The Washington Nationals might not be as far away from contention as it seems, even as they are coming off back-to-back 71-win seasons and four last-place finishes since they won the World Series in 2019.

Despite the struggles the five years since that championship triumph, the Nationals boast one of the best farm systems in baseball and have several players ready to become full-time big leaguers and start making a serious impact.

With that the case, some believe it’s time for Washington to take a big swing in free agency and spend some money in order to bring in veteran leadership for a young ball club.

Few fit the bill more than Houston Astros superstar third baseman Alex Bregman.

The two-time All-Star, represented by the game’s top agent, Scott Boras, is expected to receive a lucrative long-term deal. But as a player who was a key cog in an absolutely dominant run of success in Houston, he would also bring a championship mentality to the Nationals.

There may be positional fit concerns at third base due to prospects already in the organization. But, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com writes that Bregman’s willingness to switch positions could lead him to become a fit in Washington.

The Nats’ production at the position right now is a big reason to make a play for Bregman. But it’s the future that Washington must consider, too, according to Feinsand.

“Washington’s .589 OPS at third base ranked 29th in the Majors last season, ahead of only the White Sox (.533). Four different players started at least 30 games at the hot corner for the Nationals last season, though none were able to produce at the plate. Brady House, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Nats’ No. 3 prospect, plays third base, but Bregman’s willingness to change positions could keep him in play for Washington.”

Whether House is Major League-ready remains a question. But Bregman could hold it down until House is ready. that point and then migrate to a different position. Notably, the Astros had him work at first base last season due to an injury, and the Nationals need power at that corner, too.

The Nationals have the pieces to become a force in the National League, but they were also one of the youngest teams in baseball in 2024 and this team will take some time to come into their own.

That’s where a player like Bregman comes in. He’s a steady veteran who has produced at a high level on the biggest stages the sport has to offer for nearly a decade.

He wouldn’t come cheap, but Bregman is absolutely a player Washington should at.

Tonight, the Washington State Cougars defeated the Northern Colorado Bears, 83-69, much in part due to an outstanding performance from Cougar star wing Cedric Coward, who put up 30 points on 12-for-18 from the field. Other notable outings included LeJuan Watts, who continued his hot start to the year on the glass with eight rebounds on top of 11 points. Dane Erikstrup had 14 points while Isaiah Watts added another 12 and grabbed six boards.

The game was a tight one in the first half, as Northern Colorado kept it close, only trailing by six at the half by a score of 43-37. Due to this effort, the Bears actually took the lead with 12:13 left in the second half before Washington State took control and led the rest of the game. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, and combined for 15-of-52 overall.

The shooting as a whole was fairly inconsistent for UNCO, while on non-threes, the Cougars shot a blistering 25-of-35. They made their presence known in the paint, scoring 44 points and out-rebounding the Bears 38-33. This marks the fifth time in as many games that Washington State led in the rebounding margin, as it has become a strength of their team, though Northern Colorado did have an advantage in offensive rebounding.

For the Bears, Langston Reynolds led the team in points with 17 on 7-for-11 from the field, plus four boards and three assists. The Cougars did hold the Bears’ leading scorer Isaiah Hawthorne to just 3-for-13 from the field for 10 points, though he did get to 10 boards. The defensive effort for Washington State was better in the second half as UNCO finished just 8-of-30 from beyond the arc for the game.

Washington State’s next game will be against head coach David Riley’s former team, Eastern Washington, on Thursday.

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The Washington Wizards are getting healthier as veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon made his return after recovering from thumb surgery.

This only leaves Saddiq Bey as the lone person on the injury report, as he works towards improving from his torn ACL.

Bey, 25, tore his ACL in March, leaving his timetable for a return up in the air. But Brogdon shared with reporters that Bey is healing very quickly.

“We definitely built a bond, a strong rapport,” Brogdon said. “He’s working man. He’s actually progressing fast, so we’re gonna have to slow him down because he’s doing really well.”

If an ACL tear takes 9-12 months to heal, that would likely mean the middle of December is the earliest possible return for him.

With four years of NBA experience under his belt, Bey could also be another veteran that the Wizards rely on.

“He’s competitive, he’s smart. I think he can be reserved, he can be quiet to a lot of people but me and him are very open. We talk a lot. He really knows the game and loves to hoop, so he’s going to help this team a lot when he comes back,” Brogdon said.

The Wizards could use Bey either as a valuable veteran on the court to help the younger players or as a trade piece. Bey signed a three-year contract with the Wizards back in the offseason, but if he generates some trade interest before the Feb. 6 deadline, Washington may look to see what offers he could fetch to help the future.

Either way, the Wizards will get some value out of Bey to help the team in the long run.

Bey and the Wizards are back in action on Friday when they host the defending champion Boston Celtics in the NBA Cup.

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