Washington Nationals Holiday Wish List: Health, a closer, and an NL East title

Nov 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager

(L) and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (R) speak at a press conference introducing Baker as the new Nationals manager at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As December winds down and we head into 2016, the Washington Nationals still have a few items on their Holiday Wish List.

The Washington Nationals head into 2016 with the pains of 2015 still fresh on everybody’s mind. The team underperformed drastically last year, and as we head into this holiday season, the Nationals still have plenty of work to do to get back on track for 2016. With that in mind, lets take a look at a few things that the team has on its holiday wish list to help bring the division title back to D.C. next fall.

If this article had been published yesterday afternoon, there’s a good chance the number one thing on the Nationals’ holiday wish list would’ve been either a second baseman or a left-handed hitter. Fortunately for the Nationals, the team took care of both needs in one fell swoop last night.

In a somewhat unexpected move, the Nationals signed free agent Daniel Murphy to a three-year, $37.5 million deal. Murphy — he of the seven postseason home runs that helped lead the Mets to the World Series — will help balance out a heavily right-handed Nationals lineup and fill the hole at second base left by the trade that sent Yunel Escobar to the Angels earlier this offseason.

While the Murphy signing isn’t without it’s downsides, it took care of two of the team’s biggest needs this offseason. That being said, there are still a few things on the Nationals’ holiday wish list as 2015 comes to a close.

Next: 1. Health, health and more health