What if the 2019 Nationals Didn’t Happen: Part 2

2020-2021 offseason

The first step for new general manager Dave Dombrowski is to find a manager, because he fires Chip Hale. In comes Ron Washington to lead this “retool” as he calls it. In his introductory press conference Washington says “when you have guys like Juan Soto, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, you always have a chance to compete.”

With that in mind, the Nationals entered the offseason aiming to build a roster that could be more competitive in the short term while laying a foundation for the future. Dombrowski makes a splash in international free agency by signing 25-year-old Korean star Ha-Seong Kim to a four-year, $28 million deal, giving Washington a versatile infielder with power, speed, and defensive polish. He also signs 16-year-old Venezuelan outfield prospect Jackson Chourio for $1.8 million, viewing him as a long-term cornerstone alongside Soto. In free agency, he nabs Kyle Schwaber, Darren O’Day and Brad Hand. All are on one year deals, though, so the clock on this core is ticking. Dombrowski tries to get extensions done with Soto and Turner, both don’t want to be on rebuilding teams and want to see progress before they sign. 

2021-2022 season

The 2021 Washington Nationals entered the season with tempered expectations but renewed purpose. Under new manager Ron Washington, the team embraced a fresh identity—focused on grit, leadership, and the blend of rising stars with proven veterans. From the jump, the club played with an edge. Washington’s fire was contagious, and by late May, it was clear this team wouldn’t go down quietly.

Juan Soto’s discipline at the plate, raw power, and consistent contact fueled the offense. Soto slashed .318/.442/.575, hit 32 home runs, and drove in over 100 runs, becoming the heart and soul of the team. Batting ahead of him, Trea Turner put together his best season yet—hitting over .300, stealing more than 30 bases, and delivering gold-glove-level defense. Together, Turner and Soto gave the Nationals one of the most dynamic duos in baseball.

The biggest surprise came from Kyle Schwarber. After a quiet April, he exploded in June, launching 16 home runs in an 18-game stretch that captivated baseball fans and carried Washington into Wild Card contention. Schwarber’s tear made headlines nationwide, and his swagger gave the Nationals a much-needed jolt. Adolis García also broke out, clubbing over 30 home runs while dazzling in the outfield, and Brandon Lowe brought consistent power and solid defense at second base.

Max Scherzer, still the ace of the staff, delivered a vintage season. With a sub-3.00 ERA, over 220 strikeouts, and numerous dominant outings, he proved he still had plenty left in the tank. Young arms like Jordan Montgomery and Josiah Gray showed promise, offering hope that the next generation of the Nationals' rotation was beginning to emerge. Scherzer’s presence was critical—not just on the mound, but as a mentor to the younger players, including Ha-Seong Kim, who improved steadily as the year progressed and finished strong on both sides of the ball.

Rumors swirled near the trade deadline, with national outlets speculating that the Nats could move Scherzer, Schwarber, or even Turner for long-term pieces. But Dave Dombrowski shut it down quickly. “We’re not selling,” he said firmly. “We believe in this group.” It was a statement that energized the fanbase. While the bullpen remained inconsistent and injuries piled up late in the season, Washington hung in the race until the final weeks.

The Nationals ultimately finished 83–79, falling just short of the Wild Card but exceeding expectations. The season marked a crucial step forward—proof that the franchise was no longer spiraling, but stabilizing. Washington didn’t make the playoffs, but they found their core: Soto, Turner, García, Lowe, Kim, and a new wave of arms. Ron Washington was praised for changing the culture, Scherzer expressed his desire to stay, and Dombrowski made it clear—this wasn’t a rebuild anymore. The Nationals were back.

2022-2023 offseason 

Coming off an encouraging 83–79 finish, the Nationals front office approaches the 2022 offseason with renewed confidence. With a strong core already in place and the rebuild turning into a retool, GM Dave Dombrowski makes it clear: it was time to keep the stars, build depth, and push toward contention in 2022.

First, Dombrowski takes care of the franchise cornerstones. Max Scherzer, still dominant at age 37, re-signed on a two-year, $80 million deal with a third-year vesting option. He makes it clear he wants to end his career in Washington. “This is home,” Scherzer says. “We’ve got unfinished business here.” His return sent a message to the rest of the league — the Nats were no longer sellers.

Soon after, Kyle Schwarber returns on a three-year, $51 million contract. Schwarber’s power, energy, and leadership has made him indispensable, and both sides were eager to continue the partnership. “D.C. took a chance on me. I’m staying,” he says with his signature grin.

Then came the stunner: Trea Turner signs a seven-year, $161 million extension, committing to the Nationals through his prime years. After years of rumors that Turner might walk, Dombrowski's presence and the team’s upward trajectory convinces him to stay. “I believe in what we’re building here,” Turner tells reporters. “It’s not just potential anymore — it’s progress.”

Rather than spend big on free agents, Dombrowski gets creative to add power and depth. In a surprise move, he swings a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire Hunter Renfroe, a slugging corner outfielder with elite arm strength and consistent 25–30 homer potential. The Nats send a mid-tier pitching prospect and cash in return, bolstering a lineup that already featured Soto, Schwarber, Turner, García, and Lowe.

To address the bullpen, Dombrowski brings back veteran Darren O’Day on another one-year deal, betting on his leadership and funky delivery to steady a group of unproven relievers. Other additions are minor but strategic — a few non-roster invites, utility depth pieces, and international signings that flew under the radar. This isn’t a flashy offseason, but it was a focused one.

Top prospects like Royce Lewis and Josiah Gray are waiting in the wings, and all eyes remain on 18-year-old Jackson Chourio, who continued to impress in the lower minors. Importantly, the Nationals hold onto Juan Soto, who, while still unsigned long-term, shows signs of buying in. He arrived to camp early, laughing with teammates and telling reporters, “This feels like a team that’s ready.”

