PATIENCE: Washington Nationals SETUP for Long-Term Success—Are Fans Ready to Wait Until 2028?

PATIENCE: Washington Nationals SETUP for Long-Term Success—Are Fans Ready to Wait Until 2028?

What the Nationals offseason has told me so far is that Nationals fans will have to be more patient because this rebuild might be a little longer than you anticipate. You are Locked on Nationals, your daily Washington Nationals podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. And thank you all for making Locked on Nationals your first listen every single day as we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. And I am your host Ryan Clary, your NATS insider here, part of the Locked On podcast network. is your team every single day and also Locked on Podcast Network is now the number one sports podcasting network in America thanks to you guys. So later on in today’s show I have got a list of top prospects but also some young players on this nationals team. I’ve put them in a category of trade or develop. So, we’ve got that little game for you. Later on in the show today, as I give you a little mini breakdown on about six players for the Washington Nationals, I’m going to tell you why that they should trade that player or why they should try to develop that player. So, stay tuned for that discussion later on in the show today. But my and just kind of gut feel at this point is that I think that for Nationals fans expecting to win relatively soon should probably pump the brakes a little bit because I think what the Nationals have done this off season tells me that they will be in this for a little bit of a longer haul. So today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. download the app today. This time last year, I think a lot of Nationals fans may have expected 2026 to be the year for this Nationals team to break out and have all of your talent together. You would have had CJ Abrams take a step up, James Wood being an all-star player, McKenzie Gore being your ace. But I think right now in 2026, this national team and the moves that they have made, they are not setting themselves up to be a wildly huge, massive success story in 2026. This is an operation that I think right now is setting themselves up to be a good franchise in 2026 and to be a respectable organization this year. But I don’t think that they are setting themselves up to win in 2026. In fact, I think the wins are going to be coming off the field and kind of how this operation kind of gets going and gets its feet off the ground. That’s kind of how I view 2026 going forward. And I think for a lot of Nationals fans, this is still very much so a rebuild. And I think the fact is when you fire your president of baseball ops with Mike Grizzo, when you make a change at manager with Dave Martinez, I think a lot of people can understand like, yeah, you’re not making these moves because you’re close to winning. This is still a team and an organization that is still far removed from that 2019 World Series and trying to get back to that promised land, which is October baseball. This is still an organization that needs a lot of help. And I think with Paul Tabone, the first thing that he has to realize and the first thing that he has to do day one on the job for the Nationals PO position, you got to kind of realize where this team is. And then that’s when you kind of make your hire. So I feel as if right now, the first week, Paul Tabone is talking with executives in baseball. He’s getting to know people within the Nationals front office. He’s getting to know ownership and really getting an idea of where this organization is. I think he made that decision and kind of realized to himself, this might be an organization that is not ready to win in 2026. So, we’re not going to act as if we are going to win this season. We are trying to go to play the long game with this team. We are going to go out there, hire the best coaching staff possible, which I believe they have done so far. I really like the hire of Blake Butra. I love the hire of Simon Matthews with the pitching coach there. And bringing back Shawn Doolittle, bringing in Michael John’s from the Rays, bringing in and Tabone, bringing in all sorts of different player development backgrounds into this organization. And then you dip in to the drive line program which you have your assistant hitting coach right now with Andrew 8 who is like 28 29 years old and who has been a very wellrespected coach within the drive line program there. And for those people who do not understand what Driveline is, Driveline is a player development organization that uses biomechanics and different uh data and analytics to really drive player development. That’s kind of the future of baseball and it kind of has been for the past few years now and everybody in baseball really utilizes that tool. So the Nationals have gone out and hired hitting coordinators from them. The Nationals, Simon Matthews, their pitching coach, he was with Driveline back in the day. Like this is an organization that is forwardinking. And I think with the Nationals bringing in this young, not immature in a sense of like