The Nationals have worked hard at the bottom of the National League since winning the 2019 World Series. The 2026 campaign was a much-needed light at the end of the rebuilding tunnel. It took an overhauled front office, a new manager, and a restructuring, but the Nats are finally moving in the right direction.
Washington is a team of extras. This team is tied for the top of the league in scoring thanks to a diverse attack. The Nats lead the NL in home runs and lead both leagues in stolen bases. Their pitching staff is among the worst in the game, ranking 26th in ERA. Washington’s defense leads the league in turnovers.
Then there is the barn. Nats relievers have an incredible 28 saves in 97 games. The team coughed up late leads in all three games against the Yankees to close the first half. The sweep dropped the club’s record below .500 for the first time since early June.
The divisive nature of the roster, and the forward-thinking approach it took to build it, puts first-year president of baseball Paul Toboni in an interesting position as the deadline approaches. The Nats are four games out of the last Wild Card spot in the jam-packed National League. A 12-game stretch that includes the Athletics, Rockies, and Blue Jays coming off the break could go a long way in determining the direction of the front office.
Record: 48-49 (3.6% playoff chance, per FanGraphs)
Sell Mode
Upcoming free agents: Foster Griffin, Miles Mikolas, Zack Littell, Trevor Williams
Despite the positive vibes in the group, selling to some extent still seems to be the most likely route. Washington could be a tough contender in the NL East in the near future, but these pieces won’t be of much use this season. Bringing back a number of veterans could provide a boost to the 2027 team.
Griffin is a real prize. He was one of the best free agent signings of the offseason. After three seasons in Japan, Griffin returned to the States and introduced the All-Star first half. The lefty posted a sub-3.00 ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning as the ballast of Washington’s rotation. The team is tied for the third-fewest starts in the league with 19. Griffin and Cade Cavalli they have 18 of them.
The Nats acquired Griffin on a one-year, $5.5MM deal. Unless his numbers fall off a cliff after the break, he’ll blow that number out of the water with ease. Griffin’s signing is one of Toboni’s biggest wins during his youth career. He will be fielding calls from all contestants who need to start crying. Losing Griffin will disrupt the rotation, but now is the time to cash in.
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