Washington’s new baseball operations leader Paul Toboni is gutting the Nationals’ scouting framework and steering a cost-conscious path toward 2026, with arbitration shaping the budget. MLB Trade Rumors pegs the 2026 arbitration bill at about $26.75 million, led by Luis Garcia Jr. at roughly $7 million and CJ Abrams around $5.6 million, while MacKenzie Gore anchors the rotation as the prior ace. The piece centers on how leadership changes could shift positions, control, and future payroll.