The Nationals have an opportunity to add some interesting arms this offseason, and one pitcher I want to see them take a look at is Kris Bubic. The 29-year-old left-hander has struggled to stay healthy, but when he’s been on the mound over the last few years, the results have been encouraging. Depending on how the Nats want to use him, Bubic could be a high-risk, high-reward starter or a valuable long man out of the bullpen.
Bubic’s best stretch came in 2025 with the Royals, as he posted a 2.55 ERA
with 116 strikeouts in 116⅓ innings across 20 starts, earning his first All-Star selection. Unfortunately, a rotator cuff strain ended his season in July, cutting short what was looking like a huge breakout for the lefty. That season showed what Bubic can do in a rotation when healthy, and it’s why he’s worth paying attention to this winter.
In 2026, Bubic wasn’t quite as sharp, but his numbers were still solid. According to FanGraphs, he posted a 3.76 ERA, 3.54 FIP and 3.99 xFIP in 55 innings between Kansas City and Los Angeles. His 9.16 K/9 and 46.8% ground-ball rate were encouraging as well, although his 4.25 BB/9 was higher than you’d like to see. His FIP, which focuses on strikeouts, walks and home runs, supports the idea that Bubic was still pitching well despite another injury-filled season.
The numbers on Baseball Savant give some reasons to believe in his stuff as well, particularly his changeup. Hitters posted just a .119 AVG and .119 SLG against the pitch in 2026, with a 32.1% whiff rate (the percentage of swings that result in a miss, for reference). His slider also generated a 33.3% whiff rate, while his sweeper had a 29% whiff rate. The sample size wasn’t huge, but Bubic still has the pitches to make big league hitters uncomfortable.
The biggest concern is whether he can stay on the mound long enough to put everything together. Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, had the shoulder injury in 2025, and missed most of 2026 with elbow trouble. There’s plenty to like about his potential as a starter, but the Nats would need other options available if injuries became an issue again. He’s someone I’d like to see compete for a rotation spot, with the Nats keeping a close eye on his workload.
If starting doesn’t work out, Bubic has already shown he can pitch out of the bullpen. In 2024, he posted a 2.67 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 30⅓ innings, and he finished the 2026 regular season with 4⅔ scoreless innings for the Dodgers. A long-relief role could allow the Nats to use him for multiple innings after a short start, or potentially give him a spot start when needed. That would depend on his health, but his experience in both roles gives the Nats some flexibility.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projects Bubic to sign for two years and $18 million, a reasonable price if the Nats are comfortable with his medicals. That’s still a meaningful commitment for a pitcher with his injury history, but the upside makes him worth considering. If Bubic can get back to his 2025 form, the Nats could find itself with a bargain in the rotation. If he ends up as a productive multi-inning reliever, he could still be a useful addition to the staff.
