Nats Chat

Grapefruit League play is just days away. Mark (From West Palm) & Al open with Dylan Crews, who is looking to bounce back after an injury filled rookie season. Crews showed signs of power last year with 10 homers, but his average was barely over the "Mendoza Line".

(10:10) Blake Butera was singing the praises of CJ Abrams and expects him to return to All-Star form.  The hosts also dive into the notion of him not returning to the trade market until this summer despite many expecting Abramsto be dealt at the same time as MacKenzie Gore.

(19:00) The new manager made mention that Cade Cavalli has been standing out so far this spring.  Cavalli returned to the Washington mound last August for the first time in three years due to injuries and made ten starts in the process.

(27:40) Catching up on recent additions to the bullpen on minor league deals.

(34:45) What is Luis Garcia Jr.'s primary position?  Is it 2B or 1B?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Pitchers & Catchers" (and a lot more) have reported to West Palm Beach to begin the 2026 Nationals campaign.  Mark (Live from Florida) & Al discuss the initial impressions of a camp run by Paul Toboni & Blake Butera.  Hear what the reaction has been to the upgrade in technology and infrastructure behind the scenes.

(14:00) Washington signed veteran starting pitcher Miles Mikolas to a one-year deal around $2M.  Mikolas has not had a ERA below 4.00 since 2022, but consistently starts over 30 games a year.

(18:30) An early look at the potential starting rotation and if Cade Cavalli will take the mound on Opening Day.

(22:40) Almost all position players have already reported to Florida, including James Wood.

(31:15) This is a critical season for Dylan Crews, who is aiming to take on a larger leadership role in the clubhouse.

(34:00) Updates on Travis Sykora & Jarlin Susana, who are out for the season, but are participating in Big League Camp. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just one day after making his first big move as Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni joins the podcast for a wide ranging conversation.  Mark & Al begin by asking him about trading MacKenzie Gore to Texas in exchange for five prospects.  The discussion then touches upon Free Agency, 1B, building a bullpen, CJ Abrams' future, working with ownership, and more. Stay tuned after the 25 minute interview to hear the hosts give their thoughts on the Gore deal and other observations from interviewing Toboni.

(01:00) Gore traded to Texas

(08:00) Competitive timeline

(14:30) Approach in Free Agency

(15:20) 1B Situation

(18:35) CJ Abrams' future

(20:00) Bullpen construction

(22:40) Did you run the Gore trade past ownership?

(25:30) Extended post interview reaction from Al & Mark

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals announced on Wednesday that the era of games airing on MASN is over and that the next chapter of local broadcasts will be on the newly formed "Nationals TV". Al & Tim explain what this means and how this will align with some other MLB team's broadcast situation.

(06:00) A refresher on the decade plus litigation between the Orioles & Nats over MASN that suddenly ended last year.

(12:15) How will the new broadcast compare to its predecessor?

(21:15) Alexa Datt has reportedly been hired as the team's new sideline reporter and she comes from the Cardinals broadcast team. Who will replace Bob Carpenter as the play-by-play announcer?

(23:00) The Orioles will remain on MASN, but MASN2 will no longer exist.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new era of Nationals leadership just completed their first time representing the franchise at the annual MLB Winter Meetings. Mark (After returning from Orlando) & Al begin with the results of the Draft, where they were not allowed to end up with a top 10 pick.  The Nationals had the ping pong balls bounce their way initially, but due to the leagues rules they will settle for #11 overall.

(06:00) Evaluating the chances that MacKenzie Gore and/or CJ Abrams get traded this off-season.

(15:00) Parsing through Toboni's recent note to fans that could be interpreted as a heads-up that we are headed towards a new rebuild.

(19:10) Handicapping the catcher situation now after the trade with Seattle.  Harry Ford is one of the top rated catching prospects and Keibert Ruiz still has many years left on his extension.

(27:30) Why did Washington trade away Jose A. Ferrer?

(30:15) A check at the new technology that Toboni has added to the infrastructure of the organization.

(36:10) Jake Irvin, Riley Adams & Luis Garcia Jr. were among those were tendered by the team to return in 2026.

(40:00) Would Abrams move to 2B if he is not traded?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quick recap of the Nationals trade over the weekend with Seattle by Tim Shovers.  Closer Jose. A Ferrer was sent to the Mariners in exchange for catcher Harry Ford & RHP Isaac Lyon.  Get up to speed on the first trade executed by Paul Toboni.

**Next full episode with Mark & Al will be Friday morning December 12th after the MLB Winter Meetings take place in Orlando, FL.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals introduced their new 33-year-old Manager Blake Butera on Monday afternoon to the local media.  Mark & Al react to the press conference where Butera was joined on stage by Paul Toboni and fielded questions about becoming the youngest MLB Manager in a half century.  

(17:00) An early look at Butera's coaching staff, which will include Sean Doolittle.

(24:35) Luis Garcia Jr., Jake Irvin, and Riley Adams are among the non-tender candidates as it relates to upcoming Arbitration eligibility.

(32:00) Brief commentary on some potential big names that will be floated this off-season in trade rumors.

(35:10) Tim is joined by WTOP & Sirius XM's Ben Raby for a review of the Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Expos?". Ben grew up an Expos fan in Canada and is an avid Nats Chat listener.  

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Shovers provides a short recap of Paul Toboni's Conference Call on Tuesday to address the hiring of Blake Butera as new manager.  Butera and his wife welcomed a child the same day he accepted the job and his intro press conference is expected to be held later this month in D.C. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.