Washington Nationals: Predicting the 2018 Opening Day roster

Max Scherzer

Assuming he is healthy, Max Scherzer is going to be the Nats’ Opening Day starter. A knuckle injury prohibited him from getting the Opening Day nod in 2017, but that hardly slowed him down.

Scherzer pitched over 200 innings once again, going 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA. The Nats did not achieve what Scherzer would have liked them to, but he was recognized for his incredible season. He won the National League Cy Young Award for the second consecutive season, giving him three throughout his career.

The only blemishes on Scherzer’s dominant campaign were a few minor injuries. He battled a couple neck issues, as well as a calf strain at the end of the season. Despite not being 100 percent, he still managed to pitch 200 innings for the fifth consecutive season.

Now, Scherzer will lead the way in what will once again be a strong rotation. He and Stephen Strasburg form arguably the best one-two punch in baseball, which will make the Nats very difficult to beat in the postseason.

The only thing that could potentially slow Scherzer down is Father Time. He is now 33, and will turn 34 in July. Aging has not caught up to him yet, but he has had an intense workload for a long time now, which has likely been very taxing on his arm.

If Scherzer declines a bit in 2018, it is likely due to his aging. Pitchers typically begin to decline in their thirties, and Scherzer has not shown any signs yet, so it may be a matter of time before his age begins to set in.

That being said, Scherzer should put together yet another dominant season, possibly en route to his third consecutive Cy Young Award. The Nats’ ace is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and should lead the Nats to a third consecutive division title.

Stephen Strasburg

Like Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg was absolutely dominant in 2017. He and Mike Maddux decided to eliminate his windup after 2016, a decision that paid huge dividends.

The Nats’ second ace went 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA, en route to finishing third in voting for the National League Cy Young Award. In addition to the slight mechanical alteration, Strasburg’s health was an enormous factor in his success.

In previous seasons, Strasburg has been held back by various injuries. He has proven to be exceptionally injury-prone throughout his career, but he remained mostly healthy in 2017. He dealt with a nerve impingement in his elbow in late-July, which required a brief trip to the disabled list, but that was his only notable injury.

The highlight of Strasburg’s regular season was a 35 consecutive scoreless inning streak between August and September. Somehow, he even managed to outdo this incredible streak in the postseason.

In two games against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, Strasburg pitched 14 innings, allowing just six hits and no earned runs. Although the Nats were unable to advance past the NLDS, Strasburg was a major bright spot.

If Strasburg can remain healthy again in 2018, he should put together another dominant season. Considering Scherzer’s heavy workload and possible decline, Strasburg may even lead the way for the Nats’ staff.

Strasburg recorded the best season of his career in 2017, finishing exceptionally strong. If he is able to remain healthy and build on last year, he could supplant Scherzer in Cy Young voting.

Gio Gonzalez

Despite being a solid pitcher, Gio Gonzalez has always been a bit erratic. He has a tendency to lose the strike zone at times, but he has always put together solid seasons anyways.

However, in 2017, he finally put it all together. He produced his best season since 2012, pitching to a 2.96 ERA in 32 starts. Gonzalez also pitched 201 innings, which was the second-most of his career and the most since 2011.

One of the largest factors in Gonzalez’s success was his ability to limit baserunners. His 1.18 WHIP was his lowest since 2012, which enabled him to enjoy a tremendous season.

Unfortunately, Gonzalez may regress a bit in 2018. Despite posting his lowest ERA since 2012, his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was his highest since 2009. This would indicate that he was the beneficiary of great defense, but, even if that was the case, he still had a great year. His FIP was 3.93, which still would have been a solid ERA.

Gonzalez has a lot to pitch for in 2018, considering he is in yet another contract year. 2017 was a contract year as well, but his vesting option for 2018 was exercised since he pitched over 180 innings. He does not have an option for 2019, so he could be pitching elsewhere this time next year.

2018 will be Gonzalez’s seventh season with the Nats, and he has been a fantastic member of the rotation throughout his entire tenure, so it is not difficult to envision the Nats signing him to a contract extension. However, a poor season could change things.

Gonzalez should be able to put together another solid season in 2018. He may not be quite as effective as he was in 2017, but he should still put the Nats in a good position to win every fifth day.

Tanner Roark

Tanner Roark has proven to be an extremely reliable starting pitcher, but he struggled a bit in 2017. It was an unconventional season for him, which he began by pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and that appeared to affect him.

Roark pitched well in the WBC, earning a ring, but struggled with the Nats. His 4.67 ERA was the highest of his career, but that was largely attributed to a poor first half.

The All-Star Break gave Roark a much-needed opportunity to reset, which he took full advantage of. He was much more effective in the second half, pitching to a 3.90 ERA in 14 games. However, he was not used at all in the National League Division Series.

Roark was scheduled to start game four against his hometown Cubs, but a postponement allowed Strasburg to get the nod on full rest. Gonzalez started game five, and Roark was a controversial spectator for the entire season.

Being the team player that he is, Roark never complained about not being used. However, he was understandably disappointed to not throw a single pitch against his hometown team in the postseason. Now, he will use that as a chip on his shoulder in 2018.

Although 2017 was not a great year for Roark, he should return to form in ’18. A normal offseason allowed him to go through his typical preparation, which should be beneficial moving forward.

Roark has established himself as one of the most consistent and reliable starters in the league, which should remain true in 2018.

A.J. Cole

Since Joe Ross likely will not return from Tommy John Surgery until July or August at the earliest, the Nats have a vacant rotation spot. A.J. Cole, Erick Fedde, Edwin Jackson, and Tommy Milone will compete for the job this spring, but Cole is the clear frontrunner.

