Robert Hassell III; Photo provided by Wilmington Blue Rocks by Ryan Griffith
The Washington Nationals are currently in a complete re-build. The first of many signs of that came after trading away Trea Turner and Max Scherzer last season at the trade deadline. Now, GM Mike Rizzo, has traded away Juan Soto and Josh Bell signaling that the team is starting over.
Through these trades, the Nats have piled up many top prospects that should help them win in the near future. Along with those trades, the Nationals have been developing their own draft picks and signings in the minor leagues.
Let’s try to predict the Nats lineups up until the 2026 season. I will make some bold predictions on short-term contracts for placeholders in the free agent market. Clearly I expect new ownership to want to make a splash, but I think they can save their money and not rush the process here.
The biggest question mark going forward is the health of Stephen Strasburg, and I moved Patrick Corbin into the bullpen for his final two years with the team. Strasburg earning $35 million and being the most senior player on the team has to either be a productive player or moved out so the team can concentrate on its future.
The player development department is a key with so many top prospects now at the lower levels of the system. Baffling is that a player like Jackson Rutledge is still in the entry level of Single-A ball given that he had been higher before and just put together two excellent back-to-back games. Yes, slow and steady seems to be the approach with the VP of Player Development, De Jon Watson.
In these predictions, all assumptions are that these top prospects rise to the top, and to their ceilings and become stars. You need depth just in case that does not happen.
2023 Season Lineup Prediction
Batting Order:
- C.J. Abrams– SS
- Luis Garcia– 2B
- Luke Voit– DH
- Joc Pederson– LF (Free agent 2-year deal)
- Keibert Ruiz– C
- Lane Thomas– RF
- Max Muncy– 1B (Free agent 2-year deal)
- Carter Kieboom– 3B
- Victor Robles– CF
Starting Pitchers:
- Stephen Strasburg– RHP (If healthy)
- MacKenzie Gore– LHP
- Josiah Gray– RHP
- Nathan Eovaldi– RHP (Free Agent 1-year deal)
- Cade Cavalli– RHP
If this turns out to be the lineup for the 2023 season, there are some interesting spots to look at. Giving the former Nats’ first rounder, Kieboom, one more chance seems fair, but it would seem to be his last chance to show the Nats what he can do. But it is also possible that Kieboom becomes a bench player, and the team signs a third base free agent —although a look at available free agents shows very little. If either Abrams or Garcia could play third base, there is a lot of shortstop talent available in free agency. We have Abrams as the shortstop in this projection, and he is getting work done in Triple-A. We will see what the plan is for Abrams to end his 2022 season. Free agency pickups in Muncy and Pederson will help with the veteran presence on the field.
For the pitching rotation, Strasburg will most likely still be the number one option if healthy. Free agency signing of veteran Nathan Eovaldi to help out the latter half of the rotation. Cavalli should be ready to go for the start of next season. Patrick Corbin should be moved to the bullpen. Of course Erick Fedde could start the season in the rotation depending on how the team wants to approach this. The big question marks are which free agents the team can sign, and Strasburg’s health.
2024 Season Lineup Prediction
Batting Order:
- C.J. Abrams– SS
- Robert Hassell III- CF
- Luke Voit– DH
- Joc Pederson– RF
- Keibert Ruiz– C
- Luis Garcia– 2B
- Wil Myers– RF (Free agent)
- Max Muncy– 1B
- Carter Kieboom– 3B
Starting Pitching:
- MacKenzie Gore– LHP
- Stephen Strasburg– RHP (If healthy)
- Cade Cavalli– RHP
- Josiah Gray– RHP
- Cole Henry– RHP
Only two new players in the in 2024 lineup compared to the 2023 lineup. Victor Robles will officially out of the Nats lineup. Nationals #1 prospect, Robert Hassell III, will be the starting CF in the 2024 season. There are some questions if RH3 will play center in the MLB or the corner positions. However, Hassell III will prove that he is more than capable. Wil Myers will get signed to the Nats on a one-year deal and will be their starting RF. Kieboom will have a solid 2023 campaign and be the Nats starting 3B for the 2024 season.
For the pitching rotation, Gore will be the #1 guy. Cole Henry will find a spot in the back end of the rotation and help the team win some games in 2024. Jackson Rutledge will make his MLB debut this season, just from the bullpen.
2025 Season Lineup Prediction
Batting Order:
- C.J. Abrams– SS
- Robert Hassell III- CF
- Elijah Green– LF
- James Wood– 1B
- Paul Goldschmidt– DH (Free Agent)
- Brady House– 3B
- Luis Garcia– 2B
- Keibert Ruiz– C
- Cristhian Vaquero– RF
Starting Pitching:
- MacKenzie Gore– LHP
- Cade Cavalli– RHP
- Stephen Strasburg– RHP (If healthy)
- Josiah Gray– RHP
- Jarlin Susana– RHP
Young players like Green, Wood, and House, will all make their MLB debuts in the 2024 season. However, they will be starters for the team in the beginning of the 2025 season. GM Mike Rizzo will have a big signing by landing Paul Goldschmidt. Vaquero will be with the Nats before most people think he is supposed to and will surprise all fans with his skills.
For the pitching rotation, Susana will be the Nats fifth guy as 21-year-old. The top of the rotation will stay pretty similar to the season before.
2026 Season Lineup Prediction
Batting Order:
- Cristhian Vaquero– CF
- Robert Hassell III- RF
- Elijah Green– LF
- James Wood– 1B
- Paul Goldschmidt– DH
- Brady House -3B
- Luis Garcia– 2B
- Keibert Ruiz– C
- C.J. Abrams– SS
Starting Pitching:
- MacKenzie Gore– LHP
- Cade Cavalli– RHP
- Jarlin Susana– RHP
- Josiah Gray– RHP
- Nestor Cortes– LHP
Vaquero will impress so many people with what he is able to bring to the batter’s box that he will be the Nats leadoff hitter in the 2025. Abrams will move down to the ninth spot, but not because of poor play.
The young core will hopefully stay together for a long time, and the Nats lineup could be full of developed players that were in the Nats minor league system.
These roster projections do not even include the unknowns of a high draft pick coming in July 2023, and presumably in July 2024. It would be nice to not trade away from the farm system, and to keep that as an ongoing strength.