their personality, but a young coaching staff that doesn’t really have that much experience under their belt. I think that they realize this is kind of taking a big swing. And taking this big swing, they don’t anticipate this to work in year one. Like we’ve talked about the players kind of taking time and being patient with them and really getting this thing off the ground. We got to also kind of talk about this coaching staff being patient, figuring out what’s best for this team, what’s best for this organization. We’ve talked about all the players and trying to preach patience with the development of Dylan Cruz and James Wood and Abrams and Gore over the years, but we also have to do that with this coaching staff. Now, this is a coaching staff that I still believe is very, very talented and the moves that Tabone and Butira have made together, I think that this is going to set up the Nationals for a great great future. But also, we have to be patient with this process. This is not going to be something that in my mind will just jump from a losing organization to a winning one in just one year. That should not be the case whatsoever. In fact, this is going to be a very long process still. Now, what does very long mean? And how quick could this nationals team kind of get out of this rebuild? Well, I’ll take it for this perspective here. I think these next two years, I’m not going to say get used to losing. I think that right now this team is not really set up for success in 2026 and in 2027. Success is going to come in a different category than the win and loss column for this team. Success is going to look like developing prospects. Success is going to look like developing guys up in the major leagues and kind of cutting back on the stupid mistakes that we have seen over the years. Base running errors, defensive miscues, missing cut off men. Those are the kind of mistakes that I want to see cut out and those are the things that I think that you can hold this coaching staff accountable for day one of this operation. The development of different hitting mechanics and prospects taking those steps up, you got to be a little bit more patient on that front. But the miscommunication from the outfield, the bad lazy defensive makes from the infield, bad catching mistakes, those are things that I think that you can hold this coaching staff accountable for. And I do expect those things to be improved in a big way going forward. That’s the kind of wins and losses I think this team should be accounted for in 2026. But the coaching staff hires and the moves that they have yet to make. so far. And the fact that you’re willing to trade McKenzie Goran, that you are willing to trade potentially CJ Abrams and maybe a couple of more guys, that kind of indicates that this is an organization in a team that may show some inklings of being a potential sleeper team that could win 75 to 80 games this year. But I think that’s kind of the dream for this team. Meanwhile, last year in 2025, the dream for this team was maybe they win 85 games and sneak into the wild card. Maybe they take those steps up that we’ve been talking about. That was not the case. This team regressed and it took a step back. And you’ve got a lot of holes to fill with a really tough NL East division here. This right now is still a rebuild. This is not a retool. This is not a team that is making these changes to think that they are going to compete for a wild card or even the NL East division in 2026. Be prepared for that. And I think that a lot of Nats fans are kind of ready for it, but the process is not going to be some long overblown thing that’s going to take six plus years. I don’t anticipate that. I do think that the Nationals can get this thing up and running hopefully by 2027, but more than likely ready by 2028. And I think that’s a very realistic timeline as well. And honestly, for these next few years, again, we’ve talked about it. Do I want to see this team win more games and kind of get back and get out of their losing ways? Absolutely. But I also think part of this process is going to take patience. and the patience. There will be some pains and there will be a lot of growing pains. I I’ll add but also I think that the patience doesn’t just come from the players. It’s going to come from the coaches as well. You’ve got this young really just young vibrant coaching staff that I think is good. But again, you are going to have to be patient with them as well at least to begin out because I think that this team and this coaching staff is very talented. I would have loved the hires that they have made so far, but also you gotta kind of keep the vision, the vision. This is a team that is not ready to win in 2026. This is a team that is trying to build themselves a sustainable winner, and that might mean short-term pain for long-term gain. So, we’ll talk more about that as the offseason goes on, as they make moves. But the moves that we think that they will make, obviously Mackenzie Gore trade, we’ll have more on McKenzie Gore on tomorrow’s show. But there are a couple of other pieces I think that this national team could move off of that