The Washington Nationals youth movement is ascending. James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Brady House had all homered over the weekend. Seaver King, the team’s 2024 1st round draft pick from earlier in the month, participated in batting practice with the team on Friday at Nationals Park and blasted a BP homer.
While King has a long way to go to play alongside CJ Abrams in the infield, Wood is already making an impact at the MLB level, and Crews and House are very close to being ready for their own MLB debuts. With the trade deadline looming, this team will get even younger as the season pushes on, as younger players replace older veteran players on the roster.
But this team does need veteran leadership from someone(s) who are more than a 1-year rental player on this roster. The two names that come up often when talking to players as to the veteran leadership are Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas. Both of them have been rumored in trade talks. Who takes over if both leave? This team desperately needs a Jayson Werth type of a player on a longer-term deal to be that clubhouse leader. That has to be at the top of the shopping list for this offseason and a priority.
Going into Spring Training of next year, Abrams will be just 24 years old with team control through the 2028 season. A source told us that the team had open lines of communications with Abrams agents at Roc Nation Sports. With the Nats drafting King, the hope is that if Abrams does eventually leave, that the team will have his heir apparent — and if Abrams stays he could easily be shifted to second base. The team also drafted catcher depth with Caleb Lomavita and Kevin Bazzell. The draft concentrated on drafting prospects who play up the middle. They also drafted some pitchers that look to be bullpen arms.
Time will tell on catcher pipeline, and the future middle infield. But you always need a good succession plan. King, 21, will turn 22 next April. Wood is just eight months older than King to give you some perspective. That is how young this team is as you look forward. The senior member of the Nats outfield could be Jacob Young who is the seventh youngest on the Nats active roster at just 24 years old — and he turns 25 this week by the way.
“… You can’t tell me that you can’t see the ascension for all these young players. I think when you factor that in — and our young pitching — the way they’re [performing], and the young players coming up, and the payroll flexibility — you have to be enthusiastic about where this franchise is going in the future.”
— Rizzo said to @JunksRadio earlier this month
Being young is usually a positive when you are coming out of a rebuild. Looking back at when this rebuild started was just about three years ago at the trade deadline in 2021. We can signal that the rebuild is over when ownership greenlights the acquisition of a top free agent or two.
When Rizzo said the words “payroll flexibility”, that should have perked up everyone’s ears. Can you think of another time he has said that since going into the 2012 season? If this team trades Thomas and keeps closer Kyle Finnegan, this team will go into the offseason with a $79.1 million projected payroll — and that includes Stephen Strasburg‘s $35 million salary for CBT payroll calculations that will burden just the 2025 and 2026 seasons. That will give additional payroll flexibility. Take that out, and you’re really at $44.1 million.
Adding an impact player or three, with needs that point to an ace pitcher, a left-handed first baseman, and a top set-up arm for the bullpen. With the encouraging play of Juan Yepez, 27, at first base, the need might be for a lefty bat who can play first base and DH. Sure, we could all wish for Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, that bullpen arm, and bring Winker back — and we just spent $90 million of Lerner’s money. Could you sell 12,000 new season tickets with those type of signings? Look at the impact of the Bryce Harper signing in Philadelphia. It can happen.
“You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think the fan base knows what we’re doing. You can see the progress and the process working.”
— Mike Rizzo on Friday
Bumpy roads do sometimes go through tunnels. Yes, I can see the light.
