The Washington Nationals are in last place

Despite big promises, the Nationals are back in a familiar spot in the standings, last place

80 games into the 2025 season, the Washington Nationals are in a familiar spot, last place. With the rebuild now 4.5 seasons deep, this was not supposed to happen, especially with a team like the Marlins in the division. On paper, the Nationals should be way ahead of a team like the Marlins, but that has not happened.

Entering the season, both manager Davey Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo were expecting progress this year. While the development of young players is great, there needed to be an improvement to the win/loss record. Before the season, Martinez said the goal was to play meaningful games in September. Rizzo was more reserved in his statements, but he said he could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

This has not happened. At 33-47, meaningful games in September feel like a pipe dream. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, instead there are now fears that the team might have to rebuild the rebuild. MacKenzie Gore only has two years of control after this one. Is there a point where they have to consider trading him because they are too far away from competing?

It is scary that we have to consider those questions. However, if we are behind the Marlins, how can we expect to be competing with the likes of the Mets and Phillies anytime soon? Nationals fans are in a helpless spot, watching on as the hyped rebuild is falling on its face.

Can you imagine where the Nats would be without that Juan Soto trade. A lot of people within the baseball world believe they could be in a predicament similar to the Rockies, who the Nats lost the season series to.

James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore are all performing at an All-Star level, yet the team is no closer to competing. While those guys performances give you hope about the future, the fact they are so bad while those guys play so well is scary.

This is a real indictment on Mike Rizzo’s inability to build the roster. He had a brutal offseason this past winter. The only signing that has really worked out in a big way is the re-signing of Kyle Finnegan, a player the team originally did not want to pay.

Lucas Sims, Colin Poche and Jorge Lopez, the three free agents Rizzo brought in to shore up the bullpen were all gone by Memorial Day. They were so ineffective they could not make it into June.

On the offensive side of things, Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe have both been disappointments. They were supposed to come in and provide middle of the order production. Both have been below average hitters.

Bell has been a disaster for most of the season, with an average below the mendoza line and negative WAR. While Lowe has provided solid home run and RBI totals, the rest of his offensive numbers have taken a big step back. Lowe, who was known for his strong approach is striking out more and walking less. His on base percentage is below .300 and is at a career low. Meanwhile, Robert Garcia, the return in the Lowe trade has been a good high leverage arm in Texas.

While Davey Martinez says it is never on the coaching, the Nationals suboptimal offensive approach the last few years says otherwise. They are consistently at the top of the league in ground ball rate. Darnell Coles’ antiquated offensive approach is clearly hurting this team.

The Nationals kept their head above water the first couple months, but this June swoon has made all of the problems impossible to ignore. They are now 5-17 on the month and have not won a series in June. It is becoming embarrassing and the longer the status quo remains, the less hope the fans feel.

It is past time for a change. How obvious can it be that this is not working. Right now Mike Rizzo is simply denying reality everyday he keeps Davey Martinez and his coaching staff. He is stuck in his 2019 nostalgia.

Even good things have an expiration date. The expiration date on the Lerner, Rizzo, Martinez triumvirate has come. All three have become anchors on the future of the franchise. Lerner’s lack of investment and leadership is holding this organization back. Rizzo’s player development failures and inability to surround his core is becoming a major problem. Lastly, Davey Martinez’s stubborn loyalty and his oddly distant behavior this season is holding this team back.

Despite Mike Rizzo saying otherwise in an attempt to save face, the rebuild started at the 2021 trade deadline, when the Nats blew up their core. We are now four years removed from that and the Nationals are in last place, behind a Marlins team with much less talent but much more fight.

It is so frustrating seeing James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore’s brilliance be wasted because the rest of the roster isn’t good enough and the team is poorly coached. Rumors are that Martinez and Rizzo have club options that are due to be decided on sometime next month. If they are picked up, it would be a clear signal from the Lerner family that losing is alright and underperformance is tolerated.

This rebuild is so far off the tracks not even James Wood can save this sinking ship. It is tough to see my favorite franchise in this spot. I hate having to be this harsh, but when the team is behind the Miami Marlins, there is no other choice. This rebuild is in desperate need of a reboot.