Projected
free agent losses from their 2016 squad will be SP Jordan
Zimmerman, 2B Dan Uggla, SP Doug Fister, SS Ian Desmond,
CF Denard Span, RP Matt
Thornton, and OF Reed Johnson.
There’s a
good chance that the following players will be on the National’s 25-man squad
next season:
SP Max Scherzer
$22.143mil
SP Gio Gonzalez $12.1mil
SP Stephen
Strasburg (2015: ARB-2, $7.4mil)
-
SP Joe Ross -
$508,700
SP Tanner Roark -
$529,600
RP Sammy Sollis $508,700
RP AJ Cole -
$507,800
RP Drew Storen –
(2015: ARB-3, $5.7mil) –
RP Felipe Rivero $508,900
RP Blake Treinen $508,900
1B Ryan Zimmerman $14mil
2B Yunel Escobar $7mil -
SS Trea Turner -
$508,700
3B Anthony Rendon –
(2015 - $2.5mil) – 2016 – ARB1 -
LF Bryce Harper –
(2016: $5mil – ARB-2) -
UT-OF
Matt den Dekker - $508,700
RF Jayson Werth $21.57mil
C Wilson Ramos –
(2015: ARB-2, $3.55mil) –
Other top
prospects that are projected to be a factor at some point in the 2016 season
include SP Lucas Giolito, C Pedro Severino, SP Austin Voth,
and 1B/3B Matt Skole.
The Nats did
lose a considerable amount of talent in the off season; however, more than
enough remains.
I expect the
5-man rotation I listed above will not be enough to satisfy them, so look for a
new top free agent ‘name’ to be added here.
Den Dekker has filled in well while Denard Span was down, but my guess is we will see a
premier centerfielder join the Nationals also before the season starts.
And lastly,
what do you do with closer Jonathan Papelbon,
who has one year left on his contract? I look for him to be dealt off to
whoever will tolerate the head case.
Prediction:
The Nationals, whether the Mets sign Yoenis Cespedes or
not, remain the most talented team in the NL East.
I love what the Mets did in 2015, but Washington did nothing to win this division, especially late in the season when the Mets seem to be doing everything they could to hand it back to the Nats.
They won’t throw it away next year and will win the division in a tight race against the Mets.
I love what the Mets did in 2015, but Washington did nothing to win this division, especially late in the season when the Mets seem to be doing everything they could to hand it back to the Nats.
They won’t throw it away next year and will win the division in a tight race against the Mets.
Will the Nationals make a run at Cespedes?
ReplyDeleteThey already have a lot of $ committed. Must have lost a lot of $ this year.
ReplyDeleteHard to picture them spending huge bucks to fix both the rotation and CF.
I think the Mets' pitching (full season Matz, return of Wheeler) will make them not just better than the Nats, but the best team in baseball, if they sign Cespedes.
Giolito is considered to be another SYNDERGAARD and will by 2017 be a beast for them, as long as he stays healthy.
Reese/Tom -
ReplyDeleteI think every team potentially is considering a run on Cespedes.
As for Washington, what a perfect replacement for Span.
Tom, the secret in what your comment said about the Mets being better than the Nats is 'if they sign Cespedes'. My analysis on all teams are based on the current players under contract. IMO, on paper, Washington still comes out on top.
Oh, and they have never been afraid of spending money to imrove their position.
I believe the Mets can and will be favored to win division again next year because they have the best rotation in baseball and at least a top three closer in baseball.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Conforto and d'Arnaud avoid the DL they can do DAMAGE in the lineup on a nightly basis........
The games aren't played on paper. With our rotation, I'd still pick the Mets over the Nats.
ReplyDeleteThe Nats weren't the most talented team in the division this year. They may have started off that way and their lack of cohesion let the Mets take it. But, the Mets swept them TWICE when it counted and the team post July 25 would have been a 100+ game winner had they been together all season....not to mention how the Mets were playing before the injuries hit.
ReplyDeleteMets Part 2 > Nats > Mets Part 1
Bad week to post anti-Mets posts.
ReplyDeleteStill... 'on paper'... and I know where they are played... both teams starters cancel each out and Zimmerman. Rendon, Harper, Wearth, and Turner are...ON PAPER... A BETTER TEAM THAN THE mETS CURRENTLY HAVE SIGNED FOR 2016
Knife in the heart if they sign YC and we lose Murph so BIG decisions for the FO. The thought of Ces roaming CF in Washington gives me an ill feeling. Although the word chemistry is overused it certainly applied to the Nats so the question is can they correct it. Throwing $210 mil. to bolster the "best rotation in baseball" last year didn't work. So Sandy will have his work cut out for him this off season and the FO is now in a position where no excuse will work for the fan base.
ReplyDelete