The Washington Nationals are heading into the offseason after a promising campaign in 2024, in which they saw a lot of development even as they only won 71 games for the second straight season.

This winter figures to be an interesting one for the Nationals. They have the ability to spend and have a young core of talent, which could make Washington a desirable destination for free agents once again. 

Washington’s win total figures to take a nice jump in 2025 if it can add some veterans, along with the improvement of its young core. The everyday lineup for the Nationals gets most of the attention with top young prospects in Dylan Crews and James Wood. However, they have some young talent in their starting rotation as well. 

Since the pitching rotation is fairly young, there was inconsistency throughout last year. One pitcher who has shown some signs of elite potential has been MacKenzie Gore. 

The talented southpaw came over as part of the Juan Soto trade and has pitched well so far for the Nationals. Recently, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports wrote about Gore’s potential to be a Cy Young candidate in the future. 

From his perspective, the way that Gore finished the season allowed him to put up some of the best numbers of any pitcher on the roster.

“..he posted a 1.55 ERA and 0.910 WHIP over his final seven starts. When it was all said and done, he had the best ERA by any Nationals pitcher who made at least 20 starts, and the most strikeouts since 2019. If Gore can put his eclectic stuff together for a full season, he has the potential to be the Nats’ best pitcher since Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.”

In September, the 25-year-old totaled a 2-1 record and 1.26 ERA in five starts. A month isn’t a small sample size, and Gore clearly has some elite potential. Considering he is still a young pitcher, becoming more consistent is a priority. 

While the summer months were tough for the southpaw, he shined to start and end the season. As the franchise heads into 2025, he should build upon how he ended last year. 

Competing for a Cy Young might still be a few years away, but he has shown glimpses that he can be an elite pitcher. 

D.C. police have released video of suspects in a string of smash-and-grabs in Northeast D.C. Police say a group of thieves allegedly stole $50,000 worth of merchandise from high-end clothing store A Ma Maniére on H street in September.

The stunning action caught on camera inside the store led to this reaction from Doris Windham, who plans to open up her own business on the same street in Northeast D.C. next month.

“To hear that those types of things are happening in this area, it’s a little alarming,” she said.

Security cameras inside the store captured the moments the first couple of suspects are seen crawling through a door that police say they smashed with a tool before smashing the interior door with a brick.

Fast forward in the video and multiple suspects can be seen running to the door with arms filled with clothes.

D.C. police say another burglary happened last month just up the street at a vape shop.

Investigators released a video captured outside the H & Vape store on H Street.

Police say back in october, three suspects broke into the rear door of the business with two crowbars.

Once inside, the group is seen on video walking behind the counter before leaving with their hands filled with vape products.

“So to come and do that somewhere where we’re trying to build up, it’s just not cool,” Windham said.

Investigators say anyone with information about either burglary is asked to contact police.