Nationals, Josiah Gray Reach One-Year Deal
The Nationals have agreed to a one-year contract with right-hander Josiah Gray to avoid arbitration. The deal guarantees Gray $1.35 million for the 2026 season, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. That mirrors Gray’s 2025 salary, which he earned while recovering from elbow surgery.
Gray is nearing his 28th birthday. Once a highly touted Dodgers prospect, he arrived in Washington at the 2021 trade deadline in the deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to Los Angeles. That blockbuster trade has yielded mixed results for the Nationals so far. Alongside Gray, catcher Keibert Ruiz was viewed as a key building block, though Ruiz has struggled to secure a solid routine role in the majors. The other two players from that trade, Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey, are no longer with the organization.
In terms of performance, Gray has shown flashes but hasn’t consistently dominated. He logged 28 starts for Washington in 2022 with a 5.02 ERA. In 2023, he lowered his ERA to 3.91, yet underlying numbers weren’t as encouraging: a 20.5% strikeout rate and an 11.5% walk rate, along with a high 80.4% left-on-base percentage, suggested more volatility. His advanced metrics—4.93 FIP and 5.08 SIERA—hinted at limited reliability beyond the surface ERA.
Since then, injuries took center stage. Gray appeared in only two games in 2024 before landing on the injured list with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. He began a rehab stint in June but was sidelined again due to renewed discomfort and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in July. He finished the year on the injured list, surpassing three years of major-league service time and triggering arbitration eligibility for 2025. The sides settled on a $1.35 million salary to avoid arbitration.
Much has changed off the field as well. The Nationals’ rebuild progressed slowly enough to spark leadership changes, with president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez both dismissed in July. They’ve been replaced by Paul Toboni and Blake Butera, respectively.
With two years of club control remaining for Gray, his status is particularly interesting. Teammate MacKenzie Gore is in a similar position, and both pitchers have been the subject of ongoing trade chatter. In addition, infield prospect CJ Abrams remains in the mix for potential moves, given his remaining three years of team control. If Gray delivers a strong first half in 2026, expect his name to surface in more trade discussions ahead of the summer deadline.
Photo credit: Reggie Hildred, Imagn Images
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