It’s easy to forget the Washington Nationals won a World Series five years ago, let alone against the then-defending champion Houston Astros. The deafening clank of Howie Kendrick’s go-ahead and ultimately game-winning home run in Game 7 still sometimes rings through Minute Maid Park.
In the years since, the Nats have made that long, slow, almost excruciating march towards rebuilding. Key free agent signings haven’t worked out at all. Star player Juan Soto was traded after turning down a $440 million extension. It’s almost a miracle Washington actually won 71 games in 2023 after losing 107 the year before.