2023 MLB Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

 #29

The Washington Nationals may have won the World Series just 4 short years ago, but only a select few players are even left from that championship run.  Is the rebuild just starting, or can the Nats compete in 2023?

2022 Predictions

#24 - 5th in NL East

MIH - Josh Bell

MIP - Josiah Gray

PTW - Cade Cavalli

2022 Results

#30 - 55-107 - 5th in NL East

Highest WAR (Position) - Juan Soto

Highest WAR (Pitching) - Erasmo Ramirez

In just 3 years, the Nationals went from the top of the mountain to the bottom, earning the worst record in baseball.  They aren't even getting rewarded with the top draft pick thanks to the new draft lottery.  They also watched their once-in-a-generation superstar, Juan Soto, be traded mid-season to San Diego.  To show how bad they were last year, their top two players in WAR, Soto and Josh Bell, didn't even play for the Nats the last two months of the season.  Their top pitcher in terms of WAR was a swingman reliever.  The season went wrong in pretty much every way possible.

Additions / Subtractions

When the season goes that badly the year before, there is only one place left to go, and that's up.  There were not a ton of moves this offseason for the Nationals.  The main thing we saw is several veterans leave in free agency, like Nelson Cruz, Luke Voit, Cesar Hernandez, Anibal Sanchez, and Steve Cishek.  Basically, all the placeholders for younger players were sent out.  Brought in were a couple veterans looking for playing time and a fresh start in first baseman Dominic Smith, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, and outfielder Corey Dickerson.

Most Important Hitter

Joey Meneses

The Nationals have fully committed to the youth movement, with loads of highly-touted talent all over the field (much of which has been acquired recently in their blockbuster trades of Soto, Bell, Scherzer, and Turner).  However, every team needs surprises, and one of the few bright spots for the 2021 Nationals was Joey Meneses.  This 30 year old rookie seized an opportunity when the club cleaned house around the trade deadline and finished the season hitting .324 with 13 home runs and a 165 OPS+ in just 56 games.  Now, was this a fluke or a true diamond in the rough?  If Meneses can produce like this again in 2023, it will take a lot of pressure off the phenoms like Keibert Ruiz, C.J. Abrams, and Luis Garcia.

Most Important Pitcher

MacKenzie Gore

The Nationals still have some stars in their rotation like Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg, who only pitched one game in 2022.  However, possibly the most important pitcher to the future of the Nationals is MacKenzie Gore.  Gore was one of the many gems brought back in the Juan Soto / Josh Bell deal.  This former top prospect had trouble getting opportunities in San Diego while also battling injuries.  Now, Gore finds himself with a fresh start and a team committed to giving guys like him every chance to thrive.  If he takes off this year, the Nats are a lot closer to making their way back to contending than originally thought.

Prospect to Watch

Cade Cavalli

The Nationals boast a strong farm system, with 4 prospects in the top 100 with Cade Cavalli the most big league ready at #58.  I try not to highlight the same prospect multiple years in a row, but the Nats have very few top prospects that have a chance to impact the big league club this season.  Cavalli is a 6'4" righty that made his big league debut in 2022, but an injury shut him down after just the one start.  He should make the Opening Day roster in the rotation and might be the next big ace for the Nats.

2023 Prediction

5th in NL East

Yes, the Nationals are in full rebuild mode.  They also play in possibly the toughest division in all of baseball.  The balanced schedule will help them out this season so they don't get beat up so much by the likes of the Mets, Braves, and Phillies.  It's still not going to be good though.  With that said, they have enough exciting talent that they will be a fun watch win or lose.

Fearless Prediction

The last of the remaining players from the 2019 World Series run will play their last games in a Nationals jersey in 2023.

This is a bit of a stretch, but not insane.  Strasburg and Corbin need to show they have the value to trade for them and their contracts.  The most unlikely to move is centerfielder Victor Robles, who is entering his age 26 season, however with only a few years left before free agency, a trade to make way for the next wave of kids isn't out of the question.  It could happen!

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

 #12

The Washington Nationals followed up their World Series championship run in 2019 with a disappointing season in 2020.  Will a return to 162 games lead to success again for the Nats?

