any team. The Los Angeles Dodgers proved that offseason talent acquisition is of the utmost importance, as they’ve won back-to-back World Series titles after being huge free agent spenders.</p><p>Most teams don’t have the payroll power of the Dodgers, though, which means adding talent in the trade market might be more optimal. So, check out the gallery to see the five best trade candidates during the 2025-26 MLB offseason.</p><h2><b>5. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins, SP</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sandy-Alcantara-2.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Sandy Alcantara had a pretty bad 2025 season, which included an incredibly slow start after returning from Tommy John surgery. This slow start meant that Alcantara’s value was at an all-time low, so the Miami Marlins didn’t trade him in hopes that his value would improve as more time passed after his surgery.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/miami-marlins/marlins-news-sandy-alcantara-reaches-miami-pitching-territory-phillies">Alcantara improved as the season went on</a>, and teams may now have more interest in trading for him. Alcantara won a Cy Young as recently as 2022, and at his best, he is one of the most talented starting pitchers in baseball. He still has nasty stuff; teams will just hope that his command returns to form. If it does, he should bounce back in the ERA department.</p><h2><b>4. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals, 3B</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Nolan-Arenado.jpg"><figcaption>Eakin Howard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Nolan Arenado has regressed in recent years. That doesn’t change the fact that he is one of the best defensive players in MLB history. While no longer the perennial Gold Glove infielder he once was, Arenado’s defense at the hot corner is still elite. Arenado is also coming off career lows in batting average and home runs in a non-COVID season, though.</p><p>The third baseman is trending the wrong way, which makes him a risky trade acquisition, but the Cardinals may see the writing on the wall and decide to get something while they still can for Arenado. If last season was just a down season, a trade partner could get Arenado at a cheap rate. Arenado has a no-trade clause, and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-arenado-blocks-trade-cardinals-astros" rel="noopener">he rejected deals</a> to the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels last year. This go around, he may be more willing to accept a change of scenery, especially because it is obvious that St. Louis is done with him.</p><h2><b>3. Joe Ryan/Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins, SP</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Joe-Ryan_da13aa.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Minnesota Twins blew the ship up at the trade deadline. They dealt nearly everybody of note, including Carlos Correa, Harrison Bader, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe, Ty France, and Willi Castro. Two of their trade chips who weren’t moved were Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez. The team dealt 11 players in total in an effort to get their finances in check.</p><p>Minnesota will likely further their rebuild this offseason, and that could include dealing their two best pitchers now that both are in a better place to be moved. Ryan wasn’t dealt during the season because he is still on a cheap contract, and Lopez was hurt around the trade deadline. Both players are controllable for years to come and could return a decent haul for the Twins.</p><h2><b>2. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks, 2B</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ketel-Marte_55dad4.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/eugenio-suarez-trade-grades-mariners-diamondbacks"> Arizona Diamondbacks traded infielders Eugenio Suarez</a> and Josh Naylor in the midst of big seasons during the trade deadline. Ketel Marte could be the next to go. The second baseman has made the All-Star Game three times in total, including in each of the past two seasons.</p><p>Marte batted .283 with 28 home runs this past season. The Diamondbacks may be motivated to move him sooner rather than later, before a no-trade clause kicks in.</p><h2><b>1. MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals, SP</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MacKenzie-Gore.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>MacKenzie Gore is another player who was considered a<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/2025-mlb-trade-deadline-ranking-10-best-players-potentially-available"> trade candidate at the MLB trade deadline</a>. Gore is a former number three overall pick and a former elite prospect. He has lived up to his potential so far, as he made the All-Star Game for the Washington Nationals last season.</p><p>Gore was heavily sought after at the trade deadline because he looked like a Cy Young candidate for much of the year. He had a rough patch midway through the season, but he has the potential to be a true ace going forward. The Nationals have a new front office, so trading Gore could kick off a new era in Washington.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

