This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato¡¯s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

As the Nationals build toward their future, they have filled the catcher position with players in the early stages of their careers. Next season, there is a possibility the Nats could add a veteran presence as a backup backstop.

Starting catcher Keibert Ruiz, who signed an eight-year contract in 2023, is entering his sixth MLB season. The 26-year-old was tabbed for the everyday role when he was acquired from the Dodgers in the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner megadeal at the Trade Deadline in 2021. Ruiz has been backed up by Riley Adams, who has played 168 games in four seasons with the Nats, and Drew Millas, who has appeared in 31 games since debuting in August 2023.

¡°I think we¡¯ve got to get better catching-wise, I really do,¡± general manager Mike Rizzo said at the end of the season. ¡°I think we did come a long way in the framing aspect of it. I think that, generally, we have to improve the way we attack the opposition's running game. I think that we're going to work a lot in Spring Training on holding runners, picking off moves and catchers throwing runners out. So it will be a point of focus here coming into the season.

¡°I like the three catchers that we have on the roster. They all bring a different dynamic to the ballclub, and I think that there's room for improvement for all three of them in certain aspects of their game.¡±

There has already been movement at this position in the free agent market. On Tuesday, 12-year veteran Travis d¡¯Arnaud signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Angels. Last week, the Guardians re-signed 10-year veteran Austin Hedges to a one-year deal.

Take a look at free agent catchers and their production from the 2024 season. There could be additions to this list following the non-tender deadline on Nov. 22, and the Nationals have been active in enhancing their roster that way.

Each player's 2025 seasonal age is included in parentheses next to his name, and the WAR figures listed are each player¡¯s FanGraphs wins above replacement total across 2023-24.

Kyle Higashioka (35 years old, 2.9 WAR)
2024: Padres
Games at catcher: 83 (77 starts)
Batting: .220/.263/.476, .739 OPS, 17 HR
Fielding: .987
Caught stealing: 20%

Danny Jansen (30, 2.4 WAR)
2024: Blue Jays, Red Sox
Games at catcher: 82 (72 starts)
Batting: .205/.309/.349, .658 OPS, 9 HR
Fielding: .991
Caught stealing: 13.9%
Notable: Ranked No. 1 overall with 14 blocks above average

Gary Sánchez (32, 1.9 WAR)
2024: Brewers
Games at catcher: 28 (27 starts)
Batting: .220/.307/.392, .699 OPS, 11 HR
Fielding: .977
Caught stealing: 20.7%

Carson Kelly (30, 1.9 WAR)
2024: Rangers, Tigers
Games at catcher: 84 (75 starts)
Batting: .238/.313/.374, .687 OPS, 9 HR
Fielding: .996
Caught stealing: 26.3%

Yasmani Grandal (36, 1.4 WAR)
2024: Pirates
Games at catcher: 71 (62 starts)
Batting: .228/.304/.400, .704 OPS, 9 HR
Fielding: .988
Caught stealing: 8.3%

Additional free agent catchers
Elias D¨ªaz (34, 0.5 WAR), James McCann (35, 0.5), Jacob Stallings (35, 0.5 WAR), Yan Gomes (37, -0.1), Tucker Barnhart (34, -0.2), Luke Maile (34, -0.3), Curt Casali (36, -0.7), Omar Narv¨¢ez (33, -1.0), Mart¨ªn Maldonado (38, -2.3), Max Stassi (34, N/A)