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Jacob Young, Nationals Agree to Four-Year Extension
Outfielder Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals agreed to a four-year, $23 million contract extension on Friday that includes an $8 million option for a fifth season, a source familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal helps the Nats avoid salary arbitration for the first time with Young. The 27-year-old is more glove and speed than bat, as he is considered one of the better defensive center fielders in the game. Although the former seventh-rounder in 2021 from the University of Florida does not have much power at the plate, he does have enough speed to make him fantasy-relevant in deeper leagues. Young stole a career-high 33 bases for the Nats in his first full season in 2024 and has at least 15 steals in the last two seasons. The 2026 campaign was one of his better showings at the plate, hitting .252/.318/.390 with a career-high .707 OPS, a career-high 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 140 games across 471 plate appearances. Fantasy managers seeking power from an outfielder will want to avoid Young, as he has hit just 15 home runs in his four big-league seasons since debuting with Washington in 2023.
Source: FanSided - Robert Murray
Source: FanSided - Robert Murray
Red Sox Showed Interest in Zach Neto and CJ Abrams
The Boston Red Sox "checked in" on Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and Washington Nationals shortstop/second baseman CJ Abrams during the 2026 season, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. McCaffrey writes that the Red Sox ultimately determined that the asking prices for both players, which included top Boston shortstop prospect Franklin Arias and more, were too high. Still, it's noteworthy that the Red Sox could potentially be in the market for veteran infield help this winter. Boston got highly underwhelming production at shortstop in 2026 from Trevor Story, who has one year and $25 million remaining on his current contract. If the Red Sox feel that Arias is not ready to take over in 2027, they could look to make a move for a more established option. Both Neto and Abrams would likely see their fantasy value improved by a trade to Boston.
Source: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
Source: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
Connelly Early to Pitch This Weekend
Washington Nationals left-hander Connelly Early (elbow) threw 40 pitches across 1 2/3 innings with Triple-A Rochester on Sept. 20 and will come off the 60-day injured list to make one more start this season this weekend against the division-rival New York Mets, according to MLB.com. Early landed on the injured list on July 1 and was moved to the 60-day IL on Aug. 22 due to inflammation in his left elbow. It will be his first start with the Nationals after the team acquired him from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline in early August. In his 17 starts (91 2/3 innings pitched) for the BoSox this year in his second season in the big leagues, Early went 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks. He had a 2.33 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in a smaller sample size of only four starts in his first taste of the big leagues near the end of the 2025 campaign. Early, a fifth-rounder from Virginia in 2023, is one of the more intriguing young lefty arms in baseball, but he will be far too risky in starting fantasy lineups with championships on the line this weekend against New York after his long injury layoff. UPDATE: Early will make his Nationals debut on Saturday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Devin Fitz-Gerald Has Stellar Minor-League Season at 21
Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald split his minor-league season between two levels but finished with nice overall numbers in his age-21 season. Between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg, Fitz-Gerald combined to hit .251 with 20 homers and 67 RBI, along with 15 stolen bases and 78 runs scored. The switch-hitter was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers and came to the Nationals organization in the MacKenzie Gore trade. Fitz-Gerald is the No. 5 prospect for the Nationals and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and 45-grade speed. Fitz-Gerald looks like he could be an impact player for the Nationals, but Washington does have another elite shortstop prospect in Seaver King, so Fitz-Gerald's future could involve another infield position.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Dylan Crews' Balanced Profile Gives Him Deep-League Waiver-Wire Appeal
Across 427 plate appearances in 2026, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews is hitting .226/.290/.372 with 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 51 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. While the 24-year-old's overall line may not stand out, he's made some slight improvements in the second half of the season. Crews is hitting .237 across 238 plate appearances since the All-Star break after hitting .211 across 189 plate appearances in the first half. The young outfielder has also had one of his better months in September, hitting .250 with two home runs and three stolen bases across 74 trips to the plate. Crews may never emerge as the superstar many projected him to be when he was a prospect. However, Crews may be rounding into a decent source of power, speed, and run production for deep-league managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Cavalli Done for the Year
