The Washington National’s time atop the NL has come to an end. In the midst of a rebuild, they missed the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since the 2010-2011 seasons. After years of competing for a World Series title, the roster had been stripped down and replaced with a plethora of intriguing prospects. No longer the oldest lineup in baseball, the lineup has been infused with youth.
Entering the off-season, it is unknown what Mike Rizzo plans to do. The team has plenty of money coming off the books and a plethora of holes to fill. Splurging for a shortstop such as Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, or Trevor Story would provide the perfect protection for Juan Soto in the lineup.
But with the majority of the team’s top pitching prospects 1-2 years away, now might not be the time to go all in. Throw in the team needs to save up for a mega-extension for Soto and the timing seems to be off.
Instead, the trade market might be the better route, allowing the Nationals to save money while also addressing their pressing needs.
The bullpen should once again be the team’s biggest priority, while they have question marks at third, short, the bench, and in the outfield. Washington restocked their farm system this past year, but should hold off on making any large splashes. Instead, they should set their eyes on bounce-back candidates and players who could use a change of scenery. Here is one target from every team that the Nats should look at. For this article, we went under the assumption that the new CBA will implement the universal DH.