The Washington Nationals received a favorable return for their veteran outfielder, one that they felt was appropriate.

When the Washington Nationals traded outfielder Lane Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians, they received three players in exchange: left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey, infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr., and infielder José Tena. This return was satisfactory enough for general manager Mike Rizzo to proceed with the trade, as Thomas was highly regarded within the organization.

Rizzo expressed his appreciation for Thomas, stating, “He was a great leader in our clubhouse. He really served as a mentor to our young outfield prospects. He meant a lot to the team, probably more to us than to any other team that would acquire him. We recognized that and communicated it to other organizations, and a few teams met the threshold that made me comfortable with the trade.”

Prior to the trade, Thomas had a batting line of .253/.331/.407 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. Since joining Cleveland, he has struggled, hitting just .113 in 16 games.

The two 19-year-olds, Clemmey and Ramirez, were assigned to Class-A Fredericksburg, while Tena, 23, who made his Major League debut last year with the Guardians, is now with the Nationals and has batted .438 with three RBIs in his first few games as a starter at third base.

Rizzo is optimistic about the potential of all three players, although it may take time for Clemmey and Ramirez to contribute at the Major League level. Tena provides an opportunity for the Nationals to solidify a starting role at a position where they previously traded veteran Jeimer Candelario to the Chicago Cubs.

The trade also opens up more playing time for younger outfielders like James Wood, who recently hit his fifth home run of the season and is batting .284.

“If we take that next step in our progression, and some of these position players do the same,” Rizzo mentioned, “and if we make a couple of strategic offseason acquisitions, I believe we’ll be competitive.”

As of now, Washington has a record of 56-69 and is set to face the Colorado Rockies, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by 17.5 games in the National League East, indicating another likely losing season. The Nationals have not had a winning season since their World Series victory in 2019.

The Washington Nationals’ Pitching Outlook Is Concerning.

The Washington Nationals and their supporters are beginning to see hope after a challenging period. Following their World Series win in 2019, the team has gone through significant changes as part of a lengthy rebuilding process.

This season marks the fifth consecutive year without a postseason appearance for the Nationals. However, there are signs of progress, as their winning percentage is set to improve for the second year in a row, suggesting they are moving in a positive direction. A key factor in this optimism is the young core being developed for the lineup.

C.J. Abrams made his first All-Star team this year, while Luis Garcia Jr. has excelled at second base, boasting a .290/.325/.455 batting line over 108 games and 415 plate appearances. Fans have also enjoyed watching star prospect James Wood, who has performed well since his major league debut in July, achieving a .283/.366/.441 line in his first 41 games.

The lineup is expected to receive further reinforcements, with star outfielder Dylan Crews nearing a call-up and promising early results from Andres Chaparro, who was acquired before the trade deadline.

While the offense appears to be in good shape, the same cannot be said for the pitching rotation. In the trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres, the Nationals acquired starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who initially showed great promise. However, his recent decline in performance raises concerns for the team’s future.

As noted by Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report, Gore’s 6.98 ERA over his last nine starts is alarming, especially with injuries affecting other key pitchers like Josiah Gray and Cade Cavalli.

This season, Jake Irvin has emerged as the ace of the staff, showing improvement in his second year, while Mitchell Parker has also had notable moments in his rookie season. Gore was expected to be a long-term anchor for the rotation, but if he doesn’t improve in the coming weeks, the Nationals may need to reevaluate their long-term pitching strategy.

As they prepare for their next game, the Nationals hold a record of 56-69 and are looking to make strides in their rebuilding journey.

Among the front-runners to reunite with the superstar are the Washington Nationals.

The Washington Nationals are entering the offseason with several needs to address.

As of Saturday’s MLB games, the Nationals have a record of 55-68. While they possess some promising young talent, they will require additional star power for the 2025 season if they aim to return to winning form.

One potential avenue for improvement could be the possibility of reuniting with a former superstar during MLB free agency.

Juan Soto is set to hit the free agent market and is expected to demand a substantial contract. At just 25 years old, he represents the type of player who could significantly alter a team’s future. This is precisely what the Nationals need.

While the previous relationship between Soto and the Nationals ended poorly, the team has been mentioned as a possible contender for his services.

MLB insider Jon Heyman from the New York Post recently analyzed the top 11 potential suitors for Soto this offseason, placing Washington at No. 9.

Many speculate that Soto may ultimately re-sign with the New York Yankees, but there remains a chance he could be lured away.

During the 2024 MLB season with the Yankees, Soto has played 119 games, hitting 34 home runs and driving in 87 runs, with a slash line of .305/.436/.610.

These impressive stats explain why numerous teams will be interested in signing him.

A recent ESPN poll of 28 MLB executives indicated that Soto’s contract could range from $50 million for a single year to as much as $655 million over ten years, with an average projection of around $482.5 million over 11.6 years.

Although this is a significant financial commitment, Soto’s youth means he is likely to remain in his prime throughout a ten-year deal, unlike older players whose performance may decline in the latter years of such contracts.

If the Nationals are a team Soto might consider, they should definitely pursue him. Despite the rocky end to their previous relationship, his return could greatly enhance Washington’s chances of getting back on track.

While it may not be likely that the Nationals secure Soto this offseason, they are certainly a team to watch.

Slugger for the Washington Nationals is about ready to return from injury.

As the Washington Nationals work to restore the franchise to its pre-2019 World Series glory, they have faced a prolonged period of losing. Since their championship, they have not returned to the playoffs and have not recorded a winning season.

Despite these challenges, the team has successfully developed a robust farm system, and there is promising talent on both their Major League roster and in their pipeline that could form the core of a competitive team.

While these young players are gaining experience early in their careers, the Nationals have also signed some veterans to provide leadership in the clubhouse.

This offseason, they brought in Joey Gallo on a one-year deal, hoping he would continue his comeback after hitting 21 home runs with the Minnesota Twins in 2023 and achieving an OPS+ above 100 for the first time since 2021.

Unfortunately, Gallo has struggled with injuries this season, spending time on the 10-day injured list due to a shoulder sprain in late April, which kept him out until May 17. He was sidelined again nearly a month later with a hamstring strain.

Currently, Gallo is on a rehab assignment and aims to return for the season’s final stretch, contingent on his health. Manager Dave Martinez stated, “[Gallo] just wants to feel like he’s a hundred percent. So as soon as he feels like he’s a hundred percent, we’ll get him back here.”

It remains uncertain when that will happen.

Since August 6, Gallo has been with Washington’s Triple-A affiliate, where the plan is for him to play first base and right field, as well as serve as the designated hitter when not in the field.

During his eight rehab games, Gallo has gone 6-for-27 with two home runs and six RBIs, along with seven walks and ten strikeouts.