When Josh Bell re-signed with the Nationals this offseason, there was genuine excitement about his return—fans anticipated seeing his power back in the lineup and hoped his veteran presence would positively influence the team’s young core. Bell himself seemed eager for a fresh start in Washington. Yet, now several months into the season, it’s become clear that the Nationals may need to move on from him.

At this point, Bell is occupying a roster spot that could be better used by someone who can provide the power, run production, and speed the team currently lacks. It’s difficult to advocate for releasing a player, but Bell’s contributions at the plate and in the field have been minimal, and he’s blocking opportunities for prospects who have excelled at Triple-A or even shown promise in the majors.

The Nationals’ front office should prioritize evaluating their young talent at the major league level. During his recent appearance on 106.7 The Fan’s Junkies, Mike Rizzo was asked if the team was just a few players away from contending. He replied, “You can see the future pieces on this team. It doesn't take Branch Rickey to figure out who are the keepers and who are the guys needed to improve it."

Some might argue to keep Bell on the roster in hopes of trading him at the deadline, but with a .176 batting average, 34 hits, and 44 strikeouts over 56 games, it’s unlikely the Nationals would get much in return. The focus should shift to giving promising prospects a chance to prove themselves at the highest level.

Washington Nationals Shut Down by Mets in 5-0 Loss.

The Washington Nationals fell to the Mets on Wednesday night in a shutout as the club lost its fourth straight game. Jake Irvin and the offense each struggled to find a groove in the mid-week matchup, putting the Nats in a bad spot.

Irvin took the bump, needing a solid start to get in a consistent groove. It looked like he may have had it early, but in reality, he wasn’t quite ready to face the top of the New York order. He walked Brandon Nimmo, and while he struck Juan Soto out, he then immediately allowed a double to Pete Alonso to score Nimmo, putting the Nats in an early 1-0 hole. He had a much-needed 1-2-3 second inning, but allowed a double to Francisco Lindor in the third, setting up the chance for Soto to hit a home run and make it a 3-0 ballgame. Irvin seemed to calm down again before Nimmo took him deep to lead off the fifth, which was the last of the damage the Mets did to him. He got through the inning before being pulled, as Zach Brzykcy entered for the sixth. Irvin departed with four runs allowed on five hits, with three walks, and two strikeouts. His ERA is now 4.21.

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The 21st-rated prospect for the Washington Nationals is Marquis Grissom Jr. He has spent his entire life living in a world surrounded by family and baseball. “My first birthday was at Dodger Stadium when my dad played for the Dodgers. I remember being in the locker room with him when I was little. I even remember in 2009 when my dad was a coach for the Nationals being in the Washington locker room.” He is the son of four-time Gold Glove winner Marquis Grissom and has been eating and sleeping baseball his entire life.

Grissom’s dad was drafted originally as a pitcher by the Montreal Expos. “I started pitching in high school when no one else really wanted to pitch. They put me on the mound because I could throw strikes. My dad told me I could be a pitcher because when I throw, I hit the mitt. Throwing strikes is the main thing in baseball. You cannot defend a walk!”

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