The Washington Nationals had a difficult season, finishing 71-91 and falling short of the postseason in 2024. However, their young core took steps forward, and now might be the right time to supplement that core with some more star players.
C.J. Abrams, James Wood and Dylan Crews headline a young Washington team that might be ready to take the next step. In order to do that though, they need to make some additions.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report listed slugger Pete Alonso as a realistic fit as they try to make some progress.
“The Nationals hit just 135 home runs this season, ranking last in the National League and ahead of only the White Sox in all of MLB. They want to do something about this, and here’s no better position than first base for them to address in the process,” Rymer wrote.
“Alonso is right there, guys. He’ll cost a lot on account of his NL-leading 226 home runs since 2019. But with only $78 million projected to be on their books for 2025, the Nationals should be willing to sign Alonso first in the event that the Mets drag their feet.”
The Mets already signed former National Juan Soto, so they might not feel the need to keep Alonso. However, if that is the case, then the Nationals should try to strike.
Alonso would instantly bolster their lineup and give them an established superstar to build around in the future. His price tag will certainly be steep, but the Nationals have the payroll space to sign him, as Rymer noted.
This could be the first step in bringing the Nationals back to where they were back in 2019, when they won their first World Series title. It will be interesting to see if Alonso ends up on their radar.
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