The calendar is about to flip to 2026, and we have very little information about the construction of the Washington Nationals' bullpen. While it's not too late to sign free agents, some Nats fans are getting restless as their team hasn't shelled out any contracts. The Nats signed starting pitcher Foster Griffin to a one-year deal and made a few minor league deals. The trades to acquire catcher Harry Ford and pitcher Luis Perales made some noise, but other than that, it's been quiet in Washington, D.C. The Nats announced their whole coaching staff a few days ago, so that could mean some moves are on the way. The bullpen is one of the first areas that needs to be addressed.
The Washington Nationals' bullpen was one of the worst in Major League history to begin the 2025 season. Jose A. Ferrer, who ended up being one of the few productive pitchers for the Nats, had a 7.20 ERA after five appearances. Reliever Colin Poche recorded an 11.42 ERA in 13 appearances. Eduardo Salazar ended the season on the injured list, but recorded an 8.38 ERA through 30 appearances. Lucas Sims began the year with the Nats, too, but recorded a 13.86 ERA through 18 games and was DFA'd. Oddly enough, Sims was the first man out of the bullpen on Opening Day. Jorge Lopez also pitched in 26 games for the Nats before being DFA'd. Lopez recorded a 6.57 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched. Some of the names and statistics are so atrocious. Building a bullpen was not one of Mike Rizzo's strong suits, and the 2025 pen is up there with his worst.
How does Paul Toboni scrap the pieces back together to build a competitive bullpen? A few guys performed well later in the season, specifically PJ Poulin, Clayton Beeter, Konnor Pilkington, and Cole Henry. Clayton Beeter showed impressive stuff towards the end of last season, recording a 2.49 ERA in 24 games with the Nats. He was acquired from the Yankees for Amed Rosario before the trade deadline. He struck out 32 batters in 21.2 innings pitched, flashing some closer potential. PJ Poulin is an interesting pitcher, a left-hander who made his MLB debut at 28 with the Nats last season. He's a left-hander with reverse splits, meaning he's more successful against right-handed batters than most lefties. He recorded a 3.65 ERA in 28 games pitched.
Konnor Pilkington is another left-handed pitcher, but was previously a starting pitcher. He can provide a few different things to a bullpen due to his background as a starter. He recorded a 4.45 ERA in his 32 appearances for the Nats. Cole Henry is a feel-good story for the Nats. He's come back from thoracic outlet syndrome and is developing into a solid reliever. He ended the season on the injured list with a back strain, but I anticipate the right-hander to be fully healthy in Spring Training. He recorded a 4.27 ERA in 57 games for the Nats in 2025.
It's doubtful that Toboni signs eight new relievers and fields an entirely new bullpen. While some Nats fans would likely prefer it that way, it's just not feasible. Pitchers like Beeter, Henry, Pilkington, and Poulin are servicable and can complement the free agents you do sign. There are a few free agents available that are worth adding to the Nats' bullpen. Josh Sborz, Pierce Johnson, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips. Josh Sborz is from Washington, D.C. and is recovering from a shoulder surgery that kept him out for the 2025 season. The 32-year-old right-hander was off to a nice start in 2024 before the injury and would likely be inexpensive to sign.
Pierce Johnson would be the more expensive option I've listed, but he's well worth the money. He's pitched in at least 58 games in the last three seasons while recording 40 holds and 16 saves. Johnson is versatile and experienced, but at 34, he may not be interested in a rebuilding team. Michael Kopech has been around for what feels like forever, but is still 29 years old. He's developed into a solid reliever after being converted after the 2023 season. His fastball touches triple digits, and it would be interesting to see what the Nats' new coaching staff could do with him. Evan Phillips is another pitcher coming off an injury, this time it's Tommy John. Before his injury, Phillips was a key piece of the Dodgers' bullpen, pitching in 60 or more games in three straight seasons. The Nats could give Phillips a runway to get back to his All-Star level of success.
It's not all doom and gloom in D.C. as it once was in terms of building a bullpen. With Mike Rizzo, it was almost certain the Nationals' weakness would be the relievers. The same issues kept recurring year after year, and they were never addressed. Hopefully, Paul Toboni can turn the tide on the Nats' bullpen issues. There are free agents available that make sense for the Nats to add to the fold. Washington also has a few interesting arms in the organization who could help the bullpen. Time is winding down to Opening Day 2026, so we'll know soon enough what the Nats bullpen looks like.