Now free agency begins

[Mattionals]

Let's talk relief pitching.

Guaranteed contracts: Doolittle, Madson, and Kelley.
No options left: Romero, Solis, Cole.
Option years left: Grace, Gott, Glover, Adams, Suero, Voth

My guess is that Solis and Romero make the team again, and Cole is on the outside looking in. If Kelley isn't healthy, he might be jettisoned as well. If Glover is healthy, one assumes he makes the team. The last spot is probably a competition between the rest of the guys on the list.

I still see maybe one more reliever being picked up and either a trade of Kelley or he sits because of a medical issue and the Nats aren't on the hook for the final year of his deal.

[Expos]

Who is this Wander Suero feller and why should I give a rats ass?

He is our future closer son

[bluestreak]

Trade for Betances?

[aBaltoNat]

He is our future closer son

Thank you, Father.

[dcpatti]

He is our future closer son

I’m holding out hope that Mariano Rivera III is gonna figure his stuff out this year. If so...

[Ray D]

Wander Suero feller

If that's his real name he comes from good stock.

[GburgNatsFan]

Cole pitched pretty well the last few starts he made, no? Wouldn't be surprised if he started the season as starter #5.  Unlikely Ross is ready in April (or May, or maybe June...)

Let's talk relief pitching.

Guaranteed contracts: Doolittle, Madson, and Kelley.
No options left: Romero, Solis, Cole.
Option years left: Grace, Gott, Glover, Adams, Suero, Voth

My guess is that Solis and Romero make the team again, and Cole is on the outside looking in. If Kelley isn't healthy, he might be jettisoned as well. If Glover is healthy, one assumes he makes the team. The last spot is probably a competition between the rest of the guys on the list.

I still see maybe one more reliever being picked up and either a trade of Kelley or he sits because of a medical issue and the Nats aren't on the hook for the final year of his deal.

[aspenbubba]

Cole pitched pretty well the last few starts he made, no? Wouldn't be surprised if he started the season as starter #5.

Yes, but he can't get by the 5th inning . Make him the long man in the pen.

[GburgNatsFan]

Sixth, but your point stands. (I think he got through five on most of his starts. Maybe he sucked in later innings, I don't know.)

Yes, but he can't get by the 5th inning . Make him the long man in the pen.

[Irrefutable]

reportedly they are considering a one year contract to Jason Werth

 

[imref]

reportedly they are considering a one year contract to Jason Werth

 

speculation by Heyman, nothing more.

[sph274]

I have always heard heyman is a mouthpiece for boras. Prob just trying to create a market for him since none exists

[Smithian]

Voted "something else" on poll. Goodwin and Difo are pretty darn good backups on the bench. Nats had the highest OPS in NL and are stocked with big bats so not sure where they even fit another bat, barring a major trade. If you can't win with Strasburg and Scherzer at top, a third ace won't change things. I do agree we can always use more bullpen arms.

But I think we need at minimum two end of the rotation arms. It always feels at some point of the season like we hit points where we desperately cycle through AAAA and unprepared minor leaguers to fill the fifth slot. They need to go sign a fifth starter who may just be a John Lannan. Solid, can't be relied to win games, but will eat innings.

More bullpen arms and back of the rotation pieces. That's what I want. And maybe consider a move to bring in a more proven fourth OF than Goodwin in case Eaton doesn't bounce back of if Taylor regresses.

[UMDNats]

I have always heard heyman is a mouthpiece for boras. Prob just trying to create a market for him since none exists

love heyman but when it comes to boras he's basically a PR guy for him

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Basically, for 2018, I'd like to see one or two transition pieces landed to multi-year contracts.  This could be an extension of Harper and / or Murphy, or it would be a corner outfielder that forces Taylor to the bench (at least until injury).  I don't want to count on Robles, Soto, and Eaton in 2019. I don't see a way to bring in a major signing on a multi-year deal to sit on the bench, so I don't think there's an option to bring in an infielder.  In addition to some sort of transitional outfielder, I'd like to see a transitional rotation guy - a #2 or #3 starter to step in for Gio after this year.

I don't think there's a need for 2018, but I would not mind another arm in the bullpen, whether it is Davis with the hope that Doolittle and Madson are your 2018 high leverage guys or, if not Davis, then some set up depth.

[Elvir Ovcina]

Basically, for 2018, I'd like to see one or two transition pieces landed to multi-year contracts.  This could be an extension of Harper and / or Murphy, or it would be a corner outfielder that forces Taylor to the bench (at least until injury). I don't want to count on Robles, Soto, and Eaton in 2019. I don't see a way to bring in a major signing on a multi-year deal to sit on the bench, so I don't think there's an option to bring in an infielder.  In addition to some sort of transitional outfielder, I'd like to see a transitional rotation guy - a #2 or #3 starter to step in for Gio after this year.

