Each MLB team’s season success or failure?
Washington Nationals
83-79, 2nd in NL East
The Nationals were expected to breeze through the NL East and looked like the best team in the Majors on paper after acquiring Max Scherzer in the offseason. Washington’s dismal 2015 campaign proves that anything can happen in a given season.
Washington was dysfunctional from the start, in large part due to injuries to several key players. Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span and Jayson Werth were among those who all missed a significant chunk of the season.
Manager Matt Williams also did the team no favors, particularly with his bizarre bullpen usage and lack of leadership in the clubhouse. The lasting image of Washington’s season will likely be Jonathan Papelbon choking out Bryce Harper in the dugout late in the season.
Fortunately, the Nationals did have one positive this season, as Harper put up eye-popping numbers and will likely win the NL MVP. The problem was Washington’s next best position player by WAR was Danny Espinosa, who totaled a mark of 2.3 per FanGraphs.
There is still a ton of talent on the roster for next season, but also a few question marks in free agency. This is the type of season that could set a franchise back a couple of years.
Failure. Washington was the most disappointing team in the Majors and should have been able to at least take the NL East with this roster.
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