This season was supposed to be a year of celebration for the Washington Nationals coming off their first-ever World Series title last fall. However, with the coronavirus pandemic altering the narrative of the season on and off the field, the 2020 season has been anything but celebratory for Washington.
Friday, the last placed Nationals placed Sean Doolittle on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Two days before, the Nationals placed one of their biggest heroes last October, Howie Kendrick on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain.
With 17 games remaining, it’s tough to see Doolittle returning before the end of the season. The left-handed reliever has struggled for the most part with production and injuries in the his year under contract with Washington.
Kendrick, 37, never quite felt comfortable during the shortened season. He has a $6.5 million mutual option for next season. But, with a $2.25 million buyout there is a possibility he may not return to Washington.
When asked if he’s considered the possibility of that Kendrick and Doolittle have played their last games with the Nationals, manager Dave Martinez became visibly emotional.
“I try not to think about it because it is sad,” Martinez said before he became silent and eyes teared up.
“When we get there… right now I don’t want to think about it,” he finished.
Doolittle was one of the Nationals’ reliable bullpen arms last year. This year, he struggled early after considering opting out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. He was placed on the IL last month with a knee injury. He returned on Aug. 30 and looked good until he suffered an oblique injury Thursday night.
Kendrick was quarantined for two weeks during summer camp. Thus, his season never quite got going from the start.
Kendrick and Doolittle are not alone. Kurt Suzuki, Ryan Zimmerman, who opted out of the 2020 season, Asdrubal Cabrera, Michael A. Taylor and Anibal Sanchez all were factors during last year’s run. But their contracts expire at the end of this season.
The window of success with the current core was closing before the magical run in 2019. Now the nucleus of the team is shifting to the younger cogs Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Victor Robles and potentially Luis Garcia. It’s time for the Nationals to build around them.
Martinez may not be alone preferring not to think about the harsh reality the Nationals will have to face this winter.
It’s even more disappointing any departing players won’t get the proper sendoff they deserved.
Their potential final games with the Nationals should have been met by thankful fans applauding them as their time winded down with the club. Unfortunately with the current pandemic, the aging pieces to the Nationals could walk away in silence.
