Five years ago, the Washington Nationals embarked on a historic playoff run winning the 2019 World Series. With seven elimination game victories, a roster with six perennial all stars, and an unforgettable run it seemed the Nationals were built to last for years to come. However in the years since, the franchise has unraveled becoming one of the worst franchises in the MLB.
Since the World Series win, Washington hasn’t had a single winning season, finishing near the bottom of the National League every year. By 2022, the core of the championship roster had completely dissolved. Players like Max Scherzer and Trea Turner were traded away, Anthony Rendon walked in free agency, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg retired after a bundle of injuries, and Juan Soto, the supposed face of the franchise was shipped to San Diego after rejecting an extension which seemed to have been a public relations ploy rather than a sincere attempt to keep him.
What was once a front office known for smart decisions and player development has now become seemingly unmotivated with no true vision for the future. The Nationals failure to develop homegrown talent has been one of the most damaging issues of all. Prospects who were seen as future stars like Carter Kieboom and Victor Robles, have never met expectations, and are no longer a part of the organization. And though the team has a promising young core of players, very few were actually a homegrown talent. James Wood, CJ Abarams, and Mackenzie Gore, some of the Nationals most promising talents were acquired via trade and spent little to no time developing in the Nationals minor league system.
Even the young core that was supposed to lead the next era is already not living up to expectations. Dylan Crews, the golden spikes winner and 2023 first round pick, missed significant time with lingering wrist issues that have slowed his development. When healthy, Crews has never met expectations with the bat, finishing below 220 average in every season he has played. James Wood, one of the most hyped prospects in recent franchise history, showed his raw power early finding himself in comparisons with the top stars of the MLB, however, ended the season with the single season strikeout total in Nationals history finishing two strikeouts shy of the MLB record. Meanwhile, left hander Mackenzie Gore, expected to be the anchor of the pitching rotation, faded badly down the stretch for the second straight season raising doubts about his ability to handle a full workload.
Despite the Nationals insistence that their rebuild revolves around a young core, long term extensions appear unlikely. Players like Dylan Crews, James Wood, and CJ Abrams have shown flashes of potential, but the Lerner ownership group has not demonstrated a willingness to spend early to secure their services long term. Instead, Washington’s front office has leaned on arbitration control and short term deals which can build short term success rather than long term stability. After watching Juan Soto, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper all leave under similar circumstances you have little reason to believe this new generation will be treated any differently.
The Lerner family’s long, drawn out process of exploring a sale has left the organization stuck in place. There’s been no bold vision, no aggressive spending, no public confidence that the team is truly building towards something. Free agency, once a time when the Nationals had a top 10 payroll in the MLB has become an after thought, averaging the bottom ten for the last five seasons.
The team’s performance isn’t the only thing on the decline. The Nationals average attendance has declined to the lowest it has ever been in Nationals history, since the championship. In 2019, the Nationals averaged nearly 35,000 fans per game, but that number has dropped dramatically, hovering closer to 20,000 and ranking in the bottom quarter in the MLB.
There is still some optimism, the farm system though inconsistent, does have talent and ranks in the top ten of all teams in the MLB. Likewise, the Lerners have begun assembling an entirely new leadership structure bringing in a younger analytics driven head of baseball operations, Paul Toboni. The Lerners have also entirely cleaned the house allowing Toboni and other head executives to build a staff they know and trust. With the recent number one overall selection of Eli WIllits who is quickly becoming a top prospect, the Nationals may have a glimmer of hope buried in the frustration.