2020 Predictions

#16 - 4th in NL East

MIH - Juan Soto

MIP - Patrick Corbin

PTW - Carter Kieboom

2020 Results

#20 - 26-34, 4th in NL East

In 2019, the Nationals got off to a slow start before finishing strong, making the playoffs, and winning the World Series.  In 2020, the Nationals got off to a slow start and just about when they had gotten hot the year before, the shortened season ended with the team in 4th place.  Teams often have a down year after a championship run, but I am really curious what would have happened if they had a full season.

Additions / Subtractions

The Nationals treated this offseason like a team that is not far away from returning to a deep postseason run.  They upgraded first base by trading for Josh Bell from the Pirates.  They rounded out an already strong rotation with veteran arm Jon Lester.  They filled a hole in the outfield by signing slugger Kyle Schwarber.  They strengthened the back end of their bullpen by signing lefty Brad Hand.  They also got Ryan Zimmerman back after he opted out in 2020.  Every move made seemed to be an upgrade over the player that occupied that spot last season, whether it be Adam Eaton, Anibal Sanchez, or Howie Kendrick.

Most Important Hitter

Josh Bell

The Nationals boast one of the best leadoff hitters in the league in Trea Turner and one of, if not the, best hitter in baseball in Juan Soto.  These two just seem to be getting better and better too.  It seemed that the goal of the offseason seemed to be protection in the lineup for these two.  With young players like Carter Kieboom, Luis Garcia, and Victor Robles filling out a third of the lineup every day as players still trying to find their stride at the plate in the big leagues, they needed some veteran bats.  Enter Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber.  Both are in similar places in their career.  Both have shown flashes of brilliance, and both have shown great struggles.  I went with Bell in this spot because he has hit higher heights, and the Nats invested more in Bell.  A switch-hitting slugging first baseman, Josh Bell made the All Star Team in 2019 during a season he hit 37 home runs and had a 142 OPS+.  In 2020, Bell was under a 100 OPS+ for the first time in his career while anchoring the worst lineup in the league.  Now he is expected to give that much needed protection to Turner and Soto while also hitting in a much deeper lineup.  If he bounces back to 2019 form, this could be a scary lineup.

Most Important Pitcher

Daniel Hudson

The Nationals still have one of the most talented starting rotations in the big leagues.  When you bring in Jon Lester to be your 4th starter behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin, you know you have a strong rotation.  The Achilles heel for the Nats in this latest run has always been the bullpen.  In the 2019 postseason, they pitched their starters more than any other team to avoid having to use the bullpen as much as possible.  Now they are a little more established in the back end with Will Harris and Brand Hand.  The question is can Daniel Hudson be a reliable closer.  If he can, this bullpen should be good.  If he can't, Hand will probably take over the role, shortening the depth of the bullpen they built.

Prospect to Watch

Tim Cate

The Nationals were just ranked the worst farm system in baseball by MLB.com, boasting only one Top 100 prospect, and that is their most recent first round pick (and he is only coming in at #99).  Most of their system is nowhere near the big leagues.  The player most likely to have an impact on the big league roster in 2021 is pitcher Tim Cate.  This lefty is the 9th ranked player in the Nationals' system, and although he doesn't boast the plus velocity like many stud pitching prospects these days, he has the makeup of a guy that can be a back-end rotation option or a swing reliever able to pitch multiple innings.  A skill set like that can be helpful down the stretch of a pennant chase.

2021 Prediction

3rd in NL East

The Nationals are going to be back in the conversation in 2021.  They should be competitive again through a long season that did not involve a deep playoff run the year before.  Their young bats should take a step forward.  Their new additions should add some depth and pop to their lineup.  I really like the look of what the Nationals are bringing this season.  The problem is their division.  As I have said with the previous two entries from the NL East, this is one of the deepest and most competitive divisions in MLB history.  I see a scenario where the Nats win the division.  I also see a scenario where they finish in last.  And I could say the same for every team in the division.  The amount of talent the Nationals have, this feels about right.  They will be in the race in the last week of the season, but ultimately come up just short.

Fearless Prediction

Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman will play their last games in a Nationals uniform in 2021.

2021 will probably see the end of an era in DC.  Max Scherzer is entering the last year of his 7 year contract he signed in 2015, and although it was a huge megadeal (that will still be paying Max for 7 more years thanks to deferred money) it might go down as one of the greatest contracts in baseball history.  He might move on after the 2021 season, but he will be remembered fondly in the nation's capital.  So will Ryan Zimmerman, who has been a part of the organization ever since they moved from Montreal.  His career is in its twilight, but he has been the face of the franchise for a very long time.  If this is his last year in Washington, it is because he will retire.  I doubt he will ever put on another uniform.

