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Nationals Shift Focus to New Young Talent After Key Trade Deadline Move

The Washington Nationals just acquired some top prospects, thanks to moving a veteran pitcher at the trade deadline.
Maddy Dickens|
Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals hats and gloves in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park.
Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals hats and gloves in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals have struggled as they sit near the bottom of their division and the club opted to move forward at the trade deadline.

One of their key trades at the deadline was to move pitcher Michael Soroka to the Chicago Cubs for a pair of young players that could be key to the franchise's future — outfielder Christian Franklin and shortstop Ronny Cruz.

More News: Nationals Trade Longtime Closer Kyle Finnegan to Tigers in Deadline Deal

Franklin is a 25-year-old who was drafted back in 2021 and with his performance in Triple-A Iowa this season it is hard to believe he won't make his debut soon.

The left fielder was slashing .265/.393/.427 with eight homers, 41 RBI, 63 walks drawn, and 11 stolen bases in Iowa. The only critique to this point would be his 80 strikeouts on the year.

More News: Cubs 'Trying' to Trade for Nationals Ace, No Trade Imminent Yet

Christian Franklin is now a Washington Nationa
Iowa Cubs' Christian Franklin (53) hits the ball against Omaha on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Principal Park in Des Moines. | Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cruz is an 18-year-old standout who has been suiting up at shortstop in the lower levels of the Cubs' minor league system. He played 48 games at the rookie level this season and was slashing .270/.314/.431 with two home runs, 21 RBI, and 10 walks at the time of the deal.

There are obvious questions around him that will be answered as he moves up levels in the minors, but he is definitely a player with a lot of potential and someone that the organization could develop in the coming years.

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The Cubs needed help in their starting rotation with the season-ending injury to Justin Steele and an injury to Jameson Taillon that has kept him out for a month. While the Cubs were interested in Nats starter MacKenzie Gore, Soroka proved to be a consolation prize.

Soroka we 3-8 in 16 starts with the Nationals, posting a 4.87 ERA in over 81 innings. This hasn't been the season he was hoping for, but Chicago needs all the help it can get.

More News: Nationals Trade Michael Soroka To Cubs In Late-Night Move

Overall, The Athletic reported the trade fairly even for both parties. The insiders reportedly believe that this swap was a B+ for the Nats and a B- for the Cubs.

The Nationals sit 17.5 games back in their division, so the main focus is rebuilding and these two prospects (especially Franklin) could be suited up sooner than later.

For more Nationals news, head over to Nationals On SI.

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Maddy Dickens
MADDY DICKENS

Maddy Dickens resides in Loveland, Colorado. She grew up with two older brothers, where their lives revolved around sports. She earned a master's degree in business management from Tarleton State University while simultaneously playing basketball and competing in rodeo at the collegiate level. She successfully parlayed a reserve national championship into a professional rodeo career and now stays involved in upper-level athletics by writing for On SI on several different MLB teams' pages, along with some NCAA sites.