While the headline is harsh, it's the reality for the Washington Nationals. Following the 13-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, the Nats fell to 32-46, tied with the Miami Marlins, 15 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East division. This past offseason, G.M. Mike Rizzo made headlines at the Winter Meetings among Nats' fans, citing the '25 season was time to take a step forward.
The Nats' recent homestand of 1-6 during an 11-game losing streak argues otherwise. What's the use? Washington has multiple flaws across the organization, but two underlying issues have caused the Nats to fall to the bottom of the Major Leagues since their 2019 World Series victory: negligent ownership and a lack of development at both the minor and major league levels.
Ownership
Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Washington Nationals have a record of 320-466. The only team with fewer wins in that timespan is the Colorado Rockies, according to champsorchumps.com. The team's record alone should spark changes within the organization, but all is quiet in Washington. Mark Lerner, the current owner of the Nationals, has been cautious with his checkbook since taking over following the passing of his father, Ted Lerner. In Mark's first offseason, he made "splashes" in the free agent market, such as Dominic Smith and Corey Dickerson. The following year, the Nats' free agency class included Nick Senzel and Joey Gallo. The front office's approach of one-year deals in free agency is actively losing the Nationals games.
While fans resort to blaming Rizzo, most of that should be directed towards Lerner. If Rizzo is handcuffed by a tight budget presented by ownership, he can only do so much. The Nats are missing key components to a championship caliber roster, and free agency is an efficient way to build one. Washington has failed to bring in a star player through free agency since Max Scherzer signed for seven years and $210 million in 2015. It's alarming that the Nats are unable to acquire above-average talent through free agency. On the other hand, it's not surprising that big-name free agents won't sign with a 90-loss team.
Player Development
Experts around the league have historically ranked the Nats' minor league system lower than the perceived value within the organization. Is it time to start believing those experts? The Nationals have had a few home-run draft picks in the team's history, but those are getting farther back in the mirror. Notably, Elijah Green was sent down to the Nats' alternate training facility in Florida to work on his swing. The former fifth overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft has had a rocky minor league career, batting just .210 in 244 career games with 450 strikeouts in 909 at-bats, according to milb.com. His development has been very stagnant and concerning. 2017 and 2018 first-round selections Seth Romero and Mason Denaburg are no longer in the organization.
The Carter Keiboom experience was something you had to be there for. The now 27-year-old third baseman was the Nats' 2016 first-round pick in the MLB Draft and hit .199 in 133 career games across four seasons in D.C., according to baseball-reference.com. Keiboom is now in the Los Angeles Angels organization. 2014 first-round selection Erick Fedde was not an efficient pitcher with the Nats across six seasons, pitched overseas for one season, and has reinvented himself with both the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. 2011 first-round pick Brian Goodwin collected a 1.4 career WAR in six seasons. While number one overall selections Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper highlight the Nats' player development staff, the number of missed picks is another critical issue within the organization.
The player development doesn't solely include the minor leagues. Once you reach the Majors, the work should just be starting for the players, coaches included. For example, Keibert Ruiz, acquired in the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers involving Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, was the number one prospect in L.A.'s minor league system. In the 2021 minor league season, Ruiz slugged 21 home runs and 59 RBI and a .993 OPS. Keibert hit 24 doubles and struck out just 30 times in 284 at-bats. In his three full seasons with the Nats(2022-2024), Ruiz is yet to eclipse a .717 OPS. In 28 games during the 2021 season, Ruiz posted a .742 OPS, but I did not include this season due to the small sample size. Ruiz's defense is nothing to write home about, and he plays a vital position at catcher.
Another example, Jacob Young, a 25-year-old center fielder, stole 33 bases in the 2024 season while getting caught just ten times. In the 2025 season, Young is 5/13 attempting to steal a base. His OPS has dropped from .647 in '24 to .613 in '25. The impact Young has on the game is baserunning and defense, and if his stolen base record is that bad, his value to the lineup is diminished.
Keibert Ruiz and Jacob Young are just two examples of hindered player development at the Major League level in Washington. Patrick Corbin is another pitcher who couldn't figure it out with the Nats. When do we start questioning the coaching? I believe the time for that is long gone, and changes need to be made. Players like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore shouldn't have their talent wasted batting for fourth place in the N.L. East. The Washington Nationals have glaring issues with negligent ownership and a lack of player development at both the minor and major league levels.