Washington Nationals: 5 storylines for the 2017 off-season
By Ron Juckett
With 2017 consigned to history, here are five stories to watch this winter for the Washington Nationals. Hopefully 2018 is the magic year everyone wants.
The Washington Nationals enter the off-season as overwhelming favorites to win a third consecutive National League East championship.
Yet, the Nats must assess why they cannot get past the first round of the playoffs and addresses those problems before Washington re-assembles in West Palm Beach in mid-February.
Over the next four months, there are changes coming for the Nats. Some are subtle while others are not. How aggressive the team is this off-season tells you where the front office thinks Washington is now and in the future.
After another shortened playoff run, the anxiety felt by fans is real. The major question as the days get shorter is, what needs to be done to get the Nats over the top and into a World Series?
The good news is there is no need to chase down a closer as Sean Doolittle filled the role admirably this summer. Stephen Strasburg justified his contract with a stellar second half and a two playoff starts for the ages. Bryce Harper is under contract next year. Ryan Zimmerman enjoyed a career year.
The myriad of injuries plaguing the team this year is not something you can plan for in advance. When the Nats had to fill roles, they traded for Howie Kendrick and selected players from the farm who filled their assigned roles well. General Manager Mike Rizzo passed those tests with flying colors.
But, the 2017 team took time to assemble. It was summer before the bullpen solidified. Matt Wieters arrived at West Palm Beach after Washington traded for Derek Norris at catcher. Sometimes fans wondered where the focus was from the front office.
This offseason gives a different vibe. There are weaknesses needing addressing and distractions to take care of. As we head into winter, here are the five storylines to follow through the fall.