The Phillies have signed Cliff Lee and Stephen Strasburg isn’t pitching until September at best so any thought of contending in the National League East is foolish. But that doesn’t mean the Nats shouldn’t try to improve on last year’s 69-win season.
That was 10 wins better than 2008 and 2009. Can they make a run at 79 or — heaven forbid — 82? Signing Jayson Werth away from Philadelphia was a start. But there’s another way for Washington to improve: Get a better bench.
The Nationals began that process by signing professional pinch-hitter Matt Stairs on Tuesday. Now, the old Canadian is a soon-to-be 43-year-old and inked only a minor league deal.
But whether or not he even makes the team during spring training, general manager Mike Rizzo has the right idea. Nats manager Jim Riggleman just didn’t have enough weapons on his bench in his first season-and-a-half on the job.
If Washington can keep Michael Morse and Roger Bernadina out of starting roles — both had their moments in 2010 — then its outfield rotation will be a pretty solid one behind Werth, Nyjer Morgan and Josh Willingham. Morse can even play some first base — provided Rizzo finds a full-time solution at that spot. Add another versatile option on the infield and you give Riggleman the versatility he needs to build on last year’s modest improvement.