2019 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

#13

The Washington Nationals watched the face of their franchise leave through free agency over the offseason, however some think they might be better for it.  Will that be the case, or will the Nats take a step backward in 2019?

2018 Predictions

1st in NL East, lose in NLDS

2018 Results

82-80, 2nd in NL East

The Nationals have ruled this division for most of this decade, winning the division more times than not.  However, after two straight years of winning the division under Dusty Baker, they made a switch at manager hoping it would get them over the hump.  I predicted they would have a similar result as years past by winning the division but losing in the first round of the playoffs.  I didn't think any division competitors were going to be strong enough to challenge them.  I was wrong on several accounts.  First, the division was much more competitive than anyone thought.  Second, the Nats finished with their lowest win total since 2011.  For rookie manager Dave Martinez, 2018 was quite a disappointment.

Additions / Subtractions

What made 2018 a bigger disappointment was they couldn't make a good postseason run in Bryce Harper's last season in DC.  He moved on, signing his mega-deal in Philadelphia.  However, they didn't overreact and try to sign a different mega-deal to replace him.  They did sign the top free agent pitcher though in Patrick Corbin to join an already stout rotation.  He will take the place of departing Tanner Roark in the rotation.  The other moves were more minor but effective.  Out went catcher Matt Wieters, but in came Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki.  Veteran Brian Dozier was brought in to take second base.  Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough were brought in to stabilize the back end of the bullpen.  So even though they may have lost Harper, the offseason looks like a mild success considering what they did accomplish.

Most Important Hitter

Juan Soto

One of the reasons the Nationals were okay watching Bryce Harper walk away from the organziation was the breakout season of Juan Soto.  At only 19, Juan Soto had a breakout season, coming up second in the Rookie of the Year race losing to the Braves Ronald Acuna.  Establishing another potential superstar in Soto made keeping their current one in Harper not quite as necessary.  However, that is a lot of pressure for the now 20 year old.  The sophomore slump is a real thing, but he can't have one.  He will be asked to continue to progress in to a superstar while taking up the mantle of "face of the franchise" that Harper left behind.

Most Important Pitcher

Sean Doolittle

Talk about a trade that worked out well for both sides!  In 2017, Sean Doolittle was traded from the A's to the Nationals for Blake Treinen.  I think both teams are happy with the results.  Treinen has become one of the most dominant closers in the league, and Doolittle has continued his strong production when he is on the field.  That is the problem though.  Doolittle has a tendency to get injured.  When he is healthy, there are few better, especially from the left hand side.  However, the Nats need him on the field for a full season.  The additions to the bullpen will be helpful insurance, but Doolittle is the one they want out there with the game on the line every day.

Prospect to Watch

Victor Robles

Reason #2 why the Nationals were okay watching Bryce Harper leave: Victor Robles.  Robles is the 4th best prospect in all of baseball behind only Vlad Jr., Tatis Jr., and Eloy Jimenez.  This 21 year old centerfielder is ready to break out, having made his debut last season in 21 games, but he was going to be without a spot in their outfield if Bryce came back.  Now, he will be patrolling center on Opening Day and is the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year entering the season.

2019 Prediction

3rd in NL East

I think the Nationals will actually be better this year than they were last year.  The problem is their division is a lot better than it was last year.  Their record should be slightly better than the .500 record they boasted last season, but they will be falling further behind in the standings with those around them getting that much better.  With the high expectations in DC though, no playoffs will be a huge disappointment for the second straight year.

Fearless Prediction

Manager Dave Martinez will be managing the Cubs in 2020.

The Nationals have been infamously impatient with their managers.  No Nationals manager has made it to three seasons since their first manager in DC, the late great Frank Robinson.  Every other manager either gets fired after two seasons or partway through their third.  Dave Martinez is entering that dreaded second season as the Nationals manager.  Dusty Baker was fired after two season of winning the division.  Dave Martinez will have no chance if he goes two straight seasons missing the playoffs altogether.  Combine that with the likely scenario that Joe Maddon is probably in his last season with the Cubs, and it seems like an obvious move for Dave Martinez, Maddon's former bench coach, to go back and manage the Cubs next season.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

#2

The Washington Nationals have been on the brink of winning a pennant for years now.  Will 2017 finally be the year the franchise makes its first World Series?

