Fleeting fame in D.C.

Brad Wilkerson in 2005 with the Washington Nationals

Brad Wilkerson’s status as one of the faces of the Washington Nationals lasts all of one season with the then-new franchise as the former U.S. Olympian is traded 19 years ago today to the Texas Rangers for pending free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano.

Jim Bowden, the Nationals' free-wheeling general manager, also sends outfielder Terrmel Sledge and pitching prospect Armando Galarraga to the Rangers.

Alfonso Soriano

The deal is finalized the next day after Wilkerson takes a physical with the Rangers.

Soriano stays only one season in Washington, hitting 46 home runs and stealing 41 bases for the Nationals in 2006 before signing an eight-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Wilkerson spends two seasons in Texas and splits another between Seattle and Toronto before injuries derail his career.

Sledge eventually becomes a productive player in Japan and later returns to the majors as the Chicago Cubs’ assistant batting coach, while Galarraga authors a wildly controversial, near-perfect game for the Detroit Tigers in 2010.