would make sense. But I’ve got a couple of players I think some people may want to move off of, but I would rather develop them. So, I came up with this game. Trade or develop? I’ve got a list of six players, a couple of prospects, a couple of big leaguers already that the Nationals are may have put in this category for trade or develop. And I’ll tackle that after this. The NBA is back and there is no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. And even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. And plus, you can combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a larger payout. And it keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. I always take Bal Koulali over on seals. He is a defensive wizard, but also Alex Sar over on the rebounds. I got him at over nine and a half the other night. He splashed that with 13 rebounds. And I also took the over for that Wizards game. And yes, of course, it hit. The Wizards lost by 30, but they are so good at giving up points. So, when I watch the Wizards, I also do it with our friends at FanDuel in my right hand. So, right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. to head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. We are back here on Locked on Nationals and on this Thanksgiving week, we are thankful for all the locked on nationals listeners and everyone who listens and participates in the locked on podcast network, the number one sports podcasting network in America. So, we have got a discussion on a couple of different guys here. Trade or develop? A couple of prospects, a couple of young guys on this team, and I’ve got a good list and some reasons as to why I would trade this person and why I would develop this person. The first person here that I want to tackle is former first round pick, top five pick, Elijah Green. I would develop Elijah Green at this point. Are the cards already kind of out on Elijah Green? Do we think that Elijah Green is this guy who’s going to turn around and become that promised prospect of a five player that we thought he could be? I’m not necessarily convinced on that. But the reason why I would develop him is this. When you have someone as young as he is, as talented as he is, and with a ceiling as high as it could be with Elijah Green, I’m not willing to move off him just yet. And I think there is a case to be made for the Nationals trying to trade him and maybe trying to get some value in return. What would that value look like? I don’t really know at this juncture, but I think there is a case to be made for a team out there that is willing to say, “Hey, we’ll take the upside with his glove and a potential for power and he’s got the speed to steal 40 plus bases a year. We can try to tap into some contact tools with Elijah Green. But I also view the Nationals as an organization that may view that the same way. And I think that with this new player development staff, I truly do believe that the Nationals going forward, they will be able to develop prospects. And I do think that this organization in particular will be down the road a top 10 player development organization. I think they have made all the necessary steps to really take those steps up. I kind of want to see what the analytics and the different machines and the different programs that they use. But I think with this new operation comes a very new fresh approach with how the Nationals will develop prospects. Elijah Green kind of fits that guy and that character that I think that the Nationals would want to take in as a project. This is a project and is it going to work out? I’m not convinced of it. But there is definitely a case be made for why the Nashville should keep him. And here’s what it is. We can still talk about Elijah Green struggles. the 40% strikeout rate, the lack of contact, the lack of power, the lack of consistency, it’s all still there from Green, but also he is one of the most talented guys in this system if everything is clicking. We talk about the arm strength, the range in the outfield, the I mean, great personality by the way, one of the nicest guys in this national system. That is a plus in my opinion. and Tabon has preached culture and everything that goes with players personalities and how they fit that. Elijah Green checks all those boxes for this team and then potential for power with the high exit vos. It’s still there. I would be willing to really be patient with Elijah Green. Am I going to bet on him being this big fixture for the Nationals in a few years? I’m not going to bet on that. But I’m also willing to take that gamble. And if a team wants to give up their 32nd prospect for Elijah Green at this point, I don’t find that worth it. I think that if I’m the Nationals, if I’m Tabone, I’m doing everything I can to put all the resources into Elijah Green because he’s still kind of this forgotten prospect. And again, have people quit on him? I’m sure a lot of people have and that’s understandable at this point. But for where this team is, you want to get value in the building, but at what price? I don’t think that the Nationals could generate a return for Green that would