2025 Transactions: Nationals Claim Wiemer, Orioles Add Noel

Now that the holidays are past, it’s crunch time in the 2025-26 offseason. With a little over a month until Spring Training begins, teams are starting to fill out what their rosters will look like for February. Washington picked up toolsy outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers, while the Nationals’ neighbor in Baltimore claimed Jhonkensy Noel.

Nationals pick up Wiemer

Washington claimed power-hitting outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers from the Giants on January 5.

The 26-year-old Wiemer received 410 plate appearances in his first Major League season back in 2023. Despite a .204 average, Wiemer hit 13 home runs, stole 11 bases, and flashed good speed and a strong arm with the Brewers.

However, Wiemer’s swing-and-miss tendencies — he’s prone to expanding the zone (35.9% Chase% in abbreviated MLB action during the 2025 season — have given him trouble.

This is the third organization that Wiemer has been a part of this winter. Wiemer began the year with Miami, where the 26-year-old ended the 2025 campaign after starting it in the Royals organization.

He went to San Francisco in November as part of a cash trade with the Marlins.

Now, Wiemer is back in the NL East.

Noel claimed by O’s

The Orioles made two moves on January 5. Baltimore claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Guardians. And in a corresponding move, reliever George Soriano was designated for assignment.