Eleven years can change everything in baseball—and the Washington Nationals are living proof.
We’re just a day away from flipping the calendar to 2026, and the baseball offseason is in full swing. For fans, January always feels like a sprint, with Spring Training camps opening in just six short weeks. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some fans think winning is as simple as flipping a switch, the reality is far more complex. Let’s rewind to 2014, when the Nationals were riding high after winning the NL East. On paper, they looked unstoppable—three consecutive winning seasons, two division titles, and a roster stacked with talent. But as anyone who’s followed the sport knows, nothing in baseball is as easy as it looks on paper.
That offseason, the Nats made a series of moves that reshaped their future. In early December 2014, they traded left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler to the Texas Rangers for infielder Christopher Bostick and right-handed pitcher Abel De Los Santos. Just days later, they pulled off a franchise-altering deal, sending outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and left-handed pitcher Travis Ott to the Padres for right-handed pitcher Joe Ross and a player to be named later—who turned out to be none other than Trea Turner. And this is the part most people miss: these trades weren’t just about filling gaps; they were strategic moves to position the team for long-term success. The Nats also swapped reliever Tyler Clippard for third baseman Yunel Escobar, allowing Ryan Zimmerman to shift to first base. While they made several minor league signings, including Dan Uggla and Heath Bell, they held off on any major MLB free agent moves—until January 21, 2015, when owner Ted Lerner dropped a bombshell.
In a move that shocked the baseball world, Lerner signed right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer to a record-breaking $210 million contract. Nobody saw it coming. It was a bold, clandestine play by Lerner, a gift to the fanbase that left everyone wondering: Why add another ace to an already stacked rotation? The Nats already had Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, and Doug Fister as their starters. But Lerner’s foresight was spot-on. Fister and Zimmermann were pending free agents after the 2015 season, and Scherzer was the difference-maker the team needed. As Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, later noted, Lerner was the driving force behind the deal—a move that, at the time, was criticized as an overpay. But hindsight has proven it to be one of the best free agent signings in years.
Yet, even with Scherzer in the fold, the 2015 season didn’t go as planned. Bryce Harper famously asked, “Where’s my ring?” after the signing, but the team fell short of the playoffs. Injuries, poor coaching, and a struggling bullpen derailed their championship hopes. Fast forward to 2026, and the Nats find themselves in a familiar yet different predicament. Their current roster doesn’t inspire much confidence, with FanGraphs projecting just 75 wins. So far, they’ve only signed one MLB free agent, Foster Griffin, and traded for catcher Harry Ford. The rest of the improvement will have to come from within—unless President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni has more moves up his sleeve.
But here’s the real question: Does Mark Lerner, now at the helm after his father’s passing, see the same deficiencies fans do? And if he does, why isn’t he taking bold action? The 2015 team lacked leadership after Jayson Werth’s injury, and the current roster feels similarly adrift. Toboni may have a plan, but someone needs to step up and fill that leadership void. As the saying goes, “Take me to your leader.” Mr. Lerner, it’s time to be bold—just like your father was with Scherzer. The future of the Nationals depends on it.
What do you think? Was Ted Lerner’s Scherzer signing a stroke of genius, or just lucky timing? And is Mark Lerner doing enough to address the team’s current shortcomings? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
