The Washington Nationals are entering the dead of winter and that makes it time to make some moves. The Nationals have a plethora of young pieces going into 2026, but they will not make up the entire team. Additionally, the team has a total payroll allocation of $47 Million geading into next season.
The team tends to spend around $100 Million in payroll, give or take. This shows that the team has room to splash on a few veterans. Here are three pitching options that they should really look into signing.
Zach Eflin, SP
The Nationals must sign at least one new starting pitcher to this roster. They are not going to sign someone like Tarik Skubal or Framber Valdez. Sure, it is possible, but highly unlikely. Given the Nationals payroll, they will look for a player priced much more cheaply. With Blake Butera bringing analytics to the team, they will go the classic moneyball style of cheap, but effective. Eflin offers a moderately priced option with manageable expectations. He is a free agent and appears to command an AAV of $16 Million.
A back injury limited Eflin's season to just 14 Games in 2025, and he did struggle with a 5.93 ERA. His previous form suggests great output that would slot him as a mid-three ERA pitcher. If the Nationals feel comfortable with his health, he can be negotiated down the cheaper and provide a great 2nd or 3rd rotational arm. Eflin works an array of breaking pitches with an elite BB Rate (98/100. He spells a dream for analytical baseball.
Aaron Civale, SP
Look, Civale does not have elite numbers. I get it. We must remember that we are looking to trust the analytics in 2026. The big weakness of Civale has been his velocity, which he counteracts that with his array of pitches. Civale throws three breaking pitches with a 4-seam fastball. He has often has great breaking and offspeed pitch value, per Statcast.
I would very must entrust Butera and company to work a plan of his pitching output and toss Civale in as a quality 3rd or 4th rotational arm. Civale has a current market value of about $15 Million. He seems like a guy that could be negotiated down. Civale made $8 Million in 2025 and did not necessarily do anything do command much more.
Nick Martinez, SP
Martinez is getting up there in age (36 Years Old), but he can still produce. Martinez was great in generating soft contact and a high zone-rate in 2025. In each of his last four season, Martinez had an xERA under 4.00. We now are looking at a free agent that could command about $15 Million this year, and he will likely get it.
Martinez leads in with a cutter and 4-seam fastball. He will complement this with a changeup, slider, and a curveball. He would spell a cheap dream for an analytical Nationals rotation and he could very well be the 2nd player in the rotation in a best case scenario.