Nationals, Jacob Young Agree To Extension

Young, 27, has been the Nationals’ primary center fielder since 2024. He posted poor offensive numbers in 2024 and particularly in 2025, but was close to league-average at the plate in 2026 (.252/.318/.390). Since establishing himself as a big league regular in ’24, Young carries a .248/.311/.340 batting line (82 wRC+).

While the righty-hitting Young doesn’t provide much in the batter’s box, he’s a high-end defender with excellent speed. He’s swiped 66 bags over the past three seasons but hasn’t been overly efficient, as those steals have come in 91 attempts (72.5% success rate). However, Young went 18-for-22 in steals this past season, and the real selling point on his skill set lies in his glove anyhow.

Statcast credits Young as the second-best defensive outfielder in baseball across the past three seasons. His 46 Outs Above Average in that time trail only likely NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. More broadly, Young ranks fourth among all major leaguers in OAA since 2024; Bobby Witt Jr., Crow-Armstrong and Andrés Giménez are the only players who’s posted larger OAA totals in that span. Defensive Runs Saved did ding Young for a slightly negative mark this year, due in part to some poor throws, but both metrics agree that he’s one of the rangiest defenders in the game dating back to ’24.

The new contract for Young buys out all three of his arbitration seasons and gives the Nats control over two would-be free agent years — one of which is a club option that’ll be at their discretion, of course. With a $2.3MM projection for his first arb year, Young could probably have expected to command somewhere in the $12-15MM range for his three arb years, depending on how well he hits in subsequent seasons. If he can continue his nearly average offensive output from ’26 or even improve upon it, he could be on the higher end of that range. Regression might’ve left him a bit lower. Either way, the deal is effectively paying somewhere in the $8-11MM range to lock in one free agent year with a club option for a second.

Young’s plus-plus speed and strong glovework give him a high enough floor that the Nationals probably feel he’ll justify this commitment even if 2026 proves to be a peak offensive year. He’s also a particularly solid hitter versus lefties (.282/.353/.423 in 2026, .265/.336/.355 in his career), which gives him a good chance to hold value as a fourth outfielder even if his overall game slips in subsequent seasons.

Broadly speaking, it’s a sensible deal for both clubs. Young’s glove and speed aren’t likely to evaporate in sudden fashion, barring some sort of unexpected injury of note. However, his skill set also isn’t one that’s necessarily paid all that handsomely in arbitration. He’s able to lock in a life-changing amount of money, while the team secures some cost certainty over a starting center fielder whose worst-case scenario would still render him a useful fourth outfielder.

Today’s extension is the second in the past few months for the Nats and now gives them three players under long-term control: Young, top starter Cade Cavalli and catcher Keibert Ruiz. Cavalli, who inked a four-year, $47MM deal with a club option back in September, had a breakout year atop Washington’s rotation now that his prior injury troubles have seemingly been put in the rearview mirror. Ruiz, who signed an eight-year, $50MM contract under the Nationals’ former Mike Rizzo-led front office, enjoyed a rebound campaign after a trio of poor seasons.

Cavalli, Young and Ruiz are now all signed through 2030 with a team option for 2031. (Ruiz’s deal has a second club option covering the 2032 season.) That 2030 season is the same year through which Washington controls star young slugger James Wood, around whom this growing core will continue to be focused.