The Washington Nationals are on an upward trajectory in their latest franchise rebuild, and this one feels like it might be faster than most.
Fresh off their first-ever World Series Championship, the Nationals are seeing encouraging signs from their young talent this season. Players like rookie standout James Wood are showing that they can be integral parts of this team’s offensive future.
Traditionally, a rebuild gains momentum with a major free-agent signing, and for Washington, that moment might be just around the corner.
Former MLB General Manager Jim Bowden has projected that the Nationals could make a splash this winter by signing Anthony Santander.
Bowden forecasts a deal for six years at $142 million, which would signal a significant step in the Nationals’ push towards contention, reminiscent of their previous game-changing signing of Jayson Werth.
Santander is exactly the kind of seasoned veteran who could bolster the Nationals’ lineup.
Currently peaking in his career, Santander just wrapped up a stellar season, hitting .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, alongside a 134 OPS+ over 665 plate appearances in 155 games. Those numbers highlight his capability to contribute as a force in the middle of the batting order.
Santander set personal bests in numerous categories this past season, including plate appearances, runs (91), triples (2), home runs, RBIs, walks (58), and total bases (301).
He also showed improvement in his strikeout (19.4%) and walk rates (8.7%). While his batting average might not have been at a career-high, a dip in his BABIP to a career-low of .225 suggests that better numbers could be on the horizon next season.
Consistency is another strength for Santander, having played 150 or more games annually for the past three seasons, not counting the postseason, where he’s become a fixture with the Orioles over the last two years. His durability and power would be a boon for the Nationals, instantly upgrading their outfield in left and injecting much-needed pop into their lineup.
Landing Santander could be the catalyst that propels Washington firmly into its next competitive phase, opening the window for contention wide.
