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Washington Nationals: Mike Rizzo Should Follow The Giants Blueprint

By Max Rayman |
A detailed view of a Washington Nationals hat resting on the wall of the dugout during the thirteenth inning of a game between the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park on August 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
A detailed view of a Washington Nationals hat resting on the wall of the dugout during the thirteenth inning of a game between the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park on August 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
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If the Nationals want to undergo a quick turnaround back to relevance, they need to model their upcoming off-season after the Giants.

When it comes to sports expect the unexpected. With that said, if you predicted the Giants to win the NL West and 107 games, go buy a lottery ticket right now. After winning three World Series titles in five years, the Giants window came to a close, missing the playoffs the last four seasons in a row. Then came the Giants magical 2021 off-season, which at the time was seen as underwhelming.

But every move President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and company made proved instrumental in returning the team prominence. Veterans turned back the clock. The young guys took the next step. Everyone bought into the system and knew their roles.

For Mike Rizzo and the Nationals, they need to take a page from the Giants book. In fact, the front office should begin modeling the team’s rebuild after the Giant’s fascinating 2021 off-season.

Step 1: Choose The Coaching Staff Carefully

Washington’s coaching staff recently saw plenty of turnover, with hitting coach Kevin Long leaving for the rival Phillies. Long spent the past four years with the Nationals and was extended an offer to return to D.C. With Long gone, don’t be surprised if Washington’s assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler follows suit. He is longtime friends with Long and was hired at the latter’s recommendation. Third and first base coaches Bob Henley and Randy Knorr will still be with the organization but in different roles.

Gabe Kapler took over as the Giants manager at the start of the 2020 season and brought in some of his own staff. Most notably, he hired Andrew Bailey and Justin Viele to be the team’s pitching and hitting coach. Both have flourished at their jobs, with the offense and rotation being key in the team’s turnaround. The starting rotation ranked third in the NL in ERA (3.44), FIP (3.43), LOB% (75.2%), and fourth in FWAR (16.5). The offense ranked first in the NL in fWAR (30.0), wRC+ (108), SLG (.440), OPS (.769), and homers (241).

With multiple openings, Martinez needs to be wise on who to hire. He already went out and signed Darnell Coles to be the new hitting coach. Most notably, Coles helped Christian Yelich and Ketel Marte post-breakout seasons in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Step 2: Get Stephen Strasburg And Patrick Corbin To Bounce Back

Easier said than done, but if Washington wants to return to contention as quickly as possible, they will need their co-aces Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin to return to form. For Strasburg, he will have to stay healthy, something he has rarely been able to throughout his 12-year career. In 2019, he seemed to have finally shrugged off the injury bug, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting and being named World Series MVP.

Unfortunately, since the World Series ended, he has thrown 26.2 innings and underwent season-ending surgery in both 2020 and 2021. The veteran is owed over $175 million over the next five seasons.

For Patrick Corbin, the lefty was a key component in the franchise getting over the playoff hump and winning their first-ever World Series title. He will forever be remembered for coming out of the bullpen and throwing three shutout innings in Game Seven. Unfortunately, the lefty has regressed into one of the worst starters in baseball. He finished this season last in ERA (5.82), FIP (5.41), and losses (16).

He is owed over $82 million across the next three seasons and similar to Strasburg, his contract has become a burden to what the team can do.

Part of the Giant’s success stemmed from Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt’s resurgence. The trio is what remains of the team’s World Series core from the early 2010s and entering 2021, they were owed over a combined $63 million. With so much invested in those three, the team needed them to produce at a high level.

And that they did. Posey returned after opting out of the 2020 season and had arguably the best year of his career since winning NL MVP in 2012. He slashed .304/.390/.499 and benefited greatly from his extended time off in 2020. At the age of 34, Crawford had a career year slashing .298/.373/.522 while setting a career-high in homers (24). Before being shut down at the end of September because of a broken thumb, Belt had posted career highs in homers (29) and SLG (.597).

