Nationals Aggressively Use Waiver Wire to Build Roster Depth

Washington's front office is cycling through waiver claims to bolster their minor league system.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 6:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Washington Nationals have been extremely active on the waiver wire this offseason, cycling through numerous players as they look to build up organizational depth. After losing several minor leaguers to free agency, the team is using the waiver process to claim players who were designated for assignment by other teams, allowing the Nationals to outright them to the minors if unclaimed.

Why it matters

This strategy allows the Nationals to stockpile talent, particularly pitching, at the Triple-A level to have ready-made big league options available as they assess their MLB roster throughout the 2026 season. While the constant roster churn can be frustrating for fans, it reflects the new front office's commitment to improving the overall depth of the organization.

The details

The Nationals have claimed several players off waivers in recent weeks, including former top prospect Andry Lara, who went unclaimed and returned to the organization. This allows the team to outright these players to their Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, building up their minor league depth. The front office, led by Paul Toboni, values the entire 40-man roster and is willing to cycle through players to find the right fits.

  • The Nationals lost more minor league players to free agency than any other team earlier this offseason.
  • The team has been aggressively using the waiver wire throughout the winter to address these depth concerns.

The players

Paul Toboni

The Nationals' new front office executive leading the team's efforts to rebuild their roster depth through waiver wire acquisitions.

Andry Lara

A former top 30 prospect in the Nationals' system who was designated for assignment but went unclaimed, allowing him to return to the organization.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Nationals will continue to monitor the waiver wire throughout the offseason and into spring training as they look to further bolster their organizational depth.

The takeaway

The Nationals' aggressive use of the waiver wire reflects their new front office's commitment to rebuilding the team's depth, particularly in the pitching staff, as they look to field a competitive roster in 2026 and beyond.