So much for being the face of the franchise

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 outfielder and former U.S. Olympian is traded 18 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 pitcher Armando Galarraga to the Rangers.

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 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 in the majors.

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.