February 19, 2026

Beeter's overall stats from 2025 don't look great (4.26 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 14.4% K-BB%) but things got much better for him after a deadline deal that sent him from the Bronx to Washington DC. With the Nationals, Beeter posted a 2.49 ERA, 2.72 FIP, and 38.1% K rate in 21.2 innings. Those are exactly the type of numbers we like to see from a prospective closer, but unfortunately it came with an ugly 16.7% BB rate. It also took a .189 BABIP to produce these results, which probably isn't sustainable long term. Still, Beeter is the favorite to get the closing job in Washington heading into 2026, as the rebuilding Nats look to throw some spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. For Beeter, it's going to come down to reducing walks. He's got the stuff, with a 96.5 mph heater and an 87.4 mph wipeout slider, but his walk rate will give fantasy managers heart trouble during the season. The Nats do have a revamped coaching staff so maybe they can help Beeter reduce his walk rate, but truthfully we don't often see big gains in control and command for pitchers past age 25 (Beeter is 27). He's going around pick 360 in NFBC leagues in February, which makes him a decent late-round dart throw. He could be really dominant if he can ever curb the walks, and there isn't a lot of competition in the Nationals bullpen for saves. Just know he could be a WHIP killer, which is tough to stomach from a reliever.--Elliott Baas