In recent years, the Nationals have been blessed with young home-grown talent. Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon all made early and impressive debuts for the club and have since cemented themselves as franchise cornerstones. This season, Juan Soto has emerged as the latest in that line. After dominating three levels of the Nationals farm system in 2018, Soto took his first MLB swing on May 20 resulting in an inauspicious pinch-hit strikeout. His next game? He crushed Padres pitching for a home run and three RBI. He hasn’t stopped since. As of July 29, he has slashed .310/.418/.567, hammered 13 home runs, posted a mark of 162 wRC+ and accumulated 2.1 WAR in only 249 plate appearances. Continue reading
As the clock ticks to 3:59 PM in the east today for the non-waiver trade deadline, Bryce Harper’s career with the Washington Nationals could end in the last minute like it started at 11:59 PM in the east on August 16th of 2010 when he officially became a Nat by signing his professional baseball contract in the last minute of eligibility. Harper’s entire career has always pointed to 2018 as the date of expiration as many questioned if he had the desire to really stay in Washington. While Harper talks a good game, it’s just talk. Actions speak louder than words, and the former-MVP has never said he would sign an extension. As a matter of fact, Harper made it clear he won’t talk about it. 
