The Washington Nationals are not in a very good shape when it comes to odds of contending in 2023.
In short: they won’t.
They finished 2022 with the worst record in the majors and just 55 wins, they traded most of their talent for prospects, and they only brought in scraps from other teams as opposed to future stars.
We are not saying that their overall outlook as a franchise is bleak, because they do have some good young players and prospects who can develop into stars with time.
For 2023, however, they seem destined for a last-place finish in the NL East.
Making matters worse is that one of their most promising pitchers, Cade Cavalli, will be out for the entire season after being diagnosed with ligament damage on his pitching elbow.
“In a statement, Mike Rizzo announces Cade Cavalli will require Tommy John surgery and won’t pitch in 2023,” MLB insider Chelsea Janes tweeted.
In a statement, Mike Rizzo announces Cade Cavalli will require Tommy John surgery and won’t pitch in 2023.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 16, 2023
That’s a tough blow for the organization.
Cavalli had the look of an ace in the making, but that will have to wait until 2024.
He made his MLB debut last year and only had one start.
It wasn’t good – 4.1 innings, seven runs allowed – but he did strike out six.
In the minors, however, he showed the talent that made him a top prospect.
He had a 3.71 ERA in Triple-A, but with a much better 3.25 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP).
He will be back at some point in 2024, probably around the All-Star break, to show what he is made of.
The Nationals will need him at his best by 2024-25, when they are expected to compete again.
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