How They Were Acquired: Washington Nationals NLDS Roster

The Nationals are back in the postseason after their fourth NL East crown in the past six years. By now, the search for redemption is a familiar tale for this organization, which has failed to advance past the NLDS in each of the past three years. There has been a fair bit of roster turnover through the years, as president of baseball operations/GM Mike Rizzo has successfully transitioned from prior core players to new ones through a variety of methods.

Here’s how the current roster came together…

[Related: Washington Nationals Depth Chart and Payroll Outlook]

• HOMEGROWN (9)
  • Ryan Zimmerman, 1B: Drafted 1st Rd (4) ’05
  • Stephen Strasburg, SP: Drafted 1st Rd (1) ’09
  • Michael Taylor, OF: Drafted 6th Rd ’09
  • Wilmer Difo, INF/OF: International Free Agent (D.R.) June ’10
  • Bryce Harper, OF: Drafted 1st Rd (1) ’10
  • Sammy Solis, RP: Drafted 2nd Rd ’10
  • Anthony Rendon, 3B: Drafted 1st Rd (6) ’11
  • Brian Goodwin, OF: Drafted 1st Rd (34) ’11
  • Victor Robles, OF: International Free Agent (D.R.) July ’13

• ACQUIRED VIA FREE AGENCY (7)
  • Jayson Werth, OF: December ’10 (PHI) — Signed to a seven-year, $126MM contract.
  • Max Scherzer, SP: January ’15 (DET) — Signed to a seven-year, $210MM contract.
  • Daniel Murphy, 2B: December ’15 (NYM) — Signed to a three-year, $37.5MM contract.
  • Oliver Perez, RP: December ’15 (HOU) — Signed to a two-year, $7MM contract.
  • Matt Albers, RP: January ’17 (CWS) — Signed to a minor league contract.
  • Matt Wieters, C: February ’17 (BAL) — Signed to a one-year, $10.5MM contract (plus $10.5MM player option).
  • Adam Lind, 1B/OF: February ’17 (SEA) — Signed to a one-year, $1.5MM contract (plus $5MM mutual option)

• ACQUIRED VIA TRADE (9)
  • Tanner Roark, SP: July ’10 (TEX) — Acquired in the trade that sent Cristian Guzman to the Rangers.
  • Gio Gonzalez, SP: December ’11 (OAK) — Acquired in the trade that sent A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone and Derek Norris. to the Athletics.
  • Jose Lobaton, C: February ’14 (TB) — Acquired in the trade that sent Nathan Karns to the Rays.
  • Trea Turner, SS: June ’15 (SD) — Acquired in the three-team trade that sent Wil Myers, Jose Castillo, Gerardo Reyes and Ryan Hanigan to the Padres and Steven Souza, Rene Rivera, Jake Bauers, Burch Smith and Travis Ott to the Rays.
  • Enny Romero, RP: February ’17 (TB) — Acquired in the trade that sent Jeffrey Rosa to the Rays.
  • Howie Kendrick, INF/OF: July ’17 (PHI) — Acquired in the trade that sent McKenzie Mills to the Phillies.
  • Sean Doolittle, RP: July ’17 (OAK) — Acquired in the trade that sent Blake Treinen, Sheldon Neuse and Jesus Luzardo to the Athletics.
  • Ryan Madson, RP: July ’17 (OAK) — Acquired in the trade that sent Blake Treinen, Sheldon Neuse and Jesus Luzardo to the Athletics.
  • Brandon Kintzler, RP: July ’17 (MIN) — Acquired in the trade that sent Tyler Watson to the Twins.

While the Nationals’ window has long been a topic of conversation, it figures to stay open a while longer. The club will lose a few contributors this winter — Werth, Perez, and deadline additions Kendrick and Kintzler are probably the most significant — but none are major drivers of the organization’s success. While there’s only one more year of control over Harper past the present season, when he’ll be joined by Murphy and Gonzalez in free agency, several other top-quality performers are still around beyond 2018 … and the team has hopes that Robles will soon become the team’s next star.