2022-2023 season 

The 2022 Washington Nationals enter the season with expectations not seen since their 2010s peak. No longer a rebuilding club, they are a retooled machine led by a superstar core, fresh off a strong finish in 2021 and an offseason defined by loyalty, belief, and firepower. Under Ron Washington’s leadership, the Nationals play with swagger, toughness, and unity — and it showed from Opening Day.

The offense becomes one of the most feared in the National League. Juan Soto puts together an MVP-caliber campaign, slashing .309/.456/.598 with 35 home runs and 115 walks, leading the majors in OBP. Behind him, Trea Turner plays like a star worthy of his extension — hitting over .300 again, swiping 32 bags, and anchoring the infield with gold-glove defense. Turner and Soto become the most dynamic 1-2 punch in the NL.

But the lineup doesn’t stop there. Kyle Schwarber follows up his hot 2021 with 38 home runs and over 90 RBIs. His presence gave the team relentless power in the middle of the order. Hunter Renfroe adds 29 homers and elite right field defense, gunning down multiple runners with his cannon arm. Adolis García continues to blossom, hitting 25 homers and playing electric defense in center. Brandon Lowe brings balance from the left side, chipping in 24 long balls and stabilizing second base.

The pitching staff is anchored by the ever-reliable Max Scherzer, who at age 38 still posts a 2.92 ERA with 210 strikeouts across 30 starts. Jordan Montgomery blossoms into a legit No. 2 starter, posting a career-best ERA just under 3.50. Josiah Gray takes a big step forward, flashing wipeout stuff and giving fans a glimpse of the future. The rotation depth was rounded out by Luis Gil, who provides innings and potential upside.

The bullpen — long a sore spot — holds together better than expected. Darren O’Day, re-signed on a one-year deal, provides leadership and consistency, while younger arms step up down the stretch. The relievers may not be elite, but they are good enough to win games late — something that had doomed the team in previous seasons.

The one player I haven’t talked about is Victor Robles. That’s because in this version of the team, he is struggling significantly. He isn’t able to be an everyday bat due to his injury proneness and inconsistent bat. Dombrowski tries to trade him but doesn’t want to sell low and can’t find the right deal. So Robles is just a platoon bat who gets some reps as a pinch hitter while the team looks to do right by him.

The Nationals hover near the top of the Wild Card standings all year, and by mid-August they are in the hunt for the NL East crown, chasing the Braves and Mets. They fall just short of the division title but clinched the top Wild Card spot with a 91–71 record — their best since 2017. The playoff drought is over.

2023 Postseason 

Wild Card Series vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Game 1 was all Max Scherzer.

Pitching in front of a deafening home crowd, the 39-year-old ace turns back the clock. Seven innings, 10 strikeouts, one run — vintage Scherzer. Juan Soto crushes a solo shot, Adolis García triples in a run, and Hunter Renfroe adds insurance with a clutch RBI double. The bullpen locks it down, and the Nationals take Game 1 by a score of 4–1.

Game 2 is a dogfight. Josiah Gray guts out five innings, but the game remains tied heading into the eighth. That’s when Brandon Lowe steps up and launches a three-run homer into the D.C. night. It’s the loudest Nationals Park has been in years. Darren O’Day and Luis Gil combine to close it out, and just like that, the Nationals sweep their way to the NLDS.

NLDS vs. Atlanta Braves

Next came the 100-win Braves — battle-hardened, explosive, and confident. 

Game 1: Atlanta walks it off in extras, stealing a 6–5 win.

Game 2: The Nats punch back. Turner goes 3-for-5, Soto homers, and Jordan Montgomery dominates in a 7–3 win.

Game 3: Schwarber crushes two homers, García doubles and scores twice, and Gray throws four solid innings in relief. Nationals take a 2–1 series lead.

Game 4: The Braves lean on Spencer Strider, and Washington can’t solve the young right-hander. Atlanta ties the series.

Game 5. Back in Atlanta. One game to decide the NLCS berth. The ball? Max Scherzer’s.

The future Hall of Famer delivers — again. Scherzer pitches six shutout innings, striking out nine and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth that shifts the momentum. At the plate, the Nationals strike early with an RBI double from García and a sac fly from Turner, giving Washington a 2–0 lead.

In the seventh, Ron Washington turns to his bullpen chessboard.

First out was Darren O’Day — the funky, side-arming veteran who has steadied the pen all season. He works around a leadoff walk and gets two big outs, including a strikeout of Austin Riley on a nasty backdoor slider. Then comes the heat.

Emmanuel Clase took over in the eighth and is electric. He touches 101 on the radar gun, breaks Matt Olson’s bat on a jam-shot grounder, and blows a cutter past Ozzie Albies for the third out. The Nationals tack on an insurance run in the ninth, and Clase comes back out to close it.

Three batters. Three outs. Nationals win 3–0.

The upset was complete — Washington has taken down the Braves and are headed to the NLCS.

NLCS vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers prove a different beast. Their depth wears Washington down. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and a relentless pitching staff push the Nationals to the brink. Soto homers twice in the series, and Montgomery turns in a gutsy Game 4 win, but ultimately the Dodgers take the series in six.

Still, the Nationals have announced their arrival. Loudly.

After Game 6, reporters ask Scherzer if this might be the end.

He just smiles.

“I’m not retiring. I’m not done. And this team? We’re just getting started.”

Thats it for part two. Tune in next time for the final part of this what if. Will the Nationals be able to extend Soto? Will they trade him if they can’t? Find out next time.