Nationals offseason preview: Talented core remains after subpar season
(We will preview one team's offseason each day leading up to the start of free agency. Leading off: the Washington Nationals.)
The consensus World Series favorites during spring training were the consensus duds long before they were eliminated from NL East contention. The Nationals, in fact, rank among the most disappointing teams this century.
The roster remains talented with the likes of Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer, so it's easy to imagine the Nationals again entering next season as a championship contender. Three things Washington must address this offseason:
1. Find a new manager. Matt Williams officially was relieved of his duties Monday in what merely was a formality. To be fair, all of the blame can't be assigned to a guy who was the 2014 NL Manager of Year in his first season the dugout -- there were a ton of injuries, too many underachieving performances and a bad bullpen -- but the Harper-Jonathan Papelbon dugout bout likely was the final straw. Questionable strategical decisions and allegations that Williams lost the clubhouse were in play long before the excitable closer choked the probable NL MVP.
Expect the Nationals to pursue an experienced manager -- the kind of guy who can better handle the various egos in the clubhouse. Washington has a mixture of veterans and young players (even Harper won't turn 23 until later this month) and needs someone who can more effectively manage that blend.
2. Rid themselves of Papelbon. When the Nationals acquired Papelbon from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 28, they were 52-46 with a one-game lead in the NL East (they proceeded to lose eight games in the standings by the end of the season). Papelbon initially said all the right things and pitched well, though his arrival coincided with the demise of former closer Drew Storen. From Aug. 7 until he suffered a season-ending broken right thumb on Sept. 9 when he slammed shut his locker out of frustration, Storen posted a 9.22 ERA (compared to a 1.64 ERA and 29 saves in 31 chances from April through July).
Papelbon, 34, allowed five earned runs in his final eight September appearances, and he suffered two losses and two blown saves during his two months with the team. But the damage was far greater off the field, so much so that it will be nearly impossible for Washington to trade him. The Nationals might have to eat the guaranteed $11 million they owe Papelbon next season -- and it might be the best $11 million they spend this offseason.
And then there is the challenge of trying to rebuild Storen's confidence after the front office again showed a lack of faith in the former 10th overall pick. Remember, Storen suffered a similar demotion when the Nationals signed Rafael Soriano prior to the 2013 season.
3. Evaluate their free agents. Among the players headed for the open market: shortstop Ian Desmond and right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, both of whom were drafted and developed into All-Stars by the organization. Also headed for free agency are center field/leadoff man Denard Span, who was limited to 61 games this season and is recovering from hip surgery, and right-hander Doug Fister, who won 16 games with a 2.41 ERA in 2014 but pitched in relief the final two months of this season.
Though there is a slight chance Desmond and/or Zimmermann could return if they are willing to leave some salary on the table, it is all but certain Span and Fister will be wearing different uniforms next season. So that means the Nationals have holes to fill in center field, at shortstop, in the rotation and in the bullpen. There are plenty of internal options: Trea Turner/Yunel Escobar/Danny Espinosa at shortstop; Michael Taylor in center field; and Tanner Roark/Joe Ross for the rotation. Going in-house would save a lot of money that could be spent to address the bullpen, outfield depth and perhaps the rotation (should Stephen Strasburg be used as trade bait).
