Washington Nationals, Jacob Young Agree to Contract Extension

The Washington Nationals are now expected to inked their second contract extension under Paul Toboni.

Centerfielder Jacob Young is reportedly in agreement on a contract extension, a deserving feat for a 27 year old who put together an encouraging 2026 season.

Young also entered the offseason as one of eight players along the Nationals' roster who were arbitration eligible, though it marked the first time in Young's career he had reached arbitration. Now, the Nationals lock down one of their best defensive pieces pending a physical, and lock in a key part of the outfield. After entering the offseason under club control through 2029, Young is reportedly in agreement on a four year deal worth $23 million, in addition to an option in his fifth year valued at $8 million.

Young is coming off a 2026 season where he recorded ten home runs -- double his career total prior to 2026 -- and set a new career high with 50 RBIs across 140 games. Young also ended the season with a .252 batting average and .318 OBP, while also setting a new career high with a .390 slugging and .707 OPS. Young also finished 2026 with a 1.8 WAR.

The 27 year old is also coming off an impressive defensive season where he led the Nationals with 12 outs above average. Only one center fielder has eclipsed Young's total over the last three seasons, evidence of his value to the Nationals' -- both in the lineup and in the outfield. Young also drew 33 walks in 2026 and improved his strikeout rate compared to the last two seasons, along with notching 18 stolen bases. He also finished third among National League center fielders with ten runs prevented, a category he also ranks second among all MLB outfielders since the start of the 2024 season.

While Young also found himself tied to trade rumors last offseason with Toboni cautioning that the team was merely evaluating interest, he now becomes the second player to ink a new contract extension after the team announced a new deal for starting right handed ace Cade Cavalli toward the end of the 2026 regular season. Whether Young proves to be the final contract extension of the offseason is the next question after previous reports pointed to the front office expected to evaluate new deals with both right fielder James Wood and shortstop CJ Abrams this offseason.