5 MLB stars most likely to be traded during 2025-26 offseason

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-blockbuster-trade-expected-jumpstart-new-era');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: The blockbuster trade expected to jumpstart new era');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jim-Hickey.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: The blockbuster trade expected to jumpstart new era</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-10T13:36:13-08:00">November 10th, 1:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-10T13:36:13-08:00">November 10th, 1:36pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut-based sports journalist with over five years of professional experience. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he has covered every sport from fencing to football in the online and print medium. Dan hopes to see his beloved Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals have hit the reset button on their organization, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes" rel="noopener">hiring a new president of baseball operations</a> and manager. Their next move could be trading away one of their best assets.</p><p>MacKenzie Gore is coming off of his first All-Star appearance for the Nationals. But as Washington looks to shake things up, Gore would bring the greatest trade return. That <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/11/10/mlb-free-agency-trade-rumors-gm-meetings/87190324007/" rel="noopener">seems to be where the franchise’s head is at</a> entering the offseason, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today.</p><p>“The Nationals have a whole new front office, new coaching staff and new ideas,” Nightengale wrote. “They are expected to use Gore, who has two more years of club control, as the trade bait to kick-start their new era.”</p><p>Gore is set to make just under $7 million in 2026. The fact he is under team control through 2028 will only entice teams further. Any franchise acquiring Gore will look for him to command a spot atop their rotation.</p><p>During his All-Star season, the left-hander pitched to a 4.17 ERA with a career-high 185 strikeouts compared to 64 walks. Over his entire four years with the Nationals, Gore has recorded a 4.19 ERA and a 589/233 K/BB ratio.</p><p>Only 26-years-old, Gore could just as well lead Washington’s rotation. But the Nationals know they need major changes. Since winning the World Series in 2019, the Nats haven’t finished higher than fourth in the NL East. President Paul Toboni and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-mike-piazza-glowingly-blake-butera">manager Blake Butera know they must take a different approach</a> to turn the franchise around.</p><p>A Gore trade would certainly start the fire of a new era. But it could be exactly what the Nationals need to jumpstart their rebuild.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: The blockbuster trade expected to jumpstart new era

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-mike-piazza-glowingly-blake-butera');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mike Piazza speaks glowingly about new Nationals manager Blake Butera');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mike-Piazza-waves.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mike Piazza speaks glowingly about new Nationals manager Blake Butera</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-30T09:39:26-07:00">October 30th, 9:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-30T09:39:26-07:00">October 30th, 9:39am</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' editorial team after primarily focusing on betting content. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As everyone watches the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-mlb-youngest-manager-over-50-years">Washington Nationals made headlines</a> by hiring Blake Butera as their new manager. To date, this hiring is the youngest manager in over 50 years. MLB insider Jon Morosi reached out to Mike Piazza, who employed Butera as a bench coach in Italy, to <a href="https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1983916322963562726" rel="noopener">discuss his remarks about the hiring</a>.</p><p>“I think it’s a great hire and I’m so happy for him,” Piazza said. “He is a very loyal, diligent, efficient, and dedicated baseball man. He commands respect with his knowledge and demeanor.”</p><p>The hiring comes in the aftermath of another bad season in D.C., which prompted the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes">Nationals to make more changes</a> to their front office. When the Nats finished 66-96, and last in the NL East, it signalled something had to change. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-fires-dave-martinez-mike-rizzo-brutal-season">Nationals already fired Dave Martinez</a> mid-season when the campaign was going awry.</p><p>With the hiring of Butera, the Nats have hired someone who could likely be younger than some of their current players. However, he has some experience managing, at least in the minor leagues. Butera had a 258-144 record in four seasons as a minor league manager throughout the Tampa Bay Rays organization.</p><p>In addition to his minor-league experience, Butera was the bench coach for Team Italy, under Piazza, during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His experience in those two avenues have helped him achieve to the point where the Nats were prepared to hire them as their new manager. Piazza went on about his experience with Butera, and what he can bring to the team.</p><p>“He will always strive to put his players in a position to succeed. It was a pleasure to work with him,” Piazza added.</p><p>Butera will attempt to get the Nationals back on track after they have struggled to make the playoffs after winning the 2019 World Series. While the road might be tough in a division that also includes the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets, Butera will get the chance to get it done.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mike Piazza speaks glowingly about new Nationals manager Blake Butera

