What are 3 things we learned about the Nationals in 2025?

It's safe to say the 2025 season for the Washington Nationals did not go as planned. While few people likely expected the team to make the playoffs, it was reasonable to expect them to progress in that direction and at least reach the 75-win plateau. Instead, they performed five games worse than they had the prior two seasons, winning only 66 of their 162 contests.

With that said, important lessons can be learned in a disappointing season. There weren't a lot of good discoveries, but even bad realizations can inform the organization of how to proceed in the offseason.

The Pitching Isn't Good Enough

Aside front ace southpaw MacKenzie Gore, Washington's pitching staff struggled mightily in 2025. Young starters Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker took major steps back after solid showings in 2024. Trevor Williams pitched more like his 2023 self than 2024. Kyle Finnegan was inconsistent and wound up getting traded, and no young relievers (perhaps with the exception of Brad Lord) stepped up in a meaningful way.

This also doesn't take into account that Gore finds himself towards the top of the list of trade candidates across the league this offseason. If he indeed leaves town, the starting rotation will be essentially bereft of big-league talent.

That's not to downplay the fact that Josiah Gray will return to the mound after missing the 2025 season, and star pitching prospects like Travis Sykora or Jarlin Susana could find their way to the majors. But the Nationals should not count on every best-case scenario; they should seek to acquire some young, talented pitchers or sign a capable veteran or two.

Daylen Lile is For Real

There were reasons to believe that Daylen Lile could become a respectable starting outfielder, but surely not many people expected the outcome we got in 2025. He was a nearly .300 hitter in roughly half of a major league season and among the league leaders in triples. In a lineup that lacked many reliable hitters, Lile was perhaps the most dependable.

Although Lile wasn't a perfect player, particularly on the defensive side, he clearly showed that he belongs towards the top of the lineup. In fact, he outproduced James Wood offensively on a rate basis.

There's a Lot of Work to be Done

Sure, there have been plenty of changes that have been made at the top, from the General Manager position throughout the front office, as well as the entire big league coaching staff. The entire baseball philosophy appears to have changed.

Even so, even if there are better baseball minds in town now, the players need to perform at a much higher level. That can partially come from improved player development and in-game coaching, but it will likely also require the acquisition of better players. That may not be of the utmost importance to this franchise on a short-term basis, though. If the Nationals decide to trade Gore or shortstop CJ Abrams, it will be a clear indication that a few more years of rebuilding are on the way.

What did you learn from the 2025 season? Let me know your thoughts @stephen_newman1.