A win for the Nationals should mean a win for fans
In the midst of another relatively cheap offseason for the Washington Nationals, a development came this week in the ongoing MASN case that could change the teams future. According to Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun, the Nationals filed a petition to uphold a previous MLB committee ruling that stated the Orioles needed to give the Nats a $320 million cash infusion in rights fees.
This update reinforces the problems the Nationals have had with TV rights over the years. The Orioles have dominated the Nats TV revenue since the club has come to DC, taking resources away from the team. While that has not necessarily stopped the Nationals from signing big name players in the past, the Lerner family has been more frugal since 2020.
Even if the situation remains as it is, the Nationals need to spend more. As of right now, their payroll is projected to be below last season’s total. This is not acceptable in a year where the team is supposed to start climbing up the National League standings. However, if the Nationals get the $320 million dollars, it could be the opportunity to put the Nationals back on a Championship level path. Even if the settlement does not work out, spending must increase.
Washington, DC is a top 10 media market in the country. With a better TV revenue situation, it would be an outrage if the team spent like a small market. DC is a big market. It might not be New York, or Los Angeles, but it is a major market in its own right and has shown it can have a robust fan base in baseball pre-2020 and in other sports with strong ownership. Look no further than the success of the Commanders and Capitals for examples of how winning comes from the top down when smart management and spending to win come together.
For the Nationals to compete in the NL East again, they must spend. With financial powerhouses like the Mets and Phillies, as well as the well-oiled machine that is the Atlanta Braves, it is hard to compete in this division. In the NL East, you cannot moneyball your way to playoff appearances like you can in the AL Central. This is a division full of heavy hitters, and the Nationals should be one of them.