Mike Rizzo and Co. in the Washington Nationals’ front office went into the offseason with a plan, kicked off at last July 30th’s trade deadline, to reboot the organization and build the next World Series-winning roster two years after the club won the first Fall Classic by a D.C.-based team since 1924.
Baseball’s lockout delayed implementation of the club’s plan for building their 2022 roster, but coming out of the 99-day struggle to agree on a new CBA, Rizzo found a vibrant market with players and their agents looking to find homes for those who didn’t sign contracts before MLB’s talks with the MLBPA fell apart back in December.