Werth is 34
If it's not, it's not the end of the world. It's only the end of the world if Harper, Zimmerman, and Werth all get injured. But no matter who we trade for, they won't help overcome that.
Deez likes to be a douche and say things, but he offers no solutions, nor is able to. There was no one we could have signed or traded for that fixes the Nationals offensive problems. Atlanta won the division and only scored 32 more runs than us. That's it. What killed the Nats was Haren's 9 loss run and Soriano being awful. Taylor Jordan starts instead of Haren and/or Clippard takes over the closer role, we win the division and probably go deep in the playoffs.
Werth isnt the problem. he's figured it out in his older years....i think if he is able to stay healthy (admittedly, a concern...) he's going to be a 300 hitter and about 20 homers. We need him to be a Beltran or Ibanez that really keeps hitting for a few more years....I really think he will. I trust him more than anyone in our lineup.
I've offered tons of solutions. Look at what we've done......traded away a very intruguing player for a marginal lefty reliever, when we could have just bought one and kept Burns. The Fister deal was a steal and that was the right call.
Look, if it were up to me, we'd trade Stras for an elite bat and sign Tanaka and roll the dice with that. I continue to stand by my statement....come next August, due either to injury or massive decline, this board will be AFLAME with wialing and griding of teeth about how we should have gotten rid of this guy. I realize that won't happen so I'd trade Zmann.
If you consider that we will attempt to extend JZimm, Tanaka ends up being a deal....and frees us to trade for a big bat to help with our true issue...scoring runs. You can trot out any stat you like about how close we were to the Braves (and I do agree with you on haren, he single handedly lost 5-6 games for us, at least....so even a medicore pitcher in his stead is good for 3-4 more wins in 2014). I watched the games. I saw them pummel us like a bunch of also rans. We weren;t anywhere near them.
I also do not believe Harper will be what we envision and hope for. i'm starting to see him more as a 260-280 hitter with good power, 30-35 homers for 4-5 years. He's NOT going to be the upper end of what we had all hoped.....320 and 35-40 homers and true MVP candidate. Lets face it, that isnt going to happen.
Seattle got Wilson, we got RG3. Angels got trout, we got harp. Cavaliers got Irving, we got Wall. Pens got Sid, we got Ovie. We get Stras, Mets get Harvey. Seeing the pattern? its called DC sports. We get a year or two of hype about a supposed savior, and then realize they arent even top 10 caliber. I'm used to it.