The Washington Nationals have had a tumultuous journey since their 2019 World Series victory, with the franchise undergoing significant changes and trading away key players like Juan Soto. The recent buzz around James Wood hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres highlights the ongoing fallout from the Soto trade, which was initially viewed as a win for the Nationals. However, the lack of progress in their rebuild raises questions about the team's direction.

Despite receiving promising talents such as Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore in return for Soto, the Nationals have struggled to build a competitive roster. The team's performance has been lackluster, with consecutive seasons of poor records. The pressure is mounting to secure long-term contracts for their standout players before they reach free agency, a situation that is not typical for a team in the midst of a rebuild. As fans celebrate past trade victories, the question remains: how much longer will the Nationals' rebuild take?