Washington Nationals logo on white jersey Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Nationals' Extreme Usage of Waiver Wire Isn't by Accident

Originally posted on Washington Nationals on SI
By Brad Wakai | Last updated Feb 1, 2026 7:00 PM ET

Fans following along closely have probably noticed the Washington Nationals have been busy when it comes to their waiver wire usage at this stage of the offseason.

The roller coaster that comes with cycling through waiver claims and subsequent DFA's can be tedious to monitor. That especially becomes true when trying to figure out who exactly is on the 40-man roster at any given moment. However, there is a method to the madness when it comes to what the Nationals are doing.

Earlier in the winter, nobody had more minor league players elect to become free agents than Washington. That negatively affected their depth and made it imperative for Paul Toboni and his front office to stockpile bodies throughout the organization.

Nationals Creating Depth by Using Waiver Wire

Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images

One way the Nationals can create depth -- at least at the Triple-A level -- is by trying to sneak players who were designated for assignment through waivers if they go unclaimed. That allows them to outright players directly to Rochester if they aren't able to opt for free agency.

A recent example of this is former top 30 prospect Andry Lara. While his DFA was a bit head-scratching at the time based on his past pedigree, no other team was interested enough in the right-hander to place a waiver claim. So he returned to Washington's organization and will pitch for them again.

For a team like the Nationals, having as much ready-made big league talent waiting in the minors is something that will be needed as this new regime assess what they have on their MLB roster for the whole year.

Nationals Building Deeper 40-Man Roster With Waiver Claims

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Another thing that's clear is Toboni values the entirety of the 40-man roster. That has resulted in a claimed player replacing another on the roster, only for that player to then be replaced by another claimed player down the road.

That's where the churn and burn of this process can be annoying for fans. It's hard to get attached to whoever is added when they are designated for assignment days, or even a day, later. However, it's important to remember that, if done right, this process can also improve the overall talent of the 40-man roster.

Ideally, that's what Washington is doing. With a major need for pitching, they have added multiple arms via the waiver wire who could potentially help them at some point during the 2026 season or throughout the campaign.

Toboni and his front office have leaned into the waiver process heavily during their first offseason in charge. And with more moves coming, the hope is the overall depth will be improved and the 40-man roster will be in a better spot than it was last year.