Change is coming soon in Washington, D.C. With the recent hiring of Paul Taboni as President of Baseball Operations, an organizational overhaul is likely in the cards for the Washington Nationals. It was an abysmal season for the Nats in 2025, and most of the roster will likely not be on the team in 2026. Who are two players that will escape the Nats roster mess this offseason?
James Wood
James Wood will be a National in 2026, regardless of who's running the organization. Wood is the face of the franchise and should be the centerpiece of the roster moving forward. At 23 years old, Wood had a tremendous first half of the season, earning an appearance in the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. The second half of the season was forgetful for Wood, but there's no doubting the talent he possesses.
This offseason is crucial for James Wood. Opposing pitchers around the league adjusted to his approach at the plate, and Wood failed to respond. Wood has learn how to stay consistent within his approach and limit the strikeouts. His 221 strikeouts were the most in the Major Leagues. With that being said, Wood still finished the 2025 season with 31 home runs and 94 RBI. They aren't the final stats Nats fans were hoping for, but it's not unfair to say the sky is the limit for James Wood.
Dylan Crews
The 2025 season was a lost one for Dylan Crews, as he played in just 85 games due to an oblique injury that forced him to miss three months. Through 116 Major League games, Crews has hit 13 home runs with 35 RBI and a .634 OPS. While those statistics don't seem promising, Crews is absolutely a part of the future in Washington, D.C. It would be shocking to see Taboni and company give up on the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft so early in his career. Crews came to the Nats with expectations of a perennial star, but we've yet to see him in that form.
Following the 2023 MLB Draft, it was widely expected among Nats fans that Crews would make an immediate impact at the Major League level. The adjustment process has taken longer than anticipated with Crews, partly due to injury. Similar to his outfield partner Wood, the offseason is paramount for Crews. The soon-to-be 24-year-old needs to get healthy. He only played 100 games in 2024 due to a few injuries and had an oblique injury this season. Sometimes, the best ability in sports is availability, and some players struggle to provide it.
The 2026 season should be very telling for Dylan Crews. If he stays healthy and plays 140-160 games, I believe he could be a very impactful player for the Nats. The potential is there with Crews, and with a new coaching staff hired by Taboni, it could elevate him to a brand new level.