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-mlb-youngest-manager-over-50-years');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals hire MLB’s youngest manager in over 50 years');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Blake-Butera.jpg"><figcaption>Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals hire MLB’s youngest manager in over 50 years</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-30T07:28:58-07:00">October 30th, 7:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-30T07:38:07-07:00">October 30th, 7:38am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints, with expertise in MLB, NHL and golf. Chris graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals are heading into a new era in the 2026 season with a new manager in tow. After<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-fires-dave-martinez-mike-rizzo-brutal-season"> firing Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo</a> during the season, they have made an outside-the-box hire. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Nationals have hired Blake Butera, a 33-year-old with minor league managerial experience, as <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1983901016857936204" rel="noopener">their next bench boss.</a></p><p>“BREAKING: The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera as manager, sources tell ESPN. Butera, 33, will be the youngest manager in MLB in more than 50 years. In four seasons as a minor league manager in the Rays organization, his teams had a 258-144 record,” Passan reported.</p><p>Since winning the 2019 World Series, the Nationals have not returned to the postseason. Their team is full of young, promising prospects who need to perform well for them to have success in the near future. Bringing in a former minor-league manager to develop those players shows their emphasis for the upcoming season.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-who-washington-hire-next-manager-2-candidates-emerge">Nationals interviewed Craig Albernaz before he landed with the rival Baltimore Orioles</a> earlier this week. They also interviewed Miguel Cairo, who was their interim manager after the Martinez firing. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-who-washington-hire-next-manager-2-candidates-emerge">new team president, Paul Tobino,</a> landed on Butera to help develop the youngsters.</p><p>Butera was drafted by the Rays and spent two years in their minor league system as a player. Then, he grew as a coach with the Rays, including time as the Hudson Valley Renegades manager, <a href="https://www.milb.com/news/just-25-years-old-blake-butera-takes-over-as-hudson-valley-renegades-m-281340164" rel="noopener">a gig he landed</a> at 25 years old.. His most recent position within the Rays system was as the Senior Director of Player Development.</p><p>The Nationals have some young players already making a name for themselves at the MLB level. James Wood, Mackenzie Gore, and CJ Abrams will be key to their success moving forward, something Butera is keenly aware of. Can he lead them to success soon?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals hire MLB’s youngest manager in over 50 years

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-rumors-who-washington-hire-next-manager-2-candidates-emerge');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals rumors: Who will Washington hire as next manager? 2 candidates emerge');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Miguel-Cairo.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals rumors: Who will Washington hire as next manager? 2 candidates emerge</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-26T03:50:04-07:00">October 26th, 3:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-26T04:13:22-07:00">October 26th, 4:13am</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is a veteran editor and writer for print and digital media. He also created and oversaw video and event production departments for legacy media brands. Mike is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals finished the 2025 season with a losing record for the sixth straight year. Washington hasn’t reached the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2019. After a dismal 37-53 start this season, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-fires-dave-martinez-mike-rizzo-brutal-season">Nationals fired manager Dave Martinez</a> and longtime general manager Mike Rizzo.</p><p>The <a href="https://x.com/andrewcgolden/status/1982169071748583508" rel="noopener">hunt is on</a> for a new manager in Washington. The team interviewed Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz and interim manager Miguel Cairo for the position this week, per The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden. The organization may consider additional candidates as well.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-miguel-cairo-interim-manager-dave-martinez-firing">Cairo was promoted to interim manager</a> after Martinez was dismissed in July. He originally joined the Nationals as the team’s bench coach in 2024. While placed in a difficult position after a rocky start to the season, Cairo was not able to turn things around. Washington finished the year 29-43 with Cairo at the helm.</p><h2><b>Nationals seek new manager during front office rebuild</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/James-Wood.jpg"><figcaption>Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hire-ex-red-sox-assistant-gm-baseball-operations">Nationals hired Paul Toboni</a> to replace Rizzo as president of baseball operations. Toboni comes from the Red Sox organization, where he served as assistant GM.</p><p>Washington’s shakeup didn’t stop at manager and GM. Since taking over as the team’s president, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes">Toboni has overhauled the front office</a>. The Nationals moved on from a number of employees, including the organization’s two longest-tenured executives.</p><p>Toboni initiated a complete teardown of the operations side of the franchise in his first month in charge. The moves make it difficult to believe the team will hire Cairo as the sweeping changes feel partly symbolic for a team that needs a fresh start. Although, Cairo had only been with Washington for two seasons, so perhaps he isn’t viewed as part of the old guard.</p><p>Martinez was hired to manage the Nationals in 2018. The following year he won the only World Series championship in team history. Since then, he didn’t win much at all, finishing with a 500-622 record as Washington’s skipper.</p><p>Martinez had been, by far, the team’s longest-tenured manager since the Lerner family purchased the franchise in 2006. In fact, he was the only manager who lasted more than three seasons with the Nationals. Martinez was fired in the middle of his eighth year with Washington.</p><p>Rizzo joined the franchise in 2007, just two years after it left Montreal and became the Washington Nationals. He started as assistant general manager and worked his way up to GM in 2009. Rizzo became GM and president of baseball operations in 2013.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals rumors: Who will Washington hire as next manager? 2 candidates emerge

