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Washington Nationals 2025 offseason preview: After a disappointing season, how can the Nats get back on track?

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 13

With Washington eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let's take a look at the season that was for the Nationals, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Things that went right

Although this was a disappointing season for the Nats overall, the continued progress of budding superstar James Wood was a major highlight. In his first full season, Wood appeared in the All-Star Game and spent the first half of the campaign ranked among the league leaders in homers, OBP and OPS. Wood’s Statcast page is loaded with red bars, as he logs elite marks in Barrel Rate, Bat Speed and Hard-Hit Rate. The youngster is among the most patient hitters in baseball and will be even better once he reduces his rate of ground balls. Wood slowed down in the second half but has shown enough to be viewed as a franchise cornerstone player.

Wood was well-supported by shortstop CJ Abrams, who bounced back from an inconsistent 2024 season and became the lineup spark plug the organization expected him to be when he was acquired in 2022 alongside Wood in the Juan Soto trade. Abrams could stand to draw more walks, but he deserves credit for making strides with his strikeout rate.

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Things that went wrong

Overall, this was a disappointing season for a team expected to ascend. The Nats instead took a step backward. This will be the fifth straight season Washington fails to win 45% of its games, which puts it far off the pace in an NL East that includes some elite teams.

Pitching was the biggest problem, with issues rampant throughout the staff. MacKenzie Gore looked like a frontline starter at the beginning of the season but regressed badly in the second half and landed on the IL near the end of August. Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker failed to take steps forward, Trevor Williams couldn’t find any success, and Michael Soroka was unable to turn some intriguing skills into a respectable ERA before he was shipped to the Cubs at the trade deadline.

The problems were just as plentiful in the bullpen. Both closer Kyle Finnegan and setup man Jose Ferrer produced uneven results while holding key roles, and then Finnegan was traded at the deadline. Ferrer does deserve credit for handling the closer’s role down the stretch. But overall, there were too many nights when the pitching staff left the offense with little chance to compete.

And beyond Wood and Abrams, the offense was unremarkable. Veteran sluggers Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell made little impact, and Lowe was designated for assignment on Aug. 14 before signing with the Boston Red Sox. Luis García Jr. took a small step backward, and when he was healthy, Keibert Ruiz continued to log poor results due to weak contact. Dylan Crews was supposed to become Wood’s sidekick, but he was hitting .196 on May 20 when he suffered an oblique injury that eventually landed him on the 60-day IL. He returned Aug. 14 but didn’t fare much better down the stretch.

The team was also one of the worst from a defensive perspective. Jacob Young can be left out of the criticism, as he made a big impact — and many memorable catches — in center field. But the situation was especially bad up the middle, as Ruiz, García and Abrams were all below-average defenders.

Offseason outlook

While the Nats need to see improvement from most of the players mentioned here, they have options at most infield positions. Ruiz remains the top choice behind the plate, but after watching him struggle offensively for two seasons, the team could reduce his workload by improving its second catcher spot. García and Abrams will definitely form the double-play duo, and 22-year-old rookie Brady House is trying his best to convince management that he’s the future at the hot corner. After walking away from Lowe, the team will need to find a first baseman.

Wood leads the outfield group, and he’s the only member of the trio who is an above-average offensive player. As previously mentioned, Young is one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, which is an important asset for a team with pitching woes. But the speedster is a poor hitter and might eventually slide into a backup role. Crews will certainly be a starter on Opening Day 2026, whether it’s in center or right. Rookie Daylen Lile has been plying his trade in right lately, trying to show that he can open 2026 on the roster. His strong finish to the season will help his cause.

The incumbent starters can all return next year, which might not be a good thing. Gore will lead the rotation, while Irvin and Parker will eat innings at the very least. Williams has a year remaining on his contract but might not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing elbow surgery in July. Brad Lord had some decent moments as a swingman and is the youngest of the rotation options. Lastly, Josiah Gray should be ready for spring training after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. This group could really use at least one skilled veteran to take some pressure off the young arms.

The bullpen is the weakest part of the Nationals’ roster, as there isn’t a single reliever on the team who showed above-average skills this year. Ferrer deserves some credit for stepping up and filling the closer role after the trade deadline. But in order for Washington to contend for a postseason berth in 2026, it is essential that the front office adds at least two relievers who can fill high-leverage roles.

Prospects on the horizon

The jewel of the Nats' farm system is shortstop Eli Willits, chosen first overall in the 2025 MLB Draft. Willits is a future star but just recently finished high school and won’t arrive in the majors for a few years.

More immediate help could come from a trio of hurlers: Jarlin Susana, Cade Cavalli and Jake Bennett. Susana was acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade and has thus far advanced to Double-A. A 6-foot-6 righty, he has outstanding swing-and-miss abilities but needs to harness his control before taking the next step. At age 26, Cavalli is unusually old for this list. He made one major-league start in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery the following year. His recovery has been slower than anticipated, but he’s back in the majors now. Bennett also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and returned to minor-league action this year. A 6-foot-6 lefty, he can’t match Susana’s strikeout upside but is more polished with his control.

There isn’t as much immediate help coming for the lineup. Outfielders Robert Hassell III and Christian Franklin could each contribute to some degree next season. Hassell had brief stints in the majors this year, while Franklin is wrapping up a successful Triple-A season, having arrived in July via the Mike Soroka trade.

Goals for 2026

The firing of general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 6 highlighted the fact that ownership and the fan base have run out of patience. With that in mind, Washington’s new front office will need to push principal owner Mark Lerner to get more aggressive in free agency. Multiple starting pitchers and relievers are needed to spur this team into the postseason conversation, which is where the Nats should be after this lengthy rebuild. They could also use a veteran slugger who can play first base.

The Mets are among the biggest spenders in baseball, the Phillies have a roster full of talented veterans, and the Braves are likely to bounce back quickly from an injury-impacted 2025. Even the Marlins showed signs this summer that they are emerging from their rebuild. Washington will once again be the division’s cellar dwellers unless it adds quality depth to the roster this winter.

Fantasy focus

Wood is already a fantasy superstar, with even more room for growth. He will be selected in the first two rounds of most 2026 drafts. Abrams also has a skill set that’s great for fantasy managers, especially those in roto leagues. His potential to hit for average while compiling 20 homers, 30 steals and 90 runs makes him a viable option in the range of Round 4-5.

Unless the team adds via the free-agent market, Gore will be the only hurler who warrants much attention. The lefty’s strikeout skills will get him into the initial 12 rounds of drafts, but his tendency to carry a high WHIP keeps him squarely out of ace territory.

The rest of the Nats will be late-round options at best. That includes García, who could enjoy a bounce-back season in 2026. It also includes Crews, who could climb back into the middle rounds by turning heads in spring training.

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