Washington Nationals MLB 2015 News, Rumors: A Strong Rotation and Lineup
The Washington Nationals finished the season with a 96-66 record. They won their division and made the playoffs eventually losing in the NLDS 3-1 to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. They have won their division twice in the last four seasons, and they spent their off season adding firepower and fixing those areas where they were the weakest.
Over the last few seasons the Nationals have traded away a ton of young pitching talent. After landing the big prize of Max Scherzer this off season and dealing for Doug Fister last off season, the Nats did not trade away any young arms this winter. They added to what they already had, and that kind of balance is the hardest thing to achieve in sports -- the needs of today versus the needs of tomorrow.
The Nationals feature one of the best starting rotations in baseball right now. They have also assembled one of the most complete lineups as well. The only real concern there is health. Already Jason Werth, Denard Span, and Anthony Rendon have hit the disabled list, but the Nats are finding ways to fill those holes and when this roster gets healthy it will be tough to beat.
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The have also put themselves into a position where they can trade Jordan Zimmerman (as it appears that will not be able to extend him) and possibly even the declining Fister to address their needs that will get exposed during the first months of the season.
General Manger Mike Rizzo has built a win-now roster and avoided one that will fall apart as it ages. It is balanced fairly well and the creative way with which he has signed up the best pitcher in baseball the past two years will allow him to continually add talent. The payroll is around $160 million, which is in the upper third of the MLB, but even with the addition of Scherzer, he spread out the payroll hit enough in each year that the future of the team is not handcuffed.
