The Nationals fell 8-2 to the Brewers on Aug 2, 2025, but the real story was off the field. See how trades for prospects like Sean Paul Liñan shape their future.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For Washington Nationals fans, Saturday was a perfect encapsulation of the team's current state. While the big-league club stumbled to a season-low two hits in a dispiriting 8-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the real story was unfolding off the field. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the Nationals' path forward is clearer than ever: endure the present pains for the promise of a brighter, homegrown future.
I feel excited about what we did the last few days, getting some really exciting young players to bolster our farm system.
Interim General Manager Mike DeBartolo and the front office were aggressive sellers at the deadline, shipping out six players—five of whom are on expiring contracts—in exchange for a haul of 10 prospects. Key veterans like Amed Rosario (Yankees) and a stable of arms including Kyle Finnegan, Andrew Chafin, Luis García, and Michael Soroka were sent packing. In return, Washington injected significant talent into its minor league system, with six of the new arrivals immediately cracking the organization's top 30 prospect list. Among the key acquisitions is right-handed pitcher Sean Paul Liñan, acquired from the Dodgers, who now slots in as the Nats' No. 10 prospect.
The commitment to high-upside talent was also the theme of the 2025 MLB Draft. With the first overall pick, the Nationals selected 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits, a polished switch-hitter from Oklahoma. While some analysts, like those at Bleacher Report who dropped the Nats' system from No. 19 to No. 22, view the pick as a gamble, the organization is betting on Willits' elite potential. The draft class was further strengthened with collegiate power bats like Ethan Petry (26 HR), Wyatt Henseler (66 career HR), and Hunter Hines (70 career HR), plus high-velocity arms in Landon Harmon and Miguel Sime Jr. This infusion of talent is the cornerstone of the rebuild.
Back in D.C., the on-field product reflected the need for this long-term strategy. The Nationals fell to a season-worst 22 games below .500 with an 8-2 loss to the Brewers. Jake Irvin (8-6) was tagged for three runs in the first, and the offense was completely stifled by Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff, managing a paltry two hits all game. The lone bright spot came in the third inning when Robert Hassell III launched a two-run homer, providing the only runs and a small glimpse of hope from one of the team's developing young players.
While Saturday’s loss stings, it’s a symptom of a necessary process. The front office has drawn a clear line in the sand, prioritizing a future built on high-ceiling prospects over short-term wins. The real measure of success for the 2025 Nationals won't be found in the box score, but in the development of players like Eli Willits, Sean Paul Liñan, and the nine other prospects acquired at the deadline. As rookie Brad Lord takes the mound for the series finale, fans get another glimpse of that future, hoping for a sign that the pain of the present will be worth it.