I don't think there's a need for 2018, but I would not mind another arm in the bullpen, whether it is Davis with the hope that Doolittle and Madson are your 2018 high leverage guys or, if not Davis, then some set up depth.

I don't want to see Eaton, who was a mediocre CF before tearing his ACL, playing CF for more than about 3 innings at a stretch except as part of an occasional all-lefties strategy against some RH starter who can't get out lefties.  He shouldn't be a regular centerfielder.

[monkeyhit]

Basically, for 2018, I'd like to see one or two transition pieces landed to multi-year contracts.  This could be an extension of Harper and / or Murphy, or it would be a corner outfielder that forces Taylor to the bench (at least until injury).  I don't want to count on Robles, Soto, and Eaton in 2019. I don't see a way to bring in a major signing on a multi-year deal to sit on the bench, so I don't think there's an option to bring in an infielder.  In addition to some sort of transitional outfielder, I'd like to see a transitional rotation guy - a #2 or #3 starter to step in for Gio after this year.

I don't think there's a need for 2018, but I would not mind another arm in the bullpen, whether it is Davis with the hope that Doolittle and Madson are your 2018 high leverage guys or, if not Davis, then some set up depth.

I'm not sure why you aren't counting on Eaton as our left fielder. Sure, we could use a big bat to come off the bench or platoon with Eaton against lefties. But Eaton should be a central figure in the lineup.  Taylor has earned a spot in center, at least uuntil Robles or someone come on stronger. Likely last year of Harper too, so Eaton or taylor could end up in right in 2019 or earlier if we trade the $400,000 pickle.

[Slateman]

5 pm tonight baby

[varoadking]

5 pm tonight baby

What is 5:00pm tonight?

[Slateman]

What is 5:00pm tonight?

When free agents can start signing with other teams?

[varoadking]

When free agents can start signing with other teams?

I think that starts tomorrow...

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2017-18-mlb-offseason-free-agency-winter-meetings-other-important-dates/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I don't want to see Eaton, who was a mediocre CF before tearing his ACL, playing CF for more than about 3 innings at a stretch except as part of an occasional all-lefties strategy against some RH starter who can't get out lefties.  He shouldn't be a regular centerfielder.

I can see your point.  Stuck is stuck, and we'll just have to worry about replacing two big bats instead of one after 2018.  I'm not optimistic about signing Harper, and I'm not sure a Murphy extension makes sense given his age and defense. 

I'm not sure why you aren't counting on Eaton as our left fielder. Sure, we could use a big bat to come off the bench or platoon with Eaton against lefties. But Eaton should be a central figure in the lineup. 

like Elvir read it, I was thinking Eaton in center and Taylor on the bench for the start of the year.

Taylor has earned a spot in center, at least until Robles or someone come on stronger. Likely last year of Harper too, so Eaton or Taylor could end up in right in 2019 or earlier if we trade the $400,000 pickle.

Oh, he's earned "incumbent" status at the start of the year and the right to have the job until he plays himself out of it.  But, I always liked the line "deserve's got nothing to do with it" from Unforgiven and The Wire.  Of all the OFs, I think he would be the easiest to use as a frequently-used 4th OF penciled in for 400 PAs for a year.  Lots of time as a defensive replacement after pinch hitting, all of the PAs against lefties in CF, and the replacement when a regular gets hurt.  I just like starting to think about transition when 3 key pieces of the team are on their last year of the contract and I don't feel good about the odds of any of them being here after 2018. I don't feel comfortable about counting on Robles or Soto when the other two OFs are Eaton and Taylor.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Taylor does his best work when he can play on an everyday basis with some comfort it's his job.  I think he 100% has shown enough to be given the CF job next year and given to at least June to show he should keep it. 

[aBaltoNat]

I think that starts tomorrow...

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2017-18-mlb-offseason-free-agency-winter-meetings-other-important-dates/

Slate can't math.

[aspenbubba]

  I just like starting to think about transition when 3 key pieces of the team are on their last year of the contract and I don't feel good about the odds of any of them being here after 2018. I don't feel comfortable about counting on Robles or Soto when the other two OFs are Eaton and Taylor.

3 pieces? Harp and Murph unless you are including Gio. Werth is already gone. And on your previous post I want a # 3 not only to replace Gio but to replace him in the play-offs.