generate the kind of ceiling that this guy would have down the road. I think that risk is not worth it at this point. So, with Elijah Green, I want to develop this guy and at least try to because I think that this guy can be still very, very talented and can be a good prospect someday. Is it likely? I’m not willing to go that far yet. But, am I going to take the risk of him becoming that superstar athlete that we all thought that he could be with another organization? I’m not willing to go that far. At least at this point under this new organization, it’s kind of realigned my thinking within the Nationals. And I think Elijah Green is one of those case studies that I think at this point I’m not willing to move off of just yet. So for me, I’m going to develop Elijah Green. Second, Robert Hassel III. Trade or develop, I’m willing to trade him at this point. I think that Robert Hassel the third kind of under the category of Elijah Green as well and not this sense. Hear me out for a second. Robert Hassel the third has developed. He has been a top guy in the system. He’s made a major league debut. He’s looked good in the major leagues. But also, you got to kind of look around the outfield room and say, well, where does he fit? I think he’s not better than James Wood. He’s not better than Lyall at this point. And he’s not better than Dylan Cruz. And the fourth outfielder spot is kind of a different position. It’s not like, oh, who has the highest ceiling for my fourth outfielder spot. It’s not about that for me. I want a defensive first guy. Robert Hassel is a terrific center fielder, but he is not the gold glove caliber athlete that Jacob Young is out there. That’s kind of where I put him. And if the Nationals want to hold on to Hassel and trade Jacob Young, then go for it. But I feel as if that you could get the most in return for Robert Hassel the third. It’s not going to be some big-time prospect. But maybe, just maybe, in a deal of which you’re trading McKenzie Gore. You package Robert Hassel the third in and that generates you another prospect kind of similar to what they did with the Juan Sodto and Josh Bell trade a few years ago and that got you Harleen Susanna in that package from the San Diego Padres’s. That’s the kind of value that I think we’re talking about here with Hassel. And maybe that same thing goes for Jacob Young. But the reason, the main reason why I’m willing to trade Robert Hassel II is because the timing of his development. Like it’s kind of unfortunate because I thought Robert Hassel the third would have been one of the first prospects up from that Juan Sodto deal. Unfortunately, he dealt with a lot of injuries, a lot of different things going on. And I think that Hassel, while he was and is a great player and a someone that I think could be a really good major leager someday, I just don’t think it’s going to happen here. From what we saw with Dalon Lyle, you kind of already put him in pen for the opening day lineup in right field. James Wood is an all-star and Dylan Cruz could be a future all-star with this team. There’s just no space for him. And so I think that he’s kind of the odd man out at this point that if I’m the Nationals, I am looking to trade him. There is no point in keeping him on the 40man roster. And if he is down in Triple A, what are we doing with him? Like maybe you do hold on to him. And of course 162 game season, you’re going to have injuries. You’ve seen it with Dalon Lyle in the past. He’s had a torn ACL. He had that weird back injury that he was lucky enough a few years ago in spring training that didn’t cost him a couple of weeks, but you have had some injury concerns, I guess, with Cruz with his oblique. Uh James Wood has had a knee issue, I believe, or a hamstring issue back two years ago and Jacob Young hasn’t really dealt with anything, but maybe the Nationals do hold on to him for that reason because he would certainly get some chances up in the bigs and he would be the first one to be called up. But is that worth it for you? Because you’ve got Jacob Young and even then behind Jacob Young and behind Robert Hassel, you’ve got Christian Franklin, you’ve got Andrew Pinkney, both guys who are ready to really take those steps up and you’re not really just kind of wasting their talent down in TripleA. I think Robert Hassel third, you’d be wasting your talent down in AAA and I don’t think that’s worth it for him and I don’t think that’s worth it for this team. That’s why I think that right now the best way forward for Robert Hassel III is getting that trade package back in return. And if it’s netting a top 15 prospect for a team system, then yes, make that move today. If it’s not worth the deal and you’re getting like the 30th best prospect of an okay system, then yeah, I guess hold on to him and kind of wait for a team to get desperate to trade for Robert Hassel the third. But I would trade him at this point. I think that is the best practice for the Washington Nationals. We got a couple more players left on this list. I’ll tell you, trade or develop for this former first round pick. We’ll talk about that after this. Trade or develop a list of