Washington Nationals Analysis: Winter Meetings Preview

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With the Winter Meetings underway, here are some bold predictions for what the Nats will do this week. 

This morning, Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo will head over to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee to meet the 29 other GMs of Major League Baseball at the 114th annual Winter Meetings. These meetings, an annual event since 1901, are held to allow league officials to meet, conduct trades, negotiate with free agents, and discuss league rules and guidelines all in one place. Attendees of the four-day affair include general managers, player agents, team owners, and scouts from across the league.

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With the hot stove already sizzling this offseason, Rizzo and company will have a full plate to take care of after a disappointing 2015 campaign. What moves will the University of Illinois alum make while in Music City? Could a premiere free agent be waiting to don the Curly W next April? Will the bullpen be reconstructed after the Jonathan Papelbon/Drew Storen fiasco?

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Last offseason, the Nats stood pat during the Winter Meetings, despite being surrounded by rumors the entire week. While they eventually pulled the trigger on signing the biggest name on the market, Max Scherzer, in January, their lack of action at the meetings could have been the downfall of their 2015 season. If any elite closers or bullpen arms had been acquired before other teams grabbed them all, they could have been playing a different tune last October.

This year, Washington has its sights set on bolstering the bullpen, adding infield depth, a lefty bench bat, and perhaps another starter. Which moves do the Nats make?

Next: Nats Trade Setup Man