The Washington Nationals have been drifting for a while now. But no one expected them to shake things up in the way they did, and most importantly, now! The MLB Draft is a week away, and the trade deadline is looming, they ended up firing GM Mike Rizzo and even manager Davey Martinez. This has the baseball world shaken because the question lies in what exactly is the plan here?

This wasn’t a typical front office shuffle, was it? Rizzo had been the one architect behind the one—the sole—World Series title the team managed back in 2019. Martinez managed the squad and spent eight years guiding the roster amidst all the contention and chaos. But just like that, both were shown out the door. Even before the team picked its No. 1 draft choice or reached the deadline. And this timing seems to have raised eyebrows from insiders.

Ken Rosenthal described the Nationals as “indifferent, apathetic, disconnected.” He said all those words seemed to apply in recent seasons to the Washington Nationals ownership group headed by Mark Lerner. He didn’t stop there; he even added, “The timing of the Nationals’ dismissals of president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez on Sunday was so sudden, ownership did not even appear fully prepared.”

Rosenthal also pointed out how the ownership suddenly sprang into action after years of disconnection. Plus, those decisions now rest in the hands of an interim GM who may or may not be calling the shots long-term.

He isn’t alone in his assessment; fans and analysts are struggling to understand why a team would fire its most experienced voices when they need them most. Rizzo, of course, didn’t go off quietly. In a text to the Washington Post, he mentioned, “The sun will come up tomorrow. That’s the job. I had a great run. Navigated that ownership group for almost 20 years.” That last line—not subtle, right?

As for Martinez, his fate might have been sealed after a recent comment that may have rubbed Washington Nationals players the wrong way. After a loss, he said the onus is never on the coaches, but sometimes on players. He later clarified, but perhaps the damage was already done. Now, the assistant GM, Mike DeBartolo, will step in as the interim GM. Most fans will hope that they have the board ready for the draft. Uncertainty is looming, and it’s tough to feel confident in a front office that pulled the rug from under its own feet.

Trade chatter heats up for the Washington Nationals

The Nationals are slipping below .500, and another season seems to be slipping through their fingers. So the buzz around trade deadlines is building quickly in D.C. Fans hoped that 2025 would bring a step forward after back-to-back 71-win seasons, but it’s been more déjà vu than anything else. Now, with the front office already undergoing a major shakeup, the trade suggestions have started to come in. ESPN’s David Schoenfield thinks Michael Soroka could be the most appealing asset for the Nationals. And he might be onto something here.

Schoenfield wrote, “Soroka might be the most enticing to other teams. He has been starting for the Nationals, and his 4.70 ERA in 11 games doesn’t impress, but he ranks in the 76th percentile in strikeout rate and 79th percentile in walk rate while holding batters to a .210 average.” While those numbers don’t jump out, if you dig a little deeper, Soroka’s value becomes clear.

After he missed most of April due to an injury, the right-hander turned the page in May. He posted a 3.49 ERA and struck out 36 in just over 28 innings. Sure, he has had a few rough outings that have inflated his ERA, but his swing-and-miss stuff is real, and that matters in the October run. Plus, he has some bullpen experience under his belt from his time with the Chicago White Sox in 2024, which amps his value.

So, for contenders looking for a fifth starter or a bullpen arm, he checks out perfectly. Also, the Nationals don’t have many chips to trade. So, Soroka might be in the headlines again soon.