The Washington Nationals have a good core of young talent.
To turn things around in D.C. Under new front office leader Paul Toboni, they need some veteran presence.
There are a handful of available corner outfield and first base bats that fit the mold. A big swing would be Pete Alonso.
But The Athletic's Andy McCullough instead thinks the Nats may go after Ryan O'Hearn, who split the 2025 season between the Orioles and Padres before entering free agency.
"If the Nationals were using an old playbook, they might consider signing Pete Alonso to fill the void at first base and offer a veteran presence in a reprise of Mike Rizzo signing Jayson Werth after the 2010 season," McCullough writes. "But Paul Toboni was hired as president of baseball operations to resurrect the Nationals, not play a re-run. So the team might aim for a cheaper alternative. O’Hearn slumped after joining the Padres at the trade deadline, but still posted an.803 OPS with 17 home runs."
The O'Hearn signing likely depends on one other move.
Josh Bell is currently a free agent from the Nationals. Some rumors have linked Bell with a return to the Nats.
If Bell came back, it probably wouldn't make sense to only bring O'Hearn aboard.
But if Bell is leaving, O'Hearn would be a logical replacement and potentially an improvement.
Washington won't turn around its franchise with one move. But decision by decision, the Nats can return toward contention.
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