Reports have indicated that the Nationals have picked a new manager for the 2026 campaign. And it’s likely someone many baseball fans are unfamiliar with. The Nationals are reportedly nearing a deal to hire Blake Butera, the Rays’ current farm director, as the team’s new manager.

Butera, like new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, was linked to the Rays organization. The 33-year-old spent two seasons as a player in the Tampa Bay organization after he was drafted out of Boston College in 2025.

He then quickly moved into a managerial role, as he took over from Albernaz as Hudson Valley Renegades manager in 2018. Butera had success, as he took Hudson Valley to the New York-Penn League championship series & managed the likes of Joe Ryan, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jonathan Aranda that year.

After managing the Renegades, Butera went 82-38 with Low-A Charleston as manager in 2021.

Butera was the Rays’ farm director over the last two seasons.

It’s an off-the-board move for incoming president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who officially replaced Miguel Cairo. Cairo was the Nationals’ interim manager after Washington parted ways with both ex-manager Davey Martinez and former baseball ops head Mike Rizzo.

The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild, one that does have a foundation in place. Washington’s 2026 lineup will tentatively include outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews, as well as Daylen Lile. Lile was one of baseball’s hottest hitters in September, while Wood hit 31 home runs. Crews was the second overall pick in 2023.

As for pitching, Cade Cavalli was healthy for the back half of 2025, while MacKenzie Gore was an All-Star.

It’s the latest bit of news coming out of the Nationals organization. Just before the start of November, Washington outrighted four players off the 40-man roster, including Shinnosuke Ogasawara and Mason Thompson.

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