Pérez arrives, Smith signs, Chaparro works with starting infield

News and notes from the first official full-squad workout of spring training

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS JOURNAL

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Cionel Pérez was here, in uniform and on the field with his new teammates. Drew Smith is on his way, scheduled to arrive in camp Tuesday. And the rest of the Nationals were officially at work this morning for the club’s first full-squad workout of the spring.

Here’s some news and notes from a busy Monday in West Palm Beach …

PEREZ REPORTS, PARTICIPATES, PREPARES TO MAKE CASE
Cionel Pérez made his camp debut this morning, having passed his physical so the club could officially announce his signing to a minor-league contract. The veteran left-hander went right to work, participating in all drills and bringing some desperately needed experience to a very young relief corps.

Pérez, 29, has 257 games of major-league experience, mostly with the Orioles, for whom he posted a 3.72 ERA and six saves from 2022-25. He dazzled that first year to the tune of a 1.40 ERA and was a trusted high-leverage arm for Baltimore’s playoff teams in 2023-24 but cratered last season, getting outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after seeing his ERA balloon to 8.31 in 19 games.

The problems were twofold: Pérez didn’t throw enough strikes (18 walks in 21 2/3 innings), and when he did find the strike zone he was hit hard (28 hits in those 21 2/3 innings). He spent this winter working at Driveline Baseball and emerged feeling like a new pitcher, one who will be downplaying the sinker that plagued him last season for a more-effective four-seam fastball he can throw up in the zone, plus a newly developed curveball.

“I see a lot of difference in my fastball, the life of my fastball,” he said. “It was way different last year, because I focused more on throwing sinkers. I want to bring that back again. When you play with your fastball, with the life, you can throw everything.”

The Nationals are hoping a remodeled Pérez is a boost for a bullpen that features some promising young arms, most of whom have yet to pitch a full MLB season.

Some of his new teammates hadn’t yet heard about the signing and were stunned to see a former competitor on the field today. During a pickoff drill, shortstop CJ Abrams saw Pérez take the mound and asked Blake Butera where he came from. The rookie manager replied: “We just got him yesterday.”

Abrams’ response: “He’s nasty! I’m so glad I don’t have to face him!”

Pérez, who will earn $1.9 million (plus incentives) if he makes the big-league roster, wants to prove to the Nationals he can rediscover his form from several years ago and make a difference for this bullpen.

“I’m here to fight, and to make the team and give everything I have to be in the playoffs,” the lefty said.

NATS ALSO ADD VETERAN SMITH TO BULLPEN
As Pérez was getting to know everyone on the practice fields, the Nationals signed another experienced reliever, agreeing to terms with right-hander Drew Smith on a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league camp.

The deal, which was confirmed by a club source after it was first reported this morning by SNY’s Michelle Margaux, will pay Smith a guaranteed $1.75 million (plus incentives) if he makes the roster.

Smith, 32, owns a 3.48 ERA and five saves in 191 career games with the Mets, with more strikeouts (202) than innings pitched (196 1/3). He’s also returning from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him the entire 2025 season.

Nationals officials believe Smith is fully healthy now and hope he makes his case this spring to be part of an Opening Day bullpen that needs all the experienced help it can get.

“The bullpen is kind of wide open, but there’s a lot of really interesting arms down there and a lot of guys with a lot to prove,” pitching coach Simon Mathews said over the weekend. “There’s some guys that have the talent to be a really fun, special group. And it’s going to be kind of a pirate ship down there. We’ll see who takes charge, but it’ll be a fun group to watch.”

BUTERA, TOBONI SET TONE BEFORE FIRST FULL WORKOUT
Before everyone took the field this morning, Butera and new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni spoke to the entire team inside the clubhouse, the first opportunity both men have had to address that group in full.

Among the messages they wanted to convey: Whatever has happened in the past will stay in the past. Everyone will be given the opportunity to earn his roster spot and role based off his performance and approach this spring.

“This is a fully clean slate,” Butera said. “They get to write their new chapter, and what that’s going to look like is totally up to them.”

The message was well-received from a group of players that has quickly bought into the new administration’s plan, no matter how young or inexperienced they may be.

“I think it’s kind of old-school to say that you had to play up here to coach up here,” center fielder Jacob Young said. “I don’t believe that personally. Talking to them on the phone a bunch this offseason, you could tell where they’ve been and what they’ve done, they know what they’re talking about and they’re ready to take on this challenge.”

WHO’S ON FIRST?
Don’t read too much into this, because it was the first day and there’s plenty of time for the Nationals to try out different alignments, but the “first-team” infield that worked together on defensive drills had Andrés Chaparro at first base alongside second baseman Luis García Jr., shortstop CJ Abrams and third baseman Brady House.

Both Butera and Toboni have said García will be splitting time between first and second bases this spring, but to date the majority of his work has come at second.

The “second-team” infield behind those four today had Abimelec Ortiz (one of the prospects acquired from the Rangers in the MacKenzie Gore trade) at first base, José Tena at second base and Nasim Nuñez at shortstop. House was the only third baseman.