The MLB Offseason is already underway. As we all know, our beloved Washington Nationals have been very busy in their own right, but we are still waiting for the new leader of the team's front office, Paul Toboni, to really make his first big splash.
With teams like the Toronto Blue Jays already making major waves, signing free agent righty starter Dylan Cease to a massive 7-year, $210 million deal, it will be interesting to see how Toboni & company choose to help make the Nationals a more competitive team moving forward. While we wait for some actual big league signings to complement Toboni's first few minor league signings, who is perhaps one of the bigger bargain signings the Nationals could bring in?
Jonah Heim should be a National in 2026
As a site here at District on Deck, we will begin to tackle a lot more potential free agent content once some actual rumors begin to circulate surrounding the organization, but this potential pairing of catcher Jonah Heim and the Nationals actually makes a ton of sense.
A former Gold Glover and All-Star backstop as a member of the Texas Rangers, Heim was recently non-tendered following a disappointing 2025 season that only saw him post a .602 OPS in 124 games. Combine that second straight season of a below league-average OPS with declining defense, and it's pretty easy to see why the Rangers are looking to go in a new direction.
However, given the fact that the Nationals have outwardly stated that they are looking to upgrade the catcher position, Heim could be a solid buy-low candidate as a timeshare backstop to pair with Keibert Ruiz. Since the organization seemingly does not believe too much in Drew Millas or Riley Adams, bringing in a seasoned veteran to fill in for Ruiz behind the dish just makes too much sense.
Additionally, when you factor in that Heim worked with Bobby Wilson, who was recently hired as the team's catching coordinator away from the Rangers, giving him a familiar face combined with a change of scenery for Heim could be all he needs to bounce back. After all, we are talking about a guy who was worth over 3.0 WAR just 2 seasons ago, and was a huge piece on both sides of the ball for the eventual World Series Champions back in 2023.
At only 30-years-old, there is still time for Heim to figure things out, and perhaps pairing him with a young and upstart coaching staff like the one being assembled in Washington will help him find another gear. Pairing a veteran catcher with Ruiz is something that has been overdue for many years now, and the Nationals have a golden opportunity to bring in a fresh face in Heim who could even be flipped at the deadline if the Nationals choose to go that route as well.
Would you want the Nationals to bring in Jonah Heim? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.