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-red-sox-mackenzie-gore-trade-suitor-padres-reunion');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Red Sox listed as MacKenzie Gore trade suitor, but what about a Padres reunion?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MacKenzie-Gore.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Red Sox listed as MacKenzie Gore trade suitor, but what about a Padres reunion?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T09:22:38-07:00">October 23rd, 9:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T09:22:38-07:00">October 23rd, 9:22am</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut-based sports journalist with over five years of professional experience. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he has covered every sport from fencing to football in the online and print medium. Dan hopes to see his beloved Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes">Nationals are going through some major changes</a>, replacing their head of baseball operations and manager. Because of the franchise shake up, some major trades could be on the horizon.</p><p>When it comes to the Nationals, perhaps no player is more eye-catching than starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Already an All-Star an under team control through the 2027 season, Gore would be a controllable, top of the rotation starter for any team in need of pitching.</p><p>As the Nationals ponder their future, the right-hander was named fifth-most likely player to be traded this offseason, via Jim Bowden of The Athletic. Both the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6738377/2025/10/23/mlb-offseason-trade-targets-tarik-skubal-jarren-duran/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mlbtw&amp;source=mlbtw" rel="noopener">were named as potential suitors</a>.</p><p>“He’s controllable for two more seasons, so the best time to trade him to maximize the return would be this offseason,” Bowden wrote. “It makes sense that his name is popping up everywhere. If the Red Sox don’t land him, watch for the Padres to push for a reunion.”</p><p>Paul Tobini, the Nationals new president of baseball operations, served in the the Red Sox’s front office since 2015. He has a strong understanding of Boston’s prospect pool and what it would take to get a deal done.</p><p>In turn, the Red Sox are still in need of some pitching. Garrett Crochet has proven to be their ace. However, Walker Buehler did not work out as the No. 2 in their one-two punch. Adding a player like Gore gives Boston some real firepower atop their rotation.</p><p>The Padres are well aware of what Gore brings to the table. They drafted him in 2017, before trading Gore to the Nationals in the deal that sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego. Now, general manager AJ Preller may be considering a reunion.</p><p>San Diego is preparing to see Dylan Cease, Michael King and Nestor Cortes all enter free agency. They have pitchers like Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, but it’s clear the Padres need another top of the line starter to compete in the National League. Gore would give them that and also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/mlb-rumors-padres-real-run-mackenzie-gore-reunion-trade-deadline">provide the Padres with a full-circle moment</a>.</p><p>But of course, any trade comes down to what the Nationals are planning. Washington hasn’t made the playoffs since winning the World Series. Maybe a full-on rebuild is their best course of action.</p><p>If they were to do that, Gore would be their crown jewel. While the Red Sox and Padres might be at the top of the list, they wouldn’t be the only team calling the Nationals.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Red Sox listed as MacKenzie Gore trade suitor, but what about a Padres reunion?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-front-office-changes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals make series of front office changes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/A-detailed-view-of-the-Washington-Nationals-logo.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals make series of front office changes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-08T13:20:47-07:00">October 8th, 1:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-08T13:21:46-07:00">October 8th, 1:21pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Nationals have begun a sweeping overhaul of their baseball operations department <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hire-ex-red-sox-assistant-gm-baseball-operations">under newly appointed president of baseball operations Paul Toboni,</a> in what stands as the most significant front-office shakeup since the club’s 2019 World Series championship.