5 Players You Forgot Played for the Nationals

Between 1995 and 1999, Castilla was one of the National League's elite power hitter infielders, as he hit .302 with 191 home runs and 562 RBIs for the Colorado Rockies, making three All-Star teams during that timespan. Following a two-year stint with the Braves, Castilla returned to Colorado in 2004, and had career revival. In his age-36 season, Castilla homered 35 times and drove in a league-leading 131 runs. Looking to make a splash in their first season in D.C., the Nationals inked Castilla to a two-year/$6.2 million deal ahead of the 2005 season. Castilla would hit .253 with 12 home runs, 66 RBIs and a 1.0 fWAR in 2005, before being traded to the San Diego Padres that offseason.

For as memorable as his tenures with the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers were, Pudge Rodriguez had quite a few brief stints with teams towards the end of his career that you probably forgot about. After stints with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros - along with a brief return to the Rangers - the Nationals signed the future Hall of Famer to a two-year/$6 million deal ahead of the 2010 season. Though he would deliver forgettable offensive production in parts of two seasons with the team, Rodriguez, perhaps the greatest defensive catcher ever, he was worth 13 defensive runs saved over what proved to be the last two seasons of his career.

Unless you were a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was nothing more pure than watching Matt Stairs come off the bench and mash one of his 265 career home runs. Over the course of 19 seasons in the majors, Stairs played for 12 different franchises, and 13 different teams when you consider that the Canadian slugger began his career with the Montreal Expos. Stairs spent his final season, 2011, with the Nationals. In his age-43 campaign, Stairs hit just .154 with two RBIs in 65 at-bats with the Nationals before being released and retiring in early August.

When things were right for Lidge in Houston and Philadelphia, he was one of the most dominant closers of his era. That said, even though he closed out the 2008 World Series for the Phillies, some still remember him most for the titanic blast he surrendered off the bat of Albert Pujols in Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS. Lidge, a year after not blowing a single save in the regular or postseason, blew 11 regular season saves in a disastrous 2009 campaign. The point being, whether it's for the trials or the tribulations, no one has forgotten about Lidge's stints with the Astros or Phillies. However, after four seasons in Philadelphia, Lidge latched on with the division-rival Nationals ahead of the 2012 season. Though the Nationals would make their first ever postseason appearance that season, Lidge wasn't around for it. After posting a 9.64 ERA in 11 games with the Nationals, Lidge was designated for assignment, ultimately ending his 11-season career. He's since transitioned into a very successful career in media.

Between 2006 and 2010, Uggla crushed 154 home runs for the Florida Marlins, and FanGraphs says that only Chase Utley (by a decent margin, but still) was a more valuable second baseman. Following a disappointing four-year stint with the Atlanta Braves - and an extremely brief stop with the San Francisco Giants - Uggla made the Nationals out of spring training after signing a minor league deal ahead of the 2015 season. In what proved to be the final season of the two-time All-Star's career, Uggla slashed just .183/.298/.300 in 120 at-bats for the Nationals.