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is done for the year and will not make another start in the final week of the 2026 season, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Cavalli is healthy, but the Nationals will shut him down given all of his innings and where they are in the standings with no hope of a playoff berth. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 from the University of Oklahoma had a breakout 2026 campaign in his first full year in the big leagues in D.C., going 13-5 with a 3.02 ERA (3.25 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with a career-high 200 strikeouts and 48 walks in 169 2/3 innings pitched across his 32 starts. Going into the year, Cavalli had only made 11 starts and had missed all of 2023 after having Tommy John surgery. Washington recently rewarded the rising young arm with a four-year, $47 million contract extension last week. Cavalli will be an intriguing starting-pitching target in all fantasy formats next year after raising his strikeout rate to a career-high 28.3% in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
Cade Cavalli Agrees to Four-Year Extension With Nationals
The Washington Nationals announced on Friday that they agreed to a four-year contract extension with right-hander Cade Cavalli through the 2030 season that includes a club option for the 2031 season. The deal is worth $47 million guaranteed and $70 million if the options are picked up, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 28-year-old secures his future in D.C. after a breakout 2026 campaign. The former 22nd overall pick from the University of Oklahoma in 2020 has gone 12-5 this year with a 3.12 ERA (3.33 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, and 194:48 K:BB in 164 2/3 innings pitched across his 31 starts in his first full season in the big leagues. Cavalli only made one start in his debut season in 2022 with the Nats, did not pitch at all in 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, and made only 10 starts in Washington last year. He has posted a career-high 28.2% strikeout rate and maintained the command that he showed in a small sample size in 2025 by walking 7.0% of the batters he has faced. With a longer leash in 2027, Cavalli could be even better if he stays healthy.
Source: Washington Nationals
Source: Washington Nationals
Seaver King Producing Tremendous Minor-League Season at Age 23
Washington Nationals infield prospect Seaver King hit his 20th homer of the season on Wednesday night at Triple-A Rochester to put an exclamation point on his breakout 2026 season in the minor leagues. Between Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester this season, King has hit .306 with those 20 homers and 73 RBI to go with 85 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. It's a complete stat line from the Wake Forest grad, but he hasn't received a call-up yet from the Nationals. He is the No. 4 prospect in the Nationals system and has a 50-grade hit tool with 45-grade power and 70-grade speed. Look for King's strong minor league season at age 23 to give him a shot at breaking camp with the major league team in 2027. He has done everything he can to prove worthy of the opportunity and would be a good fantasy player to target in 2027 drafts.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
CJ Abrams Returns to the Lineup Against Phillies
Washington Nationals middle infielder CJ Abrams (neck) is starting at second base and will hit cleanup for the Nats on Wednesday at home against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler, per MLB.com. The Nationals scratched Abrams from Tuesday's win over Philly due to tightness in his neck, but he is back a day later and will be making just his sixth career start at the keystone as the team slowly transitions him from shortstop to second base to end the 2026 season. Fantasy managers will want to get Abrams back in their lineups immediately during his breakout season, in which he has hit .264/.339/.494 with an .834 OPS, 30 home runs, 96 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases in 542 at-bats. The former first-rounder needs just one stolen base to join the elusive 30-30 club in his fifth year in the big leagues. Abrams is slowing down late in the year, though, hitting just .173 (17-for-98) in 24 games in August while going 10-for-44 (.227) with a homer, three doubles, four RBI, seven runs, three steals, four walks, and 14 strikeouts so far in 11 games in September. He has hit .296 with two RBI and a .914 OPS in 27 career at-bats against Wheeler.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jarlin Susana Promoted to Triple-A, Also Headed to Arizona Fall League
Washington Nationals pitching prospect Jarlin Susana was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday and will get a shot to help catapult the Red Wings to the playoffs, with the squad currently sitting in first place in the second half of the International League East. The Nats' third-ranked prospect missed most of the season recovering from right lat surgery, but showed he was still highly capable of striking out batters, recording 21 punchouts in just 11 1/3 innings pitched at Double-A upon his return, which was good for a 16.7 K/9. The 6-foot-6 hurler will then head to the Arizona Fall League for some additional reps once the Triple-A season wraps up, and he should be in the mix for a major league debut at some point next season. The 22-year-old has some command concerns, but oozing with sky-high strikeout potential, he's still a worthwhile dynasty asset.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
CJ Abrams Scratched on Tuesday with Neck Tightness
Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams (neck) was scratched from his team's lineup on Tuesday due to neck tightness, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. It's not yet clear if Abrams will require a trip to the injured list or if he will be able to return to Washington's lineup within the next few days. Across 613 plate appearances this season, the 25-year-old is hitting .264/.339/.494 with 30 home runs, 96 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. While Abrams has had an excellent year overall, his production has fallen off of late. Across 155 plate appearances since the start of August, Abrams is hitting just .192 with two home runs and a 33.5% strikeout rate. In addition to his current neck issue, Abrams has also dealt with back tightness. If he misses time, Nationals infielder Jorbit Vivas would likely see an increase in at-bats.
