The Washington Nationals had an abysmal 2025 season and we've beat that drum to death. There are many reasons that the year was a disappointment, but the focus is on the future. What took place last season and in previous years should be used as a tool moving forward. What did the Nationals learn from their disappointing season in 2025?
The Nats learned that their internal philosophies must change. Ownership recognized this and fired both Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez in July of 2025. The timing of the firings was unexpected. Most Nats fans expected Darnell Coles and Jim Hickey to be let go before Davey. Almost all fans could've agreed that none of the firings would be in-season. It showed an urgency from ownership that change needed to happen, and fast. Interim GM Mike DeBartolo gave a great quote in his opening press conference, "We need real change." While it wasn't a large sentence, the words meant a lot to Nats fans.
In the months following DeBartolo's comment, changes have occured in the Nationals organization. A new President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, was hired to lead the front office. He's named two assistant GM's, John Horowitz and David Pearson and retained Mike DeBartolo as the third assistant GM. Toboni made arguably the biggest splash of the offseason in hiring 33-year-old Blake Butera as the manager of the Nats. Butera is the youngest coach in the Majors since 1972.
The young skipper will have Michael Johns as his bench coach along with Simon Matthews as the pitching coach. Johns in 50 years of age and will provide experience on the bench, while Matthews is just 30 years old and is from the Reds Organization. It was also announced on November 12 that the Nats hired Bobby Wilson from the Texas Rangers as their catching coordinator, a well-respected name around the Major Leagues.
A shift in philosophy has occured within the Nationals organization. Toboni has prioritized hiring analytical minds to the coaching staff and front office. The previous regime emphasized the "eye test" among other old school ways of thinking. The Nats fell behind in all facets of the organization over the past five seasons. In Toboni's introductory press conference, the quote that struck me the most was, "I want to build something that is the envy of all sports." Toboni's way of thinking is what the Nationals organization desperately needed. A forward-thinking mind that isn't afraid to take a risk. Hiring a 33-year-old head coach is risky and could make him look foolish in a few years. On the other hand, if it works out in Washington, Toboni will seem like a mastermind.
If the Washington Nationals learned one thing from the 2025 season, it's that their internal philosophies needed to change. Ownership has rebuilt the front office with an analytical mind unafraid to make changes in Paul Toboni. What remains to be seen is how the 2026 roster will be constructed. Free Agency is officially open for business.
I'd expect the Nats to finish naming the coaching staff before any signings are made. It's tough to infer how the Nats will manauver through the waters of free agency. In previous years, Rizzo was handcuffed by ownership, will Toboni get the same treatment?