After getting swept by the Mets in New York, the Washington Nationals closed the first half of their season by taking two of three in Milwaukee, then sending shortstop CJ Abrams and closer Kyle Finnegan to the All Star game. The Nats’ 44-53 record has them in fourth place in the NL East, six games behind the Mets, but well ahead of the abysmal Marlins.
The playoff dream is deferred another year
The playoffs seemed a distinct possibility for Washington a month ago when they had a near-.500 record. Now, the team has released disappointing veterans Eddie Rosario and Nick Senzel, sent Joey Meneses to the minors and traded reliever Hunter Harvey to the Kansas City Royals. It’s likely more of this year’s roster will be moved before the July 30 trade deadline, and you can be sure James Wood won’t be the last of Washington’s minor league prospects to see time with Nationals this season. Washington clearly has its sights set on 2025 and beyond.
Draft picks tell a story
As GM Mike Rizzo has said often, you can’t have too much pitching. Washington’s just-completed draft reflects this mindset. Of the team’s 21 picks, 11 are pitchers (six righties, five lefties). The Nats also selected five infielders and three catchers, which suggests that Rizzo isn’t content with the talent in those areas among the current rosters at all levels of the organization. In fact, Washington’s first four picks included infielders Seaver King (Wake Forest) and Luke Dickerson (Morris Knolls High School), and catchers Caleb Lomavita (California) and Kevin Bazzell (Texas Tech) – all ranked among the top 55 players available by Major League Baseball.
Trades and prospects
Jesse Winker’s 48 walks and .374 OBP lead the Nationals, and he’s second in homers with 11 and third in RBI with 43. But maybe don’t buy that Winker jersey just yet. He’s on a one-year deal and would be a nice acquisition for a contending team, and the Nats’ organization is loaded with outfielders, so expect Rizzo to trade Winker (and some other veteran players) for a bushel of top prospects. And speaking of prospects, Washington has already brought Wood and infielders Trey Lipscomb and Juan Yepez up from the minors; outfielder Dylan Crews and third baseman Brady House may not be far behind.
Reds and Padres coming
After the All Star break, Washington will host the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres for three games each before going on the road to St. Louis and Arizona. By the time that trip ends (just after the trade deadline), you can bet the Nationals’ roster will be significantly different.
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