What should Washington Nationals do with Dylan Crews

There are no two ways about it — Dylan Crews has been a disappointment since the Nationals drafted him second overall in 2023. 

The former LSU standout has yet to rediscover his college form in the big leagues. Since he was first called up in 2024, he has put together a career slash line of .217/.285/.363, good for an OPS well south of .700. 

Crews has truly struggled at the plate, and the shot clock is starting to wind down on his time as a potential centerpiece of the Nationals' future. That brings up an important question — if Washington does decide that Crews isn't a fit for its long-term plans, should the team try to trade him? 

Let's take a look at the outlook on a trade, whether or not it benefits the Nats and whether or not it's even feasible. 

Pro: If the team is ready to move on, at least this path would net a return

When the Nationals spent their top pick, and the second overall pick, on Crews in 2023, the team obviously heavily invested in the young outfielder. At this point, it would likely be impossible for Washington to recoup value equal to that of a top pick by trading Crews, but at least they'd get something.

If the team is ready to move on, why not try to use a player who's still young — and was highly regarded just a couple years ago — to address a need for a team that's looking to improve? While Crews is unlikely to net any type of star or top prospect in a trade, he could potentially be worth a decent reliever to help round out a group that struggled mightily in 2026. 

But speaking of Crews' value and youth... 

Con: Crews is still young, with time to improve

The results have been grim so far for Crews, and he hasn't shown the type of improvement the franchise was hoping for over the last few seasons. But he'll only be 25 when next season starts, plenty young enough to turn a corner in the future. 

It may be wish casting, but it's hard to accept that the absolutely dominant player Crews was at LSU is just gone, and that none of that stardom will translate at some point, to some extent, at the MLB level. 

Con(?): Who actually wants Crews right now?

Mentioning this last is probably burying the lede, but the most important consideration in a potential Dylan Crews trade is who the potential suitors are, and what they would be willing to offer if the outfielder is actually on the market. 

As outlined above, Crews is still young and there may be some latent potential. But he has yet to show it at the big league level, and his struggles may limit the potential return in a trade, or the number of teams interested in getting a deal done.