My 2016 Predictions

2nd in NL East

Stephen Strasburg will be traded before the end of the season.

2016 Results

95-67, 1st in NL East, lost in NLDS

The Nationals had a better season than I anticipated.  Despite Bryce Harper having a sub-par season compared to his MVP 2015 season, the Nats were able to win the division behind their elite pitching.  The addition of Dusty Baker as manager seemed to have more of an impact than many expected.  With all that said, the Nationals still came up short, not even winning a series in the playoffs before being ousted once again.  As for my Fearless Prediction, I said the team had a choice to make: either sign Strasburg long term or trade him.  I simply chose the wrong option as Strasburg will be a Nat for the foreseeable future.

Additions / Subtractions

The Nationals were active this offseason.  They also made several of the more scrutinized moves of the offseason.  Leaving the team were catcher Wilson Ramos, rented closer Mark Melancon, ad shortstop Danny Espinosa.  The Nats were a leading candidate this offseason for ace Chris Sale.  When they lost the bid to the Red Sox, they immediately turned around and traded multiple top prospects for outfielder Adam Eaton.  Many have argued, although the advanced analytics say Eaton was worth the trade, the Nationals overpaid for him.  Late in free agency, they brought in catcher Matt Wieters to replace the departed Ramos.  The other questionable move involves a move they didn't make.  After losing Melancon to free agency, the Nats left themselves without an elite, or even a proven, closer.  They could have acquired guys like David Robertson from Chicago or Alex Colome from Tampa Bay.  Instead, they chose to fill this role from within, even though they had no one on their roster with big league closing experience.

Most Important Hitter

Adam Eaton

With the amount the Nationals gave up for Adam Eaton, he needs to show that he was worth it.  Eaton is a really good defensive player with a decent bat and a knack for getting on base and causing havoc once he is there.  With the sluggers the Nats have in the middle of their order, they felt their urgent need was a table setter to get on base in front of guys like Harper, Murphy, and Zimmerman.  Not only is Eaton being counted on to be that guy, he has to be that guy not only for the Nationals to succeed this season, but also to justify the big trade made for him.

Most Important Pitcher

Tanner Roark

To make a deep postseason run, a team usually needs three great starters to dominate a series.  After the Nationals lost the Chris Sale sweepstakes, they will be counting on Tanner Roark to be that #3 starter behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.  Recently, Roark has shown he can be that guy.  After being the odd man out a few years ago when the "Super Rotation" came to DC, Roark worked his way back into the rotation full time in 2016, winning 16 games with a 2.83 ERA in 210 innings.  He followed that up with a successful run in the WBC this spring.  If he pitches how he is capable of pitching, the Nationals may have their third ace without making a move.

Player to Watch

Koda Glover

At the end of the 2016 season, the Nationals had a farm system stocked full of talent poised to burst on the scene in 2017.  After the Adam Eaton trade, most of that talent is gone.  However, one player that is worth paying attention to is Koda Glover.  Glover, who played a little in the big leagues last season, is a live arm starting the season in the Nats' bullpen.  Under ideal circumstances, Glover becomes the reason why the Nationals didn't trade for a closer this offseason as he takes the job and runs with it.

2017 Prediction

1st in NL East, lose in World Series

I think this is the year the Nationals finally do it!  Their lineup rivals the Cubs in talent and depth.  Their top three starting pitchers can rival the Mets.  The moves they made this offseason, especially the Adam Eaton trade, not only show a commitment to winning now, but also will greatly help the team be better this season.  However, the X factor for the Nationals is their manager.  This team has found the perfect balance of analytic, sabermetric front office with an old school, clubhouse manager in Dusty Baker.  Baker in DC is a perfect fit, and last year's success proves my point.  This team is strong and has the experience across the board to make the deep run in the postseason the city, and the league, has been waiting for.

Fearless Prediction

Trea Turner will start the All Star Game at shortstop.

In 2016, Trea Turner showed that he is a star in the making.  He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, only losing to Corey Seager.  That was while only playing half a season (73 games) and playing out of position (centerfield instead of his original shortstop).  Yet he had a .342 average, 13 homers, 40 RBI's, and 33 steals.  Now he is the Opening Day shortstop and leadoff hitter.  By the end of the season, Trea Turner will be considered one of the best young shortstops in the game with names like Lindor, Correa, Diaz, Story, and Seager.

