The former Expos are still popular

Recently, some of the guys who work for MLB Network had some fun putting together their list of favorite players to have worn the Nationals/Expos franchise colors.

Dan Kolko, who covers the Nationals on a daily basis, also took part in the game, and you'll see that he wasn't overly influenced by the Expos era.

This morning, I'm also taking part in the game, and you'll see that my allegiance is clearly with the original team.

Let me remind you that we're talking about choosing the players you prefer, not those with the best statistics.

First of all, the unanimous choice behind the plate goes to Gary Carter. Without question, he was the face of the franchise for several seasons before being traded to the New York Mets in 1985. The Kid had a long and prolific career that saw him inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Everyone remembers his brief return to Montreal in 1992 to end his illustrious career in front of his home fans.

At first base, some very good players have occupied this position over the years. Andrès Galarraga, Al Oliver, and Ryan Zimmerman have to be part of the conversation. My choice is the Big Cat. Galarraga was a player loved by Expos fans, and his stickhandling made the difference time and again. What characterized the Venezuelan's career was his agility on defense, his ability to make spectacular plays for a guy his size (hence his nickname).

At second base, I favor José Vidro. The Puerto Rican played for both the Expos and the Nationals and maintained a career batting average of .298. Reliable defensively, he was a force forwards, and his manager Félipé Alou was not shy about trusting him in all kinds of situations. Vidro was part of the 1994 Expos and that means a lot to me.

.@masnKolko chimes in with his all-time Nationals/Expos squad! https://t.co/LJPLBVBric pic.twitter.com/Qph9rELQPN

– MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 9, 2026

At the hot corner, without hesitation I name Tim Wallach. The enigmatic, gifted but nonchalant athlete left no one indifferent. The tall blond always seemed annoyed by something, but that didn't stop him from doing his job in the best possible way – hitting the ball with confidence and power. Defensively, he was above average, often making spectacular plays look routine because everything came so easily to him.

At shortstop, my choice is Orlando Cabrera. The Colombian spent the first seven years of his career in Montreal at a time when the team was searching for itself and experiencing all kinds of difficulties. Along with Vladimir Guerrero, Cabrera represented stability in both defense and forward line. At the time, he was perhaps the most underrated player in his position, but that didn't stop him from rendering invaluable services to the Expos. Honorable mention to Trea Turner.

The three outfield positions must go to André Dawson, Tim Raines, and Vladimir Guerrero. These three players are the team's Field of Dreams, and no one else, with the possible exception of Larry Walker, can disturb them. These exceptional athletes are all Hall of Famers, and rightly so. All three left their mark on their era and are still dreaming today. Even if he had a few troubles off the field, Raines was dominant. Fortunately, he was able to count on the support of his big brother André Dawson when the going got tough. For his part, the Hawk was a near-perfect outfielder. He had all the tools to succeed, and he used them well. Vlad Guerrero was possibly the most gifted player to ever play for the Expos. Nothing scared him, but he was a nightmare for opposing pitchers because he could hit an ankle-high shot over the fence. Today, his legend still resonates through the prowess of his son Vladimir Jr.

For his World Series in 2019, I'd like to highlight Juan Soto's contribution to the concession's success.

The position of preferred hitter goes to Bryce Harper. This former first-round draft pick (2010) enjoyed great success during his time with the Nationals.

On the mound, Pedro Martinez, Steve Rogers, Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, and Dennis Martinez are logical choices as starters, and I place Jeff Reardon at the very top of my list of the franchise's best relievers.

This content was created with the help of AI.