Washington Nationals need to avoid same mistakes made with Bryce Harper & Juan Soto

The Washington Nationals have been here before. Actually, they’ve been here twice. On two separate occasions, the Nationals developed two of the biggest superstars in MLB, Bryce Harper and Juan Soto. And both times, Washington failed to secure them long-term. Now the Nationals have another exciting young core forming, and they absolutely cannot afford to make the same mistake again.

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May 21, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Situation Hurts

Harper was supposed to be the face of the franchise for over a decade. Instead, Washington allowed him to reach free agency, where he eventually left for the Philadelphia Phillies. Watching a homegrown superstar walk away for nothing was painful enough. But then the Nationals repeated the same pattern again with Soto.

Unlike Harper, Soto helped the team win a World Series, yet he wasn’t even allowed to reach free agency. The Nationals ultimately traded him because they feared losing him later without receiving assets in return.

While Washington received a significant prospect package back, the reality remains: They lost another generational hitter. And that’s the type of cycle franchises must avoid if they want sustained success.

Sep 24, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) reacts after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Now It’s C.J. Abrams and James Wood

The Nationals once again have young stars worth building around. C.J. Abrams and James Wood look like foundational players for the future. Abrams has developed into one of the most dynamic young shortstops in baseball, while Wood possesses the kind of size, power, and upside that organizations dream about. And importantly, they’re helping fuel one of the better offenses in MLB so far in 2026.

For the first time in a while, there’s real excitement surrounding the Nationals offensively. The lineup suddenly has: Young talent, athleticism, power, and long-term upside. This doesn’t look like a rebuilding offense anymore. It looks like the beginning of something sustainable. But only if ownership commits to keeping the core together.

Sep 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) celebrates after hitting a double against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Smart Move Is Obvious

Washington cannot afford to wait around again. The smartest move the organization can make is locking up Abrams and Wood now before prices skyrocket, free agency looms, and trade rumors begin. That’s how smart organizations operate today. The teams that consistently contend identify their stars early and secure them long term before leverage completely shifts to the player side.

The Nationals already lost Bryce Harper. Then they lost Juan Soto. They simply cannot let history repeat itself with C.J. Abrams and James Wood. Because Washington finally looks like it’s building another exciting young offense—and this time, they need to make sure the stars actually stay.

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