#29
The Washington Nationals may have won the World Series just 4 short years ago, but only a select few players are even left from that championship run. Is the rebuild just starting, or can the Nats compete in 2023?
#24 - 5th in NL East
MIH - Josh Bell
MIP - Josiah Gray
PTW - Cade Cavalli
2022 Results
#30 - 55-107 - 5th in NL East
Highest WAR (Position) - Juan Soto
Highest WAR (Pitching) - Erasmo Ramirez
In just 3 years, the Nationals went from the top of the mountain to the bottom, earning the worst record in baseball. They aren't even getting rewarded with the top draft pick thanks to the new draft lottery. They also watched their once-in-a-generation superstar, Juan Soto, be traded mid-season to San Diego. To show how bad they were last year, their top two players in WAR, Soto and Josh Bell, didn't even play for the Nats the last two months of the season. Their top pitcher in terms of WAR was a swingman reliever. The season went wrong in pretty much every way possible.
Additions / Subtractions
When the season goes that badly the year before, there is only one place left to go, and that's up. There were not a ton of moves this offseason for the Nationals. The main thing we saw is several veterans leave in free agency, like Nelson Cruz, Luke Voit, Cesar Hernandez, Anibal Sanchez, and Steve Cishek. Basically, all the placeholders for younger players were sent out. Brought in were a couple veterans looking for playing time and a fresh start in first baseman Dominic Smith, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, and outfielder Corey Dickerson.
Most Important Hitter
Joey Meneses
The Nationals have fully committed to the youth movement, with loads of highly-touted talent all over the field (much of which has been acquired recently in their blockbuster trades of Soto, Bell, Scherzer, and Turner). However, every team needs surprises, and one of the few bright spots for the 2021 Nationals was Joey Meneses. This 30 year old rookie seized an opportunity when the club cleaned house around the trade deadline and finished the season hitting .324 with 13 home runs and a 165 OPS+ in just 56 games. Now, was this a fluke or a true diamond in the rough? If Meneses can produce like this again in 2023, it will take a lot of pressure off the phenoms like Keibert Ruiz, C.J. Abrams, and Luis Garcia.
Most Important Pitcher
MacKenzie Gore
The Nationals still have some stars in their rotation like Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg, who only pitched one game in 2022. However, possibly the most important pitcher to the future of the Nationals is MacKenzie Gore. Gore was one of the many gems brought back in the Juan Soto / Josh Bell deal. This former top prospect had trouble getting opportunities in San Diego while also battling injuries. Now, Gore finds himself with a fresh start and a team committed to giving guys like him every chance to thrive. If he takes off this year, the Nats are a lot closer to making their way back to contending than originally thought.
Prospect to Watch
Cade Cavalli
The Nationals boast a strong farm system, with 4 prospects in the top 100 with Cade Cavalli the most big league ready at #58. I try not to highlight the same prospect multiple years in a row, but the Nats have very few top prospects that have a chance to impact the big league club this season. Cavalli is a 6'4" righty that made his big league debut in 2022, but an injury shut him down after just the one start. He should make the Opening Day roster in the rotation and might be the next big ace for the Nats.
2023 Prediction
5th in NL East
Yes, the Nationals are in full rebuild mode. They also play in possibly the toughest division in all of baseball. The balanced schedule will help them out this season so they don't get beat up so much by the likes of the Mets, Braves, and Phillies. It's still not going to be good though. With that said, they have enough exciting talent that they will be a fun watch win or lose.
Fearless Prediction
The last of the remaining players from the 2019 World Series run will play their last games in a Nationals jersey in 2023.
This is a bit of a stretch, but not insane. Strasburg and Corbin need to show they have the value to trade for them and their contracts. The most unlikely to move is centerfielder Victor Robles, who is entering his age 26 season, however with only a few years left before free agency, a trade to make way for the next wave of kids isn't out of the question. It could happen!
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