The Nationals are trying to have it both ways
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Brady House and CJ Abrams celebrate a homer. Photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
By trading away three key players, the Nationals may be sacrificing the season to focus on the long term. But leadership isn't looking at it like that.
Why it matters: Win now or win later? Yes, team president Paul Toboni seems to be saying.
🪡 What they're saying: After dealing away the team's best pitcher and two proven hitters, Toboni explained in a TV interview that the team is trying to "thread the needle" between building a foundation and contending for the playoffs.
The other side: Hall-of-Fame baseball writer Thomas Boswell came out of retirement this week to argue in NOTUS that the Nats are squandering a rare opportunity.
- Washington is achieving offensive feats not seen since Babe Ruth's Yankees.
Boswell called out the Lerner family, which owns the team, for not paying to fix the bullpen before the season, and not signing breakout pitcher Foster Griffin to an extension.
- "This year just reinforces my Lerner view from last season: Fund [the team] or sell it," he wrote.
Catch up quick: Griffin, a 31-year-old rookie, has enjoyed a remarkable comeback this season. That boosted his trade value for Washington.
- After toiling for three years in Japan's Nippon league, he joined the Nationals on a one-year contract and was named an All-Star.
- Cleveland nabbed him as a "rental." His next deal as a free agent could be worth more than $20 million a year, if you look at what a qualifying offer would have cost Washington.
Meanwhile, LHP Connelly Early, acquired from Boston for Curtis Mead, could still help the Nats this year, along with relievers acquired in other trades.
- The Nats are betting young players can step up to replace the production of Luis GarcÃa Jr. — now a Yankee — and Mead.
Flashback: The Lerners didn't shell out the big bucks it would have taken to keep superstars Bryce Harper and Juan Soto long term.
- They used to spend on pitching, including a $210 million contract for Max Scherzer that paved the way to a 2019 World Series championship.
Reality check: Washington ranks 26th out of 30 in team payroll this year, per Spotrac.
State of play: In the nine games after they traded Griffin, the Nationals are 5-4, doing the same Jekyll-and-Hyde routine they've done all year.
- Cade Cavalli struck out 10 last night in a one-hitter that helped the Nats (60-63) avoid a series sweep against the Cubs. Washington entered Friday five games behind the Phillies for the third NL Wild Card spot.
- That's after the bullpen imploded Wednesday, giving up nine runs in a 12-6 loss to the Cubs.
- The Nats used a bullpen game to beat the Reds 7-1 on Sunday. Will Dion, who came over in the Griffin trade, pitched three scoreless innings.
The bottom line: For the final six weeks of the season, Nats fans are left with a team that's not as good as it could have been — but still in play for the playoffs.