Source: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
Source: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
Eli Willits Makes Debut At Double-A Harrisburg
Washington Nationals 18-year-old shortstop prospect Eli Willits made his debut at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and has gone 1-for-8 in his first two games at his new minor league level with an RBI in each of his first two contests. Willits is known as a speedster and has 60 stolen bases combined between three levels of the minors. The switch hitter also has 13 combined home runs with 72 RBI and 100 runs scored. Willits was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and is top prospect in the Nationals system. He has the looks of a future league winner in the category of stolen bases. His stolen base prowess alone makes him worth a dynasty addition . He has a 60-grade hit tool and a 60-grade run tool with 50-grade power. The speed is off the charts and he looks like a future fantasy difference maker.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Eli Willits Will Finish Off 2026 at Double-A Harrisburg
Washington Nationals infield prospect Eli Willits was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday after a strong campaign split between Single-A and High-A, per Spencer Nusbaum of the Athletic. The Nats' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 4) slashed .300/.418/.500 in 47 games at Single-A, then .230/.392/.420 in 64 games at Double-A. Though the batting average took a dip at the higher level, his strikeout rate improved by more than four percent, settling in at 19.0 percent, which was also right around his walk rate of 18.7 percent. The speed was evident regardless of level, with the former first-overall draft pick swiping 60 bags in all this season. With a strong combination of contact, power, and speed, there's a reason why the switch-hitter is so highly regarded, and although the 18-year-old won't debut for a couple of years, he's a prized dynasty asset.
Source: Spencer Nusbaum
Source: Spencer Nusbaum
Seaver King Still a High-Upside Stash Candidate
Washington Nationals infield prospect Seaver King just had a great month in August at Triple-A Rochester and is worth keeping on the stash radar this season despite not being called up at the beginning of September. In August, King launched nine homers with 17 RBI and stole five bases while hitting .330. King is the Nationals' No. 4 prospect with a 50-grade hit tool and 70-grade speed. In the minors this season, King combined to steal 14 bases across two levels. With CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez in the infield for the Nationals at shortstop and second base, respectively, King could find it a little bit tough to break through for playing time in the middle infield. However, the Nationals may want to take a chance and give King some playing time at the end of the year, and he would be a great potential five-category contributor if so.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cade Cavalli Set to Start on Saturday Against Dodgers
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (calf) has been cleared to make his next start on Saturday on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to MLB.com. Cavalli only made it through four innings in his previous start last Saturday against the division-rival Miami Marlins after he was hit by a line drive on his calf. The 28-year-old was able to avoid a major injury, though, and should be fine to pitch again this weekend against the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Cavalli has been a strong fantasy option in his first full major-league season in 2026, going 12-5 with a 3.12 ERA (3.38 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 177 strikeouts and 46 walks in 152 2/3 innings across his 29 starts. The former first-round pick in 2020 from the University of Oklahoma allowed more than two earned runs only once in his six starts in August, posting a 1.75 ERA (3.93 FIP) with 10 walks and 47 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. Cavalli should be good for a full workload in his return to the mound on Saturday, but the matchup is obviously not ideal.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
