The MLB offseason has become a rumor mill. Who will the Nationals sign? Who should they sign? Who can they trade away and trade for? These are all common questions, but one roster asset seems to have been forgotten about. That player is Josiah Gray.
Per Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post, Gray is due back for 2026 Spring Training. This may add a stellar boost to a rotation that struggled in 2025. Here is a refresher on the young arm.
WELCOME BACK??
— TheNatsReport 🇺🇸 ⚾ (@TheNatsReport) November 13, 2025
Per Spencer Nusbaum, Washington Nationals right handed pitcher Josiah Gray is expected to be ready to go by Spring Training and be healthy to start the 2026 season in the Nationals rotation. pic.twitter.com/xmbp4MB2qO
Pre-Injury Stats
Gray has two seasons and change under his belt with the Nationals. He last played in 2024, which saw him appear in just two games. We are better off reeling it back to 2023.
In 2023, Gray went 8-13 for record with a 3.91 ERA and 1.6 WAR. Back in 2022, his rookie season, Gray recorded himself a 5.02 ERA.
The value of Gray enlies with his array of pitches. He has a repertoire of six pitches that fringe on, or exceed 10%. This is his Cutter, Four-Seam Fastball, Slider, Curveball, Sinker, and Changeup.
What to Expect
Gray comes off of Tommy John surgery, but many pitchers recover just fine. At 28 years of age, Gray should be able to re-enter the Nationals Starting Rotation for Opening Day. He would likely slate the mid-to-late rotation. It all depends on signings and Gray's Spring Training progression.
For a team that plans to use analytics, we would expect the strong arsenal of Gray to find higher leverage in his usage.
Jim Hickey had been the Nationals Pitching Coach since 2021. He was a part of this older style of coaching that the Nationals had struggled with over the past few years. The Nationals now hired Simon Mathews, at age 30, from the Reds, to be the new Pitching Coach.
Projecting the Nationals 2026 Rotation
It is up in the air as to how this rotation will shape up. They have an array of young pitchers. They can shape up as well as their performance will put out.
MacKenzie Gore trends to be the Opening Day Ace. Jake Irvin, Cade Cavalli, and Mitchell Parker both expect to be in the mix, as well as Brad Lord. Now, Josiah Gray reenters the equation.
It is also to be expected the Washington goes out and signs a veteran starting arm. There is a lot of team management to be done and this rotation will ideally benefit from the moves that are made.
In a best case scenario from himself, Gray could be the 2nd option in this rotation, Worst case, he could begin the season in the minors (although very unlikely). The range of outcomes are plenty, but it will be welcome sight to get Gray back in the mix.