In Major League Baseball, teams build through trades and free-agent signings. For the Washington Nationals, the club is currently in the midst of a rebuild. In the past two years, President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo has rebuilt the organization essentially from the ground up. While it’s easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel these days, any glimmer of hope back in July 2021 was hard to imagine when the team traded veteran pitcher Jon Lester for an underperforming prospect, Lane Thomas.
Monday, a three-year investment into Lane Thomas paid off for Rizzo and the Nationals. The club traded the now 28-year-old to the Cleveland Guardians for three promising prospects, fitting into the long-term plans of the Nats.
In 2021, the Nationals signed the 37-year-old Lester. The club was just one season removed from being World Series champions. On the surface, Washington hung on to a faint chance they could return to their winning ways after a disappointing 26-34 record in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
However, by July of that year, the Nats’ current core had run its course, and there was no shot of repeating its 2019 championship year. Thus, on July 30, 2021, Rizzo traded Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Lane Thomas.
Lane Thomas developed into appropriate trade
Lester was a seasoned player with a career mark of 196-116 and a 3.64 ERA. He was a five-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion. On the other hand, Thomas had played a mere 84 games in the Major League Baseball. He had a career .172 batting average. Yet, the Nationals saw potential in Thomas and an opportunity to develop the young outfielder.
Thomas clicked right away with the chance to play with the Nationals. He earned a spot in the starting lineup. His versatility allowed him to play all three outfield positions. He also was tabbed at the top of the batting order.
Thomas posted his best career numbers last season, batting .268 with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 156 games. His play drew significant attention from other clubs as the trade deadline approached. However, Rizzo remained patient as Thomas had 2.5 years of club control.
Rizzo balked at trade offers and held on to Thomas. The offers didn’t match Thomas’ trade market. While the Nats loaded an impressive group of premiere outfield prospects, the club held on to Thomas, waiting for the right offer to move him.
The Nationals’ patience paid off Monday, as the club moved him to Cleveland. In return, Washington received left-hander Alex Clemmey, shortstop Rafael Ramirez Jr., and infielder José Tena. This trade was a mirror image of the initial trade, with Thomas now the proven veteran getting traded for promising prospects.
Alex Clemmey is a raw, power hurler
Alex Clemmey is a 19-year-old flame thrower who stands 6-foot-6. Clemmey’s fastball ranges from 92-96 mph, topping at 99. The Guardians drafted him in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Clemmey ranked as the Guardians’ eighth-best prospect.
Clemmey also has established a powerful curveball and a slider that hits between 83-86 mph. Control is his most glaring area of improvement. Yet, he recorded 97 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings in Low-A affiliate Lynchburg. He’ll join a list of promising hurlers as the Nationals search for the core of their next starting rotation.
Rafael Ramirez Jr. has baseball pedigree
Rafael Ramirez is a second-generation MLB player. His father was an All-Star shortstop. The younger Ramirez is also a shortstop. He signed with the Guardians at 16 years old. He made waves in the Dominican Summer League before making his U.S. debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2023.
A contact hitter with the potential of having average raw power, Ramirez has a quick swing. He’ll need a good deal of development at the plate to push for the majors. He hit .187/.301/.309 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 54 games for Low-A Lynchburg.
Jose Tena looks like a pro-ready infielder
Lastly, the Nationals acquired 23-year-old infield, Jose Tena. A 2017 international signing by Cleveland out of the Dominican Republic, Tena stands 5-foot-10. He is an aggressive hitter. He hit .298/.353/.493 with 17 home runs and 90 RBI in 405 plate appearances this season with Triple-A Columbus.
Tena bats left-handed and has the potential to be a hit-for-average major leaguer. However, his aggressiveness leads to one of his flaws, a 25.1% strikeout rate. Still, he has the framework to be an everyday starter. He must curb his aggressiveness to maximize his effect at the plate.
Tena will be under team control through the 2029 season, with arbitrary eligibility starting in 2027.
Lane Thomas played 424 games in a Nationals uniform. He hit .257 with 60 home runs and 60 stolen bases. His three-year span yielded dividends that could spawn three pieces to Mike Rizzo’s long-term strategy.