</p><p>The organization has parted ways with more than half a dozen employees, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6700483/2025/10/08/nationals-paul-toboni-staff-changes/" rel="noopener">including assistant general managers</a> Eddie Longosz and Mark Scialabba, both long-serving executives who had been foundational pieces of the front office during the Mike Rizzo era (h/t Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic).</p><p>Toboni was officially introduced last week at Nationals Park after leaving the Boston Red Sox organization, where he had built a strong reputation in scouting and player development. The 35-year-old’s arrival opened the door to an immediate shift in direction for a franchise that has not recorded a winning season since 2019. Within days of assuming office, Toboni commenced an extensive overhaul, parting with prominent staff and several scouts tied to the organization’s Florida complex.</p><p>Longosz and Scialabba’s exits epitomize the end of two of the Nationals’ longest tenures. Eddie Longosz, who joined Washington in 2010, rose from scouting assistant to vice president and assistant general manager of player development and administration in November 2023. He had previously captained the club’s scouting operations for eight seasons, serving as the backbone of its draft and player development strategies.</p><p>Mark Scialabba, a fixture in the Nationals’ front office since 2006, began as assistant director of player development and later became director of minor league operations (2009–2013) and director of player development (2013–2019). He moved into the assistant GM role for player development in 2019, then climbed the ranks to assistant GM of player personnel in 2021, overseeing the club’s minor-league pipeline and roster depth decisions.</p><p>These dismissals follow earlier offseason departures of former scouting director Danny Haas, who joined the Baltimore Orioles, and senior director of amateur scouting Brad Ciolek, who accepted a position with the Detroit Tigers. Both moves occurred after the July <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-fires-dave-martinez-mike-rizzo-brutal-season">firing of longtime executive Rizzo</a> and World Series–winning manager Dave Martinez.</p><p>In the meantime, as the GM chair remains up for grabs, Mike DeBartolo, who served as interim GM following Rizzo’s dismissal, will stay with the organization. Toboni has not confirmed whether the GM role will continue under his leadership structure, leaving DeBartolo’s future responsibilities unclear.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nationals make series of front office changes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-dusty-baker-son-granted-request-leave');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dusty Baker’s son granted request to leave Nationals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nationals-Darren-Baker.jpg"><figcaption>© Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Dusty Baker’s son granted request to leave Nationals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-30T12:52:26-07:00">September 30th, 12:52pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-30T12:52:57-07:00">September 30th, 12:52pm</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dusty Baker’s son Darren <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-dusty-bakers-son-records-first-mlb-hit-on-first-pitch-he-sees">has had some good moments playing for the Washington Nationals</a>. It appears those good moments are now over. The Nationals are agreeing to allow Baker to <a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1973063937311519036" rel="noopener">become a free agent</a>, per USA Today. Darren asked the team to allow him to leave the franchise and get another playing opportunity.</p><p>Darren Baker appeared in nine games for the Nationals during the 2024 season. In 14 at-bats, he posted a .500 batting average. He also connected on seven hits. Two of them were doubles.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-red-sox-assistant-gm-in-mix-for-washington-front-office-lineup">Nationals just went through a very difficult season</a>. Washington missed the Major League Baseball Playoffs, after posting just a 66-96 mark. Baker didn’t record a single plate appearance during the 2025 campaign for Washington.</p><p>In the team’s farm system, the second baseman hit at a .256 average in 2025. He had one home run. Baker also drove in 25 runs for Triple-A Rochester.</p><h2><b>Nationals are looking for success heading into 2026</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nationals-news-Jacob-Young-makes-insane-catch-in-win-vs-Mets-2.jpg"><figcaption>John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Washington went through some difficult months in the 2025 season. The club finished the year 30 games behind in the National League East. Washington finished dead last in the division.</p><p>There is a nucleus of young talent in the nation’s capital, though. Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-daylen-lile-rookie-milestone-last-seen-1963">outfielder Daylen Lile had a strong close to the 2025 season</a>. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month in September by Major League Baseball. Lile <a href="https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-joey-cantillo-of-the-cleveland-guardians-named-the-american-league-rookie-of-the-month-for-september-daylen-lile-of-the-washington-nationals-named-the-national-league-rookie-of-the-month-for-september" rel="noopener">slashed at an astonishing rate</a> during the final month of the campaign.</p><p>“The speedster’s seven triples were the most in a single month in Nationals/Expos franchise history, and the most in the Majors since José Reyes also had seven for the Mets in June 2011,” MLB.com reported.</p><p>The Nationals outfielder also accomplished feats the franchise had not seen in close to five years.</p><p>“Lile reached base safely in a career-best 16 consecutive games from August 31st through the first game of a doubleheader on September 16th, hitting .433/.493/.817/1.309 during the stretch. Along with his 15-game on-base streak from June 21st-July 10th, he became the first Nationals player under the age of 23 with multiple on-base streaks of at least 15 games since Juan Soto in 2021,” MLB.com reported.</p><p>Nationals fans hope the club can have a lot more success in 2026, with players like Lile leading the way.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dusty Baker’s son granted request to leave Nationals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-luis-garcia-jr-goes-off-3-hr-game-white-sox');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nationals’ Luis Garcia Jr. goes off with 3-HR game vs. White Sox');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Luis-Garcia-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Mills-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Nationals’ Luis Garcia Jr. goes off with 3-HR game vs. White Sox</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-26T20:50:37-07:00">September 26th, 8:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-26T20:50:37-07:00">September 26th, 8:50pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Luis Garcia Jr. had an impressive highlight during the Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/washington-nationals/nationals-news-washington-hire-ex-red-sox-assistant-gm-baseball-operations">Nationals’ matchup against the Chicago White Sox</a> on Friday night.</p><p>The Nationals are looking to end their season on a positive note, already being ineligible for playoff contention. They have one last series to deal with before calling it a season, which involves the White Sox.</p><p>This is where Garcia entered the picture to impress the home crowd. He got his pair of home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, then <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1971746269640249596" rel="noopener">pulled off the hat trick</a> in the eighth frame. He blasted the solo shot to right field, having the ball soar up to 394 feet in the air to give his team the 9-8 lead.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LUIS GARCIA JR. HITS HIS 3RD HR OF THE GAME 😤</p><p><a href="https://t.co/mnwWIN5quU">pic.twitter.com/mnwWIN5quU</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1971746269640249596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How Luis Garcia Jr., Nationals played against White Sox</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Washington-Nationals.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Mills-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite Luis Garcia Jr.’s efforts with his three home runs, it wasn’t enough as the Nationals fell short in a 10-9 loss to the White Sox.</p><p>Washington had a 9-8 lead thanks to Garcia’s third homer, but Chicago responded with a two-run homer from Colson Montgomery in the top of the ninth. The hosts were unable to recover from that blow, being unable to score any runs to walk off the game, leaving the home crowd with heartbreak.</p><p>The Nationals’ bullpen were unable to contain the White Sox’s offense. They conceded 11 hits after 38 at-bats, including two homers in the fourth and ninth innings. Cade Cavalli started on the mound as he lasted four innings, striking out six batters while conceding seven hits and two runs. Meanwhile, Jose Ferrer obtained the loss for his fourth of the season.</p><p>Washington fell to a 65-95 record on the season, remaining at the bottom of the NL East Division standings. They are 10 games behind the Atlanta Braves and 13 games behind the Miami Marlins.</p><p>The Nationals will look to bounce back in Game 2 of their series against the White Sox. The contest will take place on Sept. 27 at 4:05 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Washington
Nationals NEWS

WASHINGTON

NATIONALS

WashingtonNationals NEWS

WASHINGTON

NATIONALS

Washington
Nationals NEWS