The Washington nationals traded Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners in december for catcher Harry ford, a move that together addressed a long-term need and exposed a glaring weakness: the bullpen’s lack of a reliable closer for the 2026 season.
Bullpen Blues in the Nation’s Capital
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The Nationals finished dead last in bullpen ERA in 2025, a full 0.4 runs worse than the next-closest team, the Colorado Rockies.
For several seasons, Washington leaned on right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan to handle the closing duties. He managed to be effective without becoming a highly sought-after commodity via trade or free agency. After receiving limited interest in the offseason, Finnegan surprisingly returned to the nationals in late Febuary, only to be traded to the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline.
Finnegan’s departure paved the way for Ferrer, who impressively recorded 11 saves over the final two months of the season. While his overall numbers weren’t spectacular, advanced metrics like a 3.24 SIERA and a 3.43 xFIP hinted at untapped potential. Ferrer now joins a strong Seattle bullpen.
Who Steps Up in Washington?
With a new general manager and a first-time skipper at the helm, the Nationals find themselves in a prime position to discover a hidden gem among their current pitching staff. But who will emerge as the closer-in-waiting?
Cole Henry: The Prospect Turned Reliever
After years as a highly-regarded pitching prospect, Henry struggled late in the year. Like Henry, Beeter is a former starter who recently transitioned to the bullpen.
Beeter’s standout attribute is his ability to generate strikeouts. He consistently posted strikeout rates above 35% in the minor leagues, and that success has carried over to the majors, with a 31.9% strikeout rate across 29 MLB innings over the past two years. His repertoire is straightforward – an upper-90s fastball and a devastating slider. beeter’s slider boasted a massive 49.1% whiff rate last season, accounting for 29 of his 33 strikeouts. with a 2.97 xFIP, his 2.49 ERA appears lasting, making him a potential trade chip if he continues to dominate.
The Long Shots: Poulin, Pilkington, Grissom, and Lord
Washington currently has only two left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster, meaning PJ Poulin and Connor Pilkington are likely to secure MLB roles, but aren’t immediate closer candidates. A free-agent addition of a left-handed reliever could open the door for either of them to compete for the job.
Poulin is an unconventional option, even for a lefty, as his fastball barely reaches 90 mph, and he struggles with control. However, he posted a 2.10 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in the Detroit system in 2024, showcasing impressive strikeout numbers, including a 33.7% rate with Triple-A Toledo before being claimed by the Nationals.
Pilkington’s velocity increased after joining the Nationals’ bullpen,consistently sitting above 94 mph. He demonstrates above-average strikeout numbers but struggles with control and hard contact.
marquis Grissom Jr. has steadily climbed through Washington’s system, reaching Triple-A in 2025. Despite some struggles at the Triple-A level,his minor league track record suggests he could contribute at the major league level. He posted a 2.21 ERA across two minor league levels in 2024, earning an invitation to MLB Spring Training in 2025 and even participating in the Futures Game against his father, who was managing the AL team. Grissom has accumulated 27 saves in the minors over the past three seasons, but his current roster status hinders his chances.
Brad Lord,while lacking consistent starts,has shown promise in a hybrid role,reaching 96 mph at times as a reliever. He posted a 2.70 ERA and a 23.5% strikeout rate over 26 relief appearances from mid-May to mid-July. While he lacks a clear solution for left-handed hitters,his fastball/sinker/slider combination could be effective with the added velocity in the bullpen.
