Do you base all rooting interests on the Nationals? Would you base your rooting interest in the playoffs on the teams with the most National ties? If so...
GONE TOO SOON
Braves
Former Nats pitcher Reynaldo Lopez was a great starter for the Braves but they would shift him to reliever at the end. Mistake? They aren't still playing are they? Also on the Braves, Eddie Rosario. Yuk. Glad ya lost
Brewers
Joe Ross was on the Brewers as the season ended. He did fine!
Astros
With Dusty gone the most Nationals person with the Astros is GM Dana Brown - who was the director of scouting until Rizzo took over the GM role. How'd he end up GM if his Expos/Nats scouting was... mediocre at best? Time and a stint with the Braves that was actually good. Player wise it's barren on the post-season roster but Old Friend (tm) Wander Suero is in the org and was on the mound when the AAA team Sugarland clinched the AAA title.
Orioles
Daniel Johnson, former Nats draft pick who ended up traded to Cleveland was there. That's it
STILL IN IT TO WIN IT
Yankees
You may have heard of a little player named Juan Tiberius* Soto. Only one but it's a big one.
Royals
The Royals picked up Hunter Harvey mid season to help with their playoff push. He got hurt very quickly. Other than that no Nats.
Tigers
No Nats
Guardians
Lane Thomas was traded to Cleveland and was disappointing... until he crushed a bomb to open up the ALDS.
Mets
Jesse Winker, another traded guy, is the obvious one but who could forget long time Nat Reed Garrett (9IP in 2022) finally finding his form for this Mets team?
Phillies
Trea Turner. Bryce Harper. Kyle Schwarber. I mean this is basically the Nats team that could have been.
Padres
What happened on August 8th, 2024? That's when Carl Edwards Jr threw his one inning of major league work this year.
Dodgers
Blake Treinen and his talent at pitching good and somehow seeming bad is playing his fourth season for the Dodgers. Daniel Hudson, at Dodger before he was a Nat, has been in LA since 2022 and actually pitched a full season this year! (he was ok). Ever the resourceful team they've made use of a Nats' castoff. Anthony Banda, who has made an incredible journey in his career**, including a stop in DC last year, found himself at home in the LA bullpen.
If seeing former Nats makes you happy, you are rooting for a Phillies Yankees World Series
If it makes you sad, you are rooting for Padres facing either the Tigers or Royals.
*May not be his actual middle name
** drafted by the Dbacks, refused, drafted by Milwuakee, traded to Arizona, made his debut with Arizona in 2017 then traded to Tampa (2018-2020), DFA'd and traded to SFG for cash (minors only 2021), traded to Mets (2021), DFA's then grabbed by Pittsburgh off waivers (2021-2022), DFA'd then traded to TOR for cash (2022), DFA'd, rejected assignment, signed with Mariners (minors only 2022), opted out, signed with Yankees (2022), DFA'd went to minors, elected FA, signed with Nationals (2023) in off season. DFA'd spent season in minors. Elected FA, signed with Cleveland (minors only 2024), traded to Dodgers