With so much money invested into the rotation, it is essential that Strasburg and Corbin bounce back and can stay healthy.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 09: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants reacts in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on October 09, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 09: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants reacts in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Oracle Park on October 09, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Step 3: Nail Their Free Agency Moves

So many contenders over the years have had their windows snapped shut because their off-season moves didn’t pan out. The Chicago Cubs come to mind. In 2015, the Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The following off-season, Chicago splurged in free agency, signing John Lackey, Jayson Heyward, and Ben Zobrist. The trio joined their emerging homegrown talent and the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.

Since then, the Cubs continued to go all in to capitalize on their young core signing both Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood, and trading for Jose Quintana. Heyward’s contract become an albatross, while Darvish suffered multiple injuries. Chatwood struggled out of the gate and the Cubs were unable to fill out their roster holes due to money being tight. This past trade deadline, the Cubs officially started a full-blown rebuild, trading away the majority of their 2016 World Series contributors.

Luckily for Washington, they have plenty of money coming off the books and the upcoming free-agent market is littered with high-end talent. Mike Rizzo needs to be wise on how he wants to fill out his roster holes.

Entering the 2021 season, the Giants signed veterans Alex Wood and Anthony DeScalfani to one-year deals, while Kevin Gausman accepted the qualifying offer. They also traded for LaMonte Wade Jr., who at the time was an unknown outfielder for the Twins.

The trio of Wood (3.83 ERA, 3.48 FIP), DeSclafani (3.17 ERA, 3.62 FIP), and Gausman completely revamped the rotation. Gausman in particular turned into an ace, going 16-6, with a 2.81 ERA, 227 strikeouts, and a 3.00 FIP in 33 starts. Taking advantage of the extended playing time, Wade hit .253, with 18 homers, 56 RBIs, and an OPS of .808. He became arguably the most clutch player on the team when it came to late-inning situations.

For Washington, they are still a year or two away from being ready to splurge and instead should set their eyes on B and C tier free agents. Similar to the Giants, bolstering their pitching, in this case, the bullpen is a must. Players such as Craig Stammen, Daniel Hudson, and Aaron Loup should be a the top of Washington’s list.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 17: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park on September 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 17: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park on September 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Step 4: The Young Core Take The Next Step

Gone are the days of Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, and the majority of the Nats 2019 World Series core. In their place are Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Lane Thomas, and Riley Adams. They join Carter Kieboom, Victor Robles, and Luis Garcia in what is Washington’s new youth movement with Juan Soto as the centerpiece.

Over the last two months of the 2021 season, D.C. fans were subjected to a mix of growing pains and glimpses of brilliance. Most particular, Ruiz (.284/.348/.395), Garcia (.242/.275/.411), and Gray (5.31 ERA, 5.71 FIP) showcased why they are all seen as future cornerstones. For Washington, they need their youngsters to take the next step in their development.

In the Giants case, their roster is full of mostly veterans, but 24-year-olds Logan Webb and Camilo Doval were key contributors to the team’s success. After thriving in the minors, Webb stumbled in his first taste of the big leagues, posting a 5.22 ERA and 5.47 ERA in 2019 (39.2 innings) and 2020 (54.1 innings) respectively.

But this year, Webb was finally able to put everything together, posting a 3.03 ERA with 158 strikeouts. Against the Dodgers in the NLDS, Webb made his playoff debut, but quickly showed he had ice in his veins. He only allowed one run in 14 2/3 innings, while striking out 17. Despite losing the series, Webb showcased he is already following in the footsteps of Giants greats, Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner.

The rookie Doval took over as the Giants starter down the stretch, posting a 3.00 ERA, with 37 strikeouts in 27 innings. In the NLDS, he threw a perfect ninth inning in Game 1 before recording the save in Game 3. Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate his success and allowed the eventual winning run in the top of the ninth of Game 5. Despite that, the flamethrower established himself as a top up and coming closer.

Unlike the Giants whose main core is filled with mainly veterans, Washington is relying on their youngsters to take the next step in their development to truly contend.

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