30 Teams In 30 Days: The Washington Nationals Long Rebuild Continues

"That didn't hurt too bad" probably would've been a perfect description for the 2023 Washington nationals. They came in expecting to be a 100-loss team, and while they were by no means good, I think that the ride through the season was a little bit less bumpy than expected. It helps when expectations are that insanely low. They come into this year and are projected to be a last-place team in a very competitive National League East. They have some pieces that I like. I actually think that, in the long run, the Juan Soto trade will work out well for them. It seems like CJ Abrams is coming along at shortstop, and I also like McKenzie Gore as a starting pitcher. I think he and Josiah Gray could be a legitimate one-two punch at some point in the future. The Nats took flyers out on several former first-round picks, including Joey Gallo, Jesse Winker, and Nick Senzel. If any of those guys can have a resurgent campaign, they become legitimate bait at the deadline. They were able to flip Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs last year. I think their goal is to be able to do the same with some of these veterans.

The 2019 Nationals were the oldest team in baseball the year they won the World Series, so it makes sense why the cupboard was left relatively bare shortly after they sold their soul for that championship. I think Nats fans might be willing to put up with one more subpar season. Going forward, they'll have to show a little bit more life after 2024. This team has proven to be a stable organization in the past and has shown the ability to spend money on big-time free agents. This year will be a wash. I don't know of many that expect them to compete, but they will have to get out of the dungeon here at some point. It's a very competitive division, but the Nationals have stepped up to the plate in the past. They can continue to rebuild, but patience will wear thin pretty soon.