[MLB Starter Guide] Washington Nationals - From Late Bloomers to the Most Dramatic Champions (Part 1)

Introduction to the Washington Nationals

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Baseball in the Capital: A late start leading to the most dramatic peak. The Washington Nationals have the most 'modern history' among the 30 MLB teams. In 2005, the Montreal Expos relocated to D.C., and the U.S. capital finally welcomed an MLB team again, 34 years after the Senators left in 1971. But the beginning was anything but glamorous.

1. The Dark Ages and Laying the Foundation (2005–2010) In the early days, the Nationals were basically at the level of a typical expansion team. - Bottom-tier results - Paper-thin roster - Fanbase still under construction The iconic player of this era was Ryan Zimmerman. He was the franchise's first star and gave fans a reason to keep watching baseball in D.C. But for the team as a whole, this era wasn't about winning; it was about building for the future.

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2. The Two Pillars – Strasburg and Harper The first name to change the trajectory of the Nats was **Stephen Strasburg (2010)**. - 100mph fastballs - 14Ks in his debut - Labeled as the 'Next Face of MLB' And then came the second name, the man who became the symbol of the team.

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Bryce Harper (2012) - MLB debut at age 19 - Insane power - Playstyle oozing with confidence Harper wasn't just a prospect. He was the Nationals' first true superstar and the face that gave the team its 'young and aggressive' identity.

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2. Harper’s Team, But Where’s the Ring?? During Harper's growth, the Nationals had icons on both the mound and at the plate. - Strasburg - Gio Gonzalez - Jordan Zimmermann - And Max Scherzer Plus: - Harper - Zimmerman - And later, Trea Turner The roster was undeniably stacked. Especially in 2015, when Harper reigned as the league's best hitter during his MVP season. But the result was always the same: Regular season kings, October chokers. During Harper's tenure, the Nationals never once made it to the World Series.

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3. Transitioning to Contenders – Signing Scherzer (2015) The next step of the rebuild was clear. 'Can we actually win a championship with this roster?' In 2015, the Nats signed Max Scherzer in free agency. This move was more like a declaration. - Not just looking for short-term success - A signal that they were going for it ALL right now With Scherzer, the Nats completed a league-best rotation and became clear title favorites. But the results still didn't follow.

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4. Trial and Error – Strong but Incomplete (2015–2018) The Nationals were a powerhouse on paper during this time. Division titles in '16 and '17. - Top of the regular season standings - NL East champs - MVP-caliber Harper But they always fell short in the postseason. This failure wasn't just bad luck; it exposed flaws in the team structure. They had plenty of stars, but lacked the stability in the lineup to hold the center during a crisis.

5. The Fork in the Road – Harper Departs (Pre-2019) Finally, the time for a decision came. - Failed long-term contract negotiations with Harper - Move to Philadelphia This breakup wasn't just a player leaving. It was one of the most symbolic moments in Nats history. The outlook at the time was brutal: 'The Nationals are finished without Harper.'

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6. 2019 – The Championship Without Harper Ironically, the very year Harper left, the Nationals won it all. - Roles over stars - Focus over home runs - Team over individuals With a lineup centered around Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon, and a rotation of Scherzer–Strasburg–Corbin, they found the perfect balance. This championship is remembered as: 'The greatest moment achieved without the biggest star.' In early 2019, the Nats were at the bottom of the league. People were openly talking about firing the manager and hitting reset. But this team hung in there. - Wild Card berth - Underdogs in every series - Won only on the road And finally, World Series Champions. This title was special: - A World Series where the home team didn't win a single game - Pure pitching power + clutch hitting - Never-say-die game management The Nationals became one of the most dramatic championship teams in MLB history.

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7. Post-Championship Dissolution – The Tanking Begins (2020–2022) After the win, the team changed rapidly. - Soto, Scherzer, and Turner were traded - Strasburg’s injury and retirement - Veterans leaving The Nationals no longer had the competitive edge to 'win now.' They chose a total reset and full rebuild. They started tanking.