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Washington Nationals New Year’s Resolutions

By Nick Meyers

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: The Washington Nationals mascot "Screech" pumps up the crowd prior to Game Three of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: The Washington Nationals mascot "Screech" pumps up the crowd prior to Game Three of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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It’s a new year, which means soon we will be getting a new year of Nationals baseball. There is obviously plenty to improve upon for this franchise for 2023 and beyond, but we’ll outline some of the bigger resolutions we want to see for this upcoming season. The goal is obviously to become competitive again, but for our Nationals New Year’s resolutions, we’ll focus more on process goals than long-term goals.

1. Improve Player Development

WAWASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: President of Baseball Operations and general manager fo the Washington Nationals Mike Rizzo looks on before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on July 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WAWASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: President of Baseball Operations and general manager fo the Washington Nationals Mike Rizzo looks on before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on July 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

I’ve said this before – I do think the Nationals have already taken steps to accomplish an improved player development staff and improve results. But I do not want them to just settle for a middle-of-the-road player development system. I want them to be leading the pack and cutting edge, especially with the new youth movement we find ourselves in. We won’t be competitive again with just one or two prospects reaching their potential. We need several of these prospects to be contributors, which does take time, but let’s make sure we’re doing everything possible to support them.

2. Better Ownership

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO – JULY 06: Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, walks to a morning session during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 06, 2022 in Sun Valley, Idaho. The world’s most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, and technology will converge at the Sun Valley Resort this week for the exclusive conference. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
SUN VALLEY, IDAHO – JULY 06: Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, walks to a morning session during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 06, 2022 in Sun Valley, Idaho. The world’s most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, and technology will converge at the Sun Valley Resort this week for the exclusive conference. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) /

Now this could be achieved in multiple ways. If the Lerners do ultimately decide to keep the team or just sell a minority stake, that is fine. However, let’s get the active Lerners, not the sit idly by while this team dissolves into nothingness like we’ve gotten the past couple of years. I am not anti-Lerner, but I am anti-bad ownership. The Lerners have at times been one of the best, but also at times been one of the worst. If they stay, be active and support this franchise.

The other possibility is obviously a sale of the franchise. It could be Ted Leonsis. It could be someone else entirely. But if we do get new ownership, same rules apply: be active and support this franchise.

3. Have an Active Trade Deadline

Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has the tough decision to make and when to pull the plug on the 2020 season.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 23: General Manager Mike Rizzo of the Washington Nationals talks on the phone before the game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 23, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

I think this is where the Nationals have struggled during Mike Rizzo’s tenure. When it has been a clear buy deadline, they typically added a decent reliever or two. Sometimes it has worked well, sometimes it hasn’t. When it has been a clear sell deadline, they might sell some pieces but don’t sell all, or they don’t maximize the return. The 2021 deadline was better, as the Nats effectively traded away everything that wasn’t nailed to the floor, but they sold short on Max Scherzer and Trea Turner by asking the Dodgers to take on some of Scherzer’s deferred money instead of getting better prospects in return. And of course they did well in the Juan Soto trade in 2022, but that was the only trade they made.

Whatever the deadline looks like, I just want them to be active. You have a plethora of prospects now, so you could always swap prospects as well if there’s a pitching prospect you prefer and are willing to part with an OF prospect for instance.

4. Embrace the Youth Movement

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals gets doused with water by Victor Robles #16 after driving in the game winning run with a single in the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 28: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals gets doused with water by Victor Robles #16 after driving in the game winning run with a single in the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

In other words, let the kids play. There will be growing pains, but support the young guys by being patient with them and giving them all the tools, resources, analytics, guidance, etc. to help them grow and succeed. We don’t need a Nelson Cruz or Alcides Escobar taking away at-bats and hindering any consistent playing time. Let the kids play and embrace how fun this team can be.

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