The Washington Nationals are excited to have Josiah Gray getting back to the mound.
On Friday, they preemptively addressed some of that excitement with a new contract agreement with the right-handed pitcher.
To avoid the salary arbitration process, Gray and the Nationals agreed to a $1.35 million deal for the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Passan also provided an injury update:
"Gray missed all of 2025 after elbow surgery and will make the same money as this year. He will be ready to pitch in spring training."
Gray will turn 28 on Dec. 21.
He was originally a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of Le Moyne.
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Gray eventually was traded from the Reds to the Dodgers in a deal that also included Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood and Homer Bailey.
Three years later, he was traded from the Dodgers to the Nats as part of the Max Scherzer and Trea Turner trade.
Gray has pitched in 386.2 MLB innings and has a 4.84 ERA.
He actually made an All-Star team in 2023 with a 3.91 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 159 innings.
Gray struggled mightily in two starts in 2024 before injury ended the rest of his season, and then he missed all of 2025.
It's not clear if Gray will be the player he once was, but if he can get close to his peak, he'll be a key return for the Nationals.
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