Nationals prospects and players that I think that they should trade and why they should develop. couple minute breakdown, but one of the last ones we’ll get into today and the rest of these we will tackle tomorrow. I have got Christian Vicero, the former top prospect in the system. Christian Vicero is someone that I think is very talented, would have been a firstround pick if he was coming out of the draft. He was an international sneige and I would develop Christian Vicero. I think that Christian Vera, at least at this point, I’m willing to take the gamble on trying to develop him. There is no use for trading Christian Vicero at this point. And for those who do not know who this guy is, he is a switchhitting outfielding prospect that I think could have power and could have the discipline to steal 40 plus bases a year if everything were to click. And oh, by the way, he is a Gold Glove caliber outfielder as well. He’s kind of in that same category as Elijah Green. I think Elijah Green actually is even more talented than Vicero. But looking at what Vicero brings to the table, he brings number one a ton of talent, speed, defensive ability, glove, range. Uh he can hit, he can hit for power, and that was kind of what he was projected to do for the Nationals. And at this point, the Nationals have not been able to develop Aero. if you remember him back in 2020, like this was a guy that the Nationals were very excited about and this fan base was extremely excited about. But that’s kind of not gone the Nationals way at this point. Vicero has not developed. He has not taken the steps necessary to be a top prospect. And I think that with where the Nationals are today, you might be able to get something decent in return from and like a prospect swap that just kind of needs a new change of scenery. Again, another high ceiling guy from another organization and we trade Vicero, we get whatever top prospect that has kind of been quote unquote failing for them. That’s the kind of move that I would anticipate in a Vicero deal. But with where the Nationals are today, you probably just want to hang on to this guy. He was in Fredericksburg this year. You’d expect him to go up to high A Wilmington. Maybe starts out the year in Freddy, gets the bump up to Wilmington once he starts hitting the ball. But again, this is another guy that I think I want to see Paul Deabonian company really kind of hone in on the development of this guy. And I think that he could be a solid prospect for this team down the road. Very young still, like 20 years old, 21 years old. He could still be someone that I think the Nationals really rely on moving forward. And that is why at this point I would still try to develop Vicero. And yes, I think it is worth it for this organization moving forward. We still got a couple of names on this list, but actually we are going to tackle the rest of these names on tomorrow’s show. The names that are in question. Siver King, the former first round pick in 2024. Jacob Young and uh obviously the gold glove center fielder that I think should and will win a gold glove someday if he is given the playing time. Luis Garcia Jr. and a couple of other prospects as well. I want to stay tuned on that list for tomorrow’s program. So make sure you stay tuned to Locked on Nationals on Wednesday’s show. We’ll have trade or develop of these top talents. So stay tuned for that. I will catch you guys on the flip side. Have a good one. Go Nets.

Washington Nationals fans, get ready for a new era as the team signals a longer rebuild than expected—are short-term pains setting up a future powerhouse? Ryan Clary breaks down why the Nationals’ latest front office and coaching hires—including Paul Taboni and Blake Butera—point to a strategic shift focused on player development, patience, and a sustainable winning culture. Will the Nats’ faith in prospects like Elijah Green and Cristhian Vaquero pay off, or is a shake-up on the horizon? Key discussions include trade-or-develop scenarios for top talents such as Robert Hassell III, the evolving outfield picture with names like James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Jacob Young, and what the focus on biomechanics and analytics means for the team’s future. As the Nationals prioritize development over immediate wins, Clary examines potential roster moves and what fans can realistically expect heading into 2026 and beyond. Is a return to October glory closer than it seems?

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Episode Timestamps & Topics
0:00 – Nationals Rebuild Timeline
Ryan Clary introduces the show and discusses why Nationals fans should anticipate a longer rebuild, outlining expectations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

11:27 – Trade or Develop: Prospect Analysis
Ryan Clary breaks down a “trade or develop” game for top young Nationals players, sharing insights on which prospects should be kept or moved and why.

22:31 – Cristhian Vaquero & Upcoming Prospects
Ryan Clary analyzes Cristhian Vaquero’s future and teases additional prospect evaluations for the next episode.
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