Paul Toboni has many tough decisions to make as he approaches his first offseason as the Nationals’ new president of baseball operations. While there are many tantalizing free agents for Toboni to potentially pursue, there are three players with connections to Nationals history that make sense to bring to D.C. for the 2026 team:
Lucas Giolito
It’s been a long time since Giolito was a top prospect with the Nationals and made his debut in Washington. The right-hander, a key piece of the Nationals’ return to the White Sox in the 2016 Adam Eaton trade, has had an up-and-down career. He went from the worst pitcher in the league in 2018 to an All-Star in 2019, had Tommy John surgery in 2024, and had a solid bounceback season with the Red Sox this past season, pitching to a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts. Giolito, now, is a veteran who can provide stability and guidance to the young Nationals pitching rotation. On the field, he will give immediate support to the Nationals pitching staff, and off the field, he can offer guidance to young Nationals pitchers on how to grow after failure, something he has done throughout his career.
Trent Grisham
Nationals fans already love Trent Grisham. His error in the 2019 Wild Card Game helped the Nationals move past the Brewers and one step closer to their World Series victory. This season, Grisham has been a key piece of the New York Yankees playoff team. He hit 34 home runs in the regular season and had a .812 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Grisham was an elite defender in center field at one point in his career, a clear weakness for the Nationals now. He has since regressed, accruing negative two outs above average (OAA) at the position this past season. Defensive metrics are volatile, and Grisham could rebound back to becoming a plus-defender in center field, but if not, the Nationals should still sign him, as he would provide them with a proven bat and a clear defensive upgrade at a corner outfield position.
Max Scherzer
The greatest pitcher in Nationals franchise history is a free agent this offseason. The Blue Jays, who are still vying for a World Series title, did not get a great season out of Max Scherzer. The veteran righty pitched to a 5.19 ERA in 85 innings pitched. His ERA is somewhat inflated from a September 19th start against the Royals, where he gave up seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning pitched, but no matter how you look at it, Scherzer did not have a good season up north. Still, Scherzer is a Hall of Fame pitcher, and the Nationals should look to re-sign him for the final part of his career. He still has value, striking out batters and limiting walks at above-average rates. Moreover, he can provide veteran presence and leadership that can help guide the Nationals’ young clubhouse.