The Nationals have rebuilt from within. That won’t be enough.

Cade Cavalli and other prospects are coming for the Nationals, who have finished last in the NL East four years in a row. There is a symbolism to Josiah Gray taking the ball as the Washington Nationals open their season Thursday in Cincinnati. The past is the past. The World Series championship no longer informs this team; it was five long years ago, and its heroes will have scant impact on this roster.

Past is not necessarily prologue, of course. But it’s not crazy to look at that blueprint and apply it to these Nats — for whom Gray and MacKenzie Gore front the rotation, Keibert Ruiz , and CJ Abrams may be ready to further break out as the shortstop. Plus, they have minor leaguers expected to pound on the door this summer, if not sooner.

The focus for these Nationals — coming off four straight last-place finishes in the National League East — has been the players on the way more than the players on the team. That cycle must end now. Internally, the Nationals believed the offseason that just ended was too soon to spend, because even if they think this developing core will be the foundation of a contender, that’s not going to happen this summer.

It’s tempting to look at what the Nats — potentially — have on the way and try to construct a lineup completely from within. If Ruiz is the catcher for years to come — and he has to make progress offensively and defensively for that to be the case — and Abrams has already arrived as the shortstop, couldn’t you just plug 2021 first-round draft pick Brady House in at third, swing 2023 second-round pick Yohandy Morales over to first, letbeat out Luis García Jr.

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