2016 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

The last few seasons, the Washington Nationals have been one of, if not the, most talented roster in baseball.  However, they really don't have anything to show for it.  Will 2016 finally be the year they break through?

Last Season

My 2015 Prediction: 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

2015 Result: 83-79, 2nd in NL East

If the games were played on paper, the Nationals would have won the World Series in 2015.  Best rotation in baseball, one of the best lineups in baseball.  It was a no-brainer.  I was a little leery of them, but my conservative prediction had them going out in the NLCS.  It was inconceivable that a team this talented doesn't even make the playoffs.  Well, they didn't even make the playoffs.  This was even with a breakout freak season from 2015 MVP Bryce Harper.  They seemed to make all the right moves, including some high-profile trades at the deadline.  Nothing seemed to work.  With as high as expectations were, 2015 was about as bad of a failure as you can get.

2016 Additions / Subtractions

Watching the Nationals over the offseason was interesting.  The past few seasons has been all about adding more and more talent to create an All Star Team.  This offseason seemed to be more about simplifying.  The one high-profile signing was bringing in postseason hero Daniel Murphy from the Mets, however he is, more or less, replacing guys that left life Ian Desmond and Yunel Escobar.  They also traded for Ben Revere, solving the drama in the bullpen by sending Drew Storen to Toronto.  With that said, this seemed to be an offseason of downsizing and making room for young talent.  They let Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister leave, as well as Desmond and Denard Span.  They have a great farm system.  It is about time they let it shine.  The biggest move they made this offseason was at manager.  They finally fired the overwhelmed Matt Williams (when will franchises learn that hiring a first-time manager to coach a high-profile team never works ... unless you are the Cardinals).  To replace Williams, they went in the exact opposite direction by hiring the definition of old school experience, Dusty Baker.

Most Important Hitter

Anthony Rendon

In 2014, Anthony Rendon had a borderline MVP season, which led to a playoff appearance for the Nationals.  In 2015, injuries held him to just 80 games as he never really was able to show much production.  With the emergence of Bryce Harper, they Nats need a a guy like Rendon to get back to where he was in 2014 to make this lineup as deep and strong as it was in its playoff years.

Most Important Pitcher

Gio Gonzalez

When Max Scherzer was brought in last season, the Nationals' pitching staff was billed as a staff of five (maybe even six) aces.  The forgotten member of that group seemed to be Gio Gonzalez, and there was good reason he was forgotten.  He had an extremely average season in 2015, and has been fairly average ever since he finished 3rd in Cy Young voting in 2012.  However, the Nationals have to count on him heavily as the only lefty in their top six or seven starting pitchers.  He isn't that old.  He needs to have  much more productive season to bring the depth back to that rotation.

Player to Watch

Trea Turner

To once again show just how foolish the Padres' spending was last season, let's evaluate a trade.  The Padres acquired Wil Myers, some low-level prospects, and a veteran catcher in a three team trade with the Rays and Nationals.  That Nationals gave up a couple prospects, including Steven Souza who started all season for the Rays.  The key to this is what the Padres gave the Nationals.  They sent pitcher Joe Ross (projected to be in the Nationals' starting rotation) and shortstop Trea Turner.  Turner was a first round pick that didn't even last 6 months with the team that drafted him.  Now, he is the shortstop of the future for one of the most talented teams in the league.  Trea Turner is the reason the Nats didn't fight to keep Ian Desmond.  Trea Turner should be a top contender for Rookie of the Year in 2016.  Another prospect to watch that will no doubt have an impact in 2016 is starting pitcher Lucas Giolito.  He is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but will have to wait for someone to struggle or get hurt before he gets his chance.  Turner has an opportunity to start on Opening Day.

2016 Prediction

2nd in NL East

I love every move the Nationals have made this offseason.  They are looking much stronger by simply letting their team grow instead of trying to buy a title.  They are also in a weak division that really should only be a two team race.  With that said, I think they will lose that two team race.  They are definitely moving in the right direction again, and Dusty Baker will have them back in the playoffs very soon.

Fearless Prediction

Stephen Strasburg will be traded before the end of the season.

