Three big reasons the Nationals' rebuild is ahead of schedule

The Washington Nationals finished the 2024 season with a 71-91 record. They also finished the 2023 season with a 71-91 record. Does that technically count as progress? Was it actually regressive?

For fans looking for the light at the end of the mediocrity tunnel, here are three big reasons the team is actually ahead of schedule in its rebuild:

1. The young guns have arrived

While the team's record may not suggest it's progressing anywhere fast, 2025 will be its first opportunity with most, if not all, of its premier prospects on the roster.

Rookie outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews would presumably partake in their first full season in Washington. Wood slashed .264/.354/.781 over 79 games, and Crews posted a .218/.288/.641 line in just 31 appearances. Third baseman Trey Lipscomb should also get more chances to crack the lineup and improve on his .200/.268/.500 line over 60 games in 2024.

Their highly touted talents would join now-veterans like CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, Luis Garcia Jr. and Jacob Young in the lineup full-time. That infusion of youth will yield more production as their strength and baseball intelligence develops in the pros.

Fans got a bit of a preview of what that success could look like when Washington took a series win over the league-leading New York Yankees in late August. The lineup featured nine players aged 26 or younger, including six rookies, that outscored New York's senior sluggers 11-8 in three games at home.

"They're going to grow together," manager Davey Martinez told MASN in August. "We're going to do some really good things, and a lot faster than people think."

2. The starting pitching looks promising

In 2023, Washington's pitching staff was thin and, well, a conundrum. Patrick Corbin logged the most wins (10) and the most losses (15) out of all the starters. One year later, Corbin did not get any better with a 6-13 record, the worst of all the starters outside the injured Josiah Gray (0-2).

Washington will be rid of Corbin (and his elephant of a contract) and get a healthy Gray back in 2025. Meaning, the rotation would likely feature Gray, MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker (all of whom combined for a 31-47 record this year).

The wins weren't all there, certainly, but outside of Gray, none of the youngsters had an ERA higher than 4.29 (Corbin had a 5.62 in 2024). 

"I think we all understand that we're talented, to be honest with you," pitcher MacKenzie Gore told MASN. "This is where we're at. We don't want to be just like: 'Oh, we're going to be good in a couple of years, as a player or a team.' It's our job to be good right now."

With a full year of experience under its belt, Washington's rotation has what it takes to develop rapidly into one of the league's best.

3. There's plenty of money to play with in free agency

And speaking of veterans and bloated contracts, Washington will be looking to add some valuable rentals now that Corbin's $25M salary is off the books.

First baseman Joey Gallo ($5M) likely won't be coming back after a poor year, leaving that key position in need of filling.

So with just that $30M cash injection alone, general manager Mike Rizzo won't need to scrape the free agency bargain bin anymore.

Washington is hardly in "win now mode," but it can start turning a corner and making the transition from a rebuild to a competitive club house. Success won't come overnight, but if it can stay afloat at or around .500 in 2025, that's measurable progress.