State of the Nationals

We'll return from intensive draft coverage to continue our State of series.  We'll wrap up the NL today with the 2019 World Series Championship Nationals.

Ownership:

The Nationals are owned by the Lerner family since 2006.  Patriarch Ted Lerner made his stash on real estate in the Washingon DC area.  He's now 92 years old and his son, Mark Lerner, is the principle owner now.  The Lerners have been willing to spend a lot of money on player payroll both to acquire free agent talent and to keep homegrown players...up to a point.  Unlike many owners, they seem to have a relationship with agent Scott Boras and are willing to sign his players.  They have tended to use a lot of deferred salary as a way of making the total package acceptable to Boras and his clients while keeping yearly spending under control.  Whether that will eventually catch up with them remains to be seen.  It doesn't seem to have yet.

Grade A

Management:

Mike Rizzo has been GM since 2009 and Team President since 2013.  He has kept a competitive team on the field most of his tenure through aggressive free agent signings, trades and a strong farm system fed by both drafted and international players.

Grade A

Current Roster:

Starting Eight:  Kurt Suzuki C, Eric Thames 1B, Starlin Castro 2B, Carter Kieboom 3B, Trea Turner SS, Juan Soto LF, Victor Robles CF, Adam Eaton RF.

Bench:  Yan Gomes C, Ryan Zimmerman 1B, Howie Kendrick IF/OF, Asdrubal Cabrera IF, Michael Taylor OF.

Starting Rotation:  Max Scherzer RHP, Stephen Strasburg RHP, Patrick Corbin LHP, Anibal Sanchez RHP, Joe Ross RHP.

Bullpen:  Sean Doolittle LHP(Closer), Will Harris RHP, Daniel Hudson RHP, Tanner Rainey RHP, Wander Suero RHP, Roenis Elias LHP, Austin Voth RHP.

The Nationals felt they could only keep one of their elite free agents and opted to re-sign Strasburg and let Rendon go.  They think they have a replacement for Rendon in rookie Carter Kieboom.  That's a big load to put on the rook!  Otherwise, they will try to repeat with the formula of lower cost veteran talent complementing a core of stars.  As Giants fans know, it's crazy hard to repeat.

Grade B.

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Farm System:

The system has thinned out quite a bit and drops off dramatically after #1 Kieboom.  Gigantic pitcher Jackson Rutledge, 2019 first round draft pick, is probably the second best prospect in the organization.

Grade C.