The Washington Nationals took a series in Atlanta over the weekend for the first time in 2 years, and it could not have come at a better time. Simply put, the fact the Nationals were able to go on the road and take a series from the team currently occupying first place that had only lost a series one other time this season is a big deal.
It is a big deal as the Nationals have been doing all they can to exceed expectations so far this season, and the facelift that the organization as a whole received this offseason has been incredible. At all levels, the Nationals have looked completely different in a good way from previous years, and a lot of that can be attributed to the new regime and leadership under Paul Toboni.
However, with the team's success so far this year, it also can't be underlooked just how much a key decision made by the previous regime is impacting the current squad in a big way. The team's two best players, James Wood and CJ Abrams, both came over in the Juan Soto trade, and they are only part of a deal that has helped to reshape the state of the Nationals as it currently stands.
While Robert Hassell III has contributed at the big league level previously but now is buried on the outfield depth chart and flamethrowing righty Jarlin Susana has emerged as a Top 100 prospect in all of baseball, there is no doubt that the Nationals have won the deal solely on the backs of Abrams and Wood.
Both of them are 1-time All-Stars each, and are easily making a case to make the team again this year, especially Abrams, who might have as good of a case as any shortstop in the National League to start the game. Even if Susana and Hassell III don't contribute much at the highest level, the impacts of Abrams and Wood have been tremendous.
Throw in the fact that the eventual trade of MacKenzie Gore, who also came over in that deal, resulted in the Nationals netting more top prospects like Gavin Fien and Devin Fitz-Gerald, who just broke into MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, and you can see just how vast the Juan Soto trade tree might expand.
No matter what happens with Wood and Abrams long-term as it pertains to their tenures in Washington, if they were to be traded for an impressive prospect haul, you could easily keep adding to the case of the Nationals winning the Soto trade. Of course, since the Padres did not win a championship with him and that they had to deal him the next season, it only adds to the Nationals' standing.
Looking back on it now, who do you think came out on top in the Juan Soto deal? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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