- The Washington Times - Monday, September 23, 2024

The Washington Nationals will not make the playoffs. But the franchise’s young core will look to cap a promising season by playing spoiler over its final homestand, starting with a three-game series that begins Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals.

Washington’s September roster looks different (and younger) than the squad that opened the 2024 campaign in April. Outfielders Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas are gone, as are relievers Dylan Floro and Hunter Harvey. But highly touted rookies James Wood and Dylan Crews are here to stay.

For many Nationals fans, the losses in 2024 do not diminish what many see as a successful year.

The squad has meandered to a 69-87 record with six games remaining — the same mark they held at this point last season.

This season was about progress from the young foundation, including recent draft picks and prospects acquired from the 2022 Juan Soto trade. The fresh faces have impressed.

Shortstop C.J. Abrams, 23, earned his first All-Star appearance in his third season in the District, becoming just the second player in Nationals history to record 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season.

But the rookies stole the show.

Outfielder James Wood, once the top prospect in baseball, leads the Nationals in walks, hits and on-base percentage since joining the big league roster on July 1.

Fellow outfielder Dylan Crews, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, made his MLB debut on Aug. 26. He’s stolen nine bases and slugged three home runs in his first 28 games in the District.

Meanwhile, rookie Jacob Young has put together a Gold Glove-caliber campaign in center field for the Nationals.

With his squad out of playoff contention and a young core still gaining valuable experience, manager Dave Martinez said he wants his players to embrace a new role in the last week of the season: spoiler.

The Royals visit the Nationals on Tuesday, clinging to the third and final playoff spot in the American League. The Minnesota Twins are hot on their tails, trailing by just one game.

Washington closes the season with a three-game set against division-rival Philadelphia. The Phillies entered Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs needing just one win to clinch the NL East, but they are still jockeying with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top seed in the National League.

“I want [our] guys to go out there and play for something too,” Martinez said.

While emerging stars like Crew, Wood and Young have cemented a long-term spot in the starting lineup, Martinez noted that other players could be competing for a contract or big-league roster spot next spring.

After rotating in and out of the lineup this season, rookie infielders Darren Baker and Trey Lipscomb will hope to prove themselves as everyday players. Meanwhile, veterans like Joey Gallo are auditioning for a new contract. The hard-hitting first baseman is one of three pending free agents for the Nationals, alongside pitchers Trevor Williams and Patrick Corbin.

“Believe it or not, there [are] a lot of decisions to be made over the wintertime,” Martinez said. “I want these guys to make it hard … I want these guys to finish strong.”

But Martinez also admitted that it’s tough for a team to stay engaged when they’ve been eliminated from the playoff hunt. The optimism and possibilities of the spring and early summer are gone. All that remains is the day-to-day grind and the promise of a restful offseason.

“This time of year, it’s the mental game. A lot of things going on. Guys are getting close to going home. …” he said. “Guys are getting close to playing winter ball, but we still got games here, so I want them to finish up strong.”

Not every player has remained focused on the “mental game.” 

Martinez sent Abrams, the All-Star shortstop, down to Triple-A over the weekend due to unspecified off-field issues. Multiple reports noted that the 23-year-old stayed out all night at a Chicago casino during a recent series against the Cubs.

The demotion likely ended Abrams’ promising season.

“I assure you that he’ll be better. He will be,” Martinez said, noting that the decision wasn’t related to on-field performance. “I know that he wants to be here. He expressed that very much. He’s going to miss his teammates. But without getting into any details, this was the right thing to do.”

Heading into the offseason, the Nationals have the lowest second-lowest payroll for 2025. Washington could be active and make splashy moves in free agency if the ownership group, led by the Lerner family, is willing to sign the checks.

“We have the core players to be middle-of-the-lineup hitters,” Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told MLB.com. “If we add a bat or two into that group, it takes a little bit of pressure off everybody, and everybody can relax a little bit more and develop into the players we think they are going to be.”

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.

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