This is quite a long shot, but hear me out.  Stephen Strasburg is the final year of his rookie contract, and you can imagine he is looking for someone to pay him (Yankees, are you listening?).  After the way he was treated with the whole "innings limit" thing, and the fact they already have one pitcher making $30 million per year in Max Scherzer, it can be assumed he will probably not be returning to the Nationals.  Strasburg should be worth more to the Nationals than the compensatory draft pick they will receive when he declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere.  If all this makes sense, the only logical course of action would be to trade him if they can bring in a haul of talent.  Someone just might be desperate enough to do it too, if they need a top-flight starter.  I could see this happen even if they are still in contention, if they get pieces that help them now as well as prospects.  It would also clear a spot for Lucas Giolito to hop in the rotation and pitch meaningful innings down the stretch.  I don't think this will actually happen, but it makes too much sense to not consider a possibility.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals finished 2014 with the best record in the National League, but failed to win even a playoff series.  Could this be the year the Nationals go all the way?

Last Season

96-66, 1st in NL East, lost to Giants in NLDS

For the second time in three seasons, the Washington Nationals finished the regular season with the best record in the NL.  Their lineup, top to bottom, seemed to be the best lineup in baseball.  Their pitching staff was strong and deep.  They looked poised to make a deep playoff run.  Then their postseason seemed to be over before it even started.  Simply making the playoffs is no longer good enough for them.  For a season to be a success, they need to win the World Series.  That is hard to do when they can't seem to win a playoff series.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

How do you improve what already looked like one of the best rosters in all of baseball?  You start by signing top free agent Max Scherzer to a ridiculous contract, strengthening what was already possibly the best rotation in baseball.  They then traded setup man Tyler Clippard to Oakland for Yunel Escobar, who is an upgrade at second base for them.  They lost first baseman Adam LaRoche in free agency, but moving veteran Ryan Zimmerman over to first, it solved an ongoing problem from 2014 of having too many players and not enough positions.  2014 breakout player Anthony Rendon will take over full time at third for Zimmerman this year.

Most Important Hitter

Bryce Harper

I don't know if there has ever been a player with more hype and notoriety without production than Bryce Harper.  Some people place him as one of the best players our game has, putting him on a level with guys like Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen.  If you look at his numbers though, Harper looks more like a bust than a breakout star.  The former number one draft pick has yet to play a full season or hit over .275.  As someone who was billed as a transcendent talent that is still being talked about as one of our game's superstars, that is just not good enough.  The paradox with Harper is although he has time to get better (only entering his age 22 season), he also does not have time.  The window for the Nationals is not very big as their current core starts to age.  Some are even questioning if their pitching staff makes it through the season in tact with Jordan Zimmerman set to be a free agent at the end of the season (one the Nats probably won't have the money to sign).  The team needs to win now, which means the team needs Bryce Harper to be great now.  That means he needs to play 150+ games, hit .300, hit 25+ home runs, etc.  He needs to perform like the player the hype says he already is.  His inadequacies have been masked by the deep lineup, but he may be the key to kicking this team over the top.

Most Important Pitcher

Drew Storen

If 2014 taught us anything, it was that pitching wins championships.  Not just pitching, but bullpens can win championships.  For the last few years, the Nationals have been notorious for having a weak bullpen.  That Achilles heel cost them in their 2012 playoff run for sure.  Instead of improving their bullpen this offseason, the Nats did nothing.  Instead, they actually weakened it by trading away Tyler Clippard.  This puts an incredible amount of pressure on closer Drew Storen.  After costing the Nats a playoff series in 2012, he was removed from his closer role until halfway through 2014.  Last year saw a return to some dominance, but now he needs to be great all year (including a potential playoff run) if the Nationals want to reach the heights they strive for.

Player to Watch

Michael Taylor

We may be hearing this name called on Opening Day if Denard Span cannot return in tim efrom his injury.  Michael Taylor is one of the Nationals' top prospects and is expected to play a role on the club this season.  With a talented and full outfield, there actually is a chance he will see significant time in 2015.  With as talented as Span, Harper, and Jayson Werth are, they are also fragile and prone to injury.  If/When any of them get injured, look for Michael Taylor to get his chance to show the league what he is all about.

Prediction

1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

The Nationals will most likely have the best record in the NL again this year, more due to the fact that their division will once again be the weakest in the league.  (Last year, the NL East was the only division in MLB to have only one team with a winning record.)  Their starting rotation is ridiculous, having six pitchers with the potential of being aces on any other pitching staff.  I see them getting one step further than they have in the past seasons, however they will regret not working harder to improve their bullpen.  That will come back to bite them and keep them from going all the way.