Baseball’s hot stove season kicks off next week with the start of free agency. And the Nationals have earned some buzz thanks to their hot finish, relatively young roster and promising prospects like Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon. Washington general manager Mike Rizzo has identified a center fielder/leadoff batter as one need — that may be hard to find in one package — and another starting pitcher as another. Can those be addressed on the open market? Center field/leadoff batter »
Jose Reyes is really the only non-slugger with elite on-base (.384) skills headed to free agency. But he’s also a shortstop, will command a nice chunk of change after a monster season and is prone to injuries. Are the Nats ready to turn Ian Desmond into a super-utility player?
Center fielder Coco Crisp fits the bill defensively — though he’s slowing down some at age 32. But he had a .314 on-base percentage this season and helps little at the plate.
Grady Sizemore, 29, is a wreck physically. A serious elbow injury and a sports hernia torpedoed his 2009 season. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2010 and a pair of right-knee injuries and another sports hernia in 2011. It seems unlikely Sizemore can remain in center. But his bat remains intriguing. If healthy, a .375 on-base percentage and 20 homers are still possible.
Pitchers » Japanese import Yu Darvish, 25, is expected to be posted by his club team. The history of Japanese pitchers isn’t great, and the cost in posting fees and the overall contract may not be worth it. But Darvish has the stuff, at least, to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
C.J. Wilson seemed to wilt late in the postseason. And giving serious dollars to a 30-year-old pitcher might be foolish. But there’s no question he profiles well next to Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.
For a veteran option, how about Mark Buehrle? He’ll cost less as a 32-year-old and — considering his limited fastball — switching to the National League can’t hurt. Buehrle is also a mortal lock for 200 innings and doesn’t walk anyone.
– Brian McNally
