This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato's Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The Nationals were not shy with getting different looks from their bullpen this past season, and they will continue to explore all avenues this winter to improve a staff that blew an MLB record-setting 42 saves.
From openers to multi-inning relievers to pitchers in dual roles (and a few position players in lopsided games), the Nationals called on a league-high 40 players to pitch out of the ’pen this past season.
“I think between now and Spring Training, my guess is there will be a few more faces,” president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said at GM Meetings this week in Las Vegas. “I can't say for sure, but whether that's Major League free agency or waiver claims or whatever it might be, trades, I think there might be some movement there.”
The Nationals tabbed more than three dozen pitchers as their needs ranged from covering innings when a starter struggled, filling the vacancy of an injured reliever or a new front office determining which role best suits a pitcher.
Of the relievers on the 2026 Opening Day roster...