The 26-year-old has been in the Nationals organization for a long time, having been drafted in 2010, but he has not received many opportunities to prove himself in the majors. Now, he will get the opportunity that he has been waiting for.

Cole appeared in a career-high 11 major league games in 2017, and pitched pretty well for the most part. He posted a 3.81 ERA in 52 innings, which was by far the best of his career. He appeared to turn a corner in his development, which will serve him well in 2018.

If there is one thing to be concerned about, it is Cole’s FIP. According to FanGraphs, his FIP was 5.20. This is over a point higher than his ERA, which would lead you to believe that he benefitted from great defense. However, his AAA FIP was much lower, at 3.87, which is closer to what you would expect.

If 2017 was any indication of what is to come in ’18, Cole should put together a solid season. He may not live up to the abnormally high standards set by Scherzer and Strasburg, but he will be a fine fifth starter.

Sean Doolittle

Throughout the first half of 2017, the Nats had arguably the worst bullpen in baseball. Blake Treinen began the season as the closer, but he pitched his way out of the job in less than a month. A few other relievers got chances to close, but nobody could hold the job down.

Then, Mike Rizzo did his thing and acquired Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, and Brandon Kintzler at the trade deadline. All three relievers pitched brilliantly, completely turning the season around.

Although all three relievers were stellar, Doolittle received the most attention since he was the closer. He got off to a shaky start in his first few appearances with the Nats, but eventually settled in and dominated. He also quickly became a fan favorite, as fans affectionately scream “Doooooo” throughout his save opportunities.

Doolittle fits the traditional overpowering closer mold, relying on his fastball as much as 90% of the time. In addition to his unhittable fastball, he throws a slider, changeup, and splitter just enough to keep them in the back of hitters’ minds.

Earlier this week, Dave Martinez unsurprisingly announced that Doolittle will close for the Nats once again in 2018. This goes to show how dominant Doolittle is, especially considering how many solid relievers the Nats have.

The only blemish on Doolittle’s career thus far has been that he can be exceptionally injury-prone at times. He has remained relatively healthy over the last couple years, but he has endured a few more injuries throughout his career than the average pitcher.

Assuming Doolittle is able to remain healthy in 2018, he should do a phenomenal job of closing games for the Nats. Do not surprised if we see Doolittle’s name atop the save leaderboards at the end of the year.

Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson was acquired in the same trade as Doolittle, and while he did not receive as much attention as the closer, he was just as effective.

Madson, a 37-year-old reliever, is among the best stories in baseball. He was a dominant reliever with the Philadelphia Phillies for nine years, playing an integral role in their 2008 World Series run, but then underwent Tommy John Surgery.

Unfortunately, Madson’s rehab did not go as planned. He struggled to recover from surgery and was forced to retire. Then, he discovered an electric shock machine that revitalized his career. He had not pitched professionally since 2011, but came back to play an enormous role in the Kansas City Royals’ 2015 World Series run.

Now with the Nats, Madson is still going strong. He filled an eighth inning setup role in 2017, and he was absolutely dominant.

Madson primarily relies on his power sinker, which can reach triple digits. Between its exceptional velocity and movement, it is borderline unfair. Nats fans are familiar with this pitch, as Madson is essentially a more polished Blake Treinen.

The only disappointing part of Madson’s debut campaign with the Nats was his disabled list stint. He sprained a finger, which forced him to miss two weeks. However, he returned in time for the postseason and continued to dominate.

If Madson is able to remain healthy in 2018, he should once again dominate in a prominent role. He may not get much attention since he is not a closer, but he is among the best relievers in the league.

Brandon Kintzler

Brandon Kintzler began 2017 as the Minnesota Twins’ closer and pitched so well that he earned his first all-star game nomination. However, when not even the Twins believed their unexpected success, Kintzler was traded to the Nats.

With the Nats, Kintzler assumed a setup role, but achieved similar success. Most closers would have experienced diminished results after changing roles, but Kintzler made the seamless transition.

Dusty Baker typically deployed Kintzler in the seventh inning, as he combined forces with Madson and Doolittle to give the Nats an unfamiliar sense of security. Despite fulfilling a less glorious role, Kintzler continued to dominate.

While Kintzler is a great reliever, trading for him was a bit risky. His contract expired at the end of 2017, so he had the potential to be a rental. However, the Nats were able to re-sign the veteran reliever this offseason, keeping him in DC for another two seasons.

Kintzler will once again lock down the seventh inning, setting things up for Madson and Doolittle. With the “law firm” in place for an entire season, the Nats have the potential to produce their best season yet.

Their bullpen blew countless leads in the first half last year, but blown leads will now come few and far between. With Kintzler on the mound, Nats fans can breathe easy.

Shawn Kelley

Prior to the 2016 season, the Nats inked Shawn Kelley to a three-year deal. The veteran reliever had put together a solid career, but the move was a bit risky since he had already undergone two Tommy John Surgeries.

Signing Kelley appeared to be a worthwhile risk throughout 2016, as he pitched to a 2.64 ERA in 67 appearances and even recorded seven saves. He primarily relied on a filthy slider, which was among the best pitches in baseball.

Unfortunately, everything fell apart in 2017. Kelley mysteriously pitched on back fields throughout spring training, and it appeared something may have been wrong. The season finally rolled around, and these concerns were brought to center stage.

Kelley appeared to be pitching hurt for much of the year, which led to the worst season of his career. He spent a while on the disabled list, which limited his appearances, but his few appearances were dreadful.

When all was said and done, Kelley pitched to a 7.27 ERA and allowed 12 homers in just 26 innings. He was a completely different pitcher from just a year before, and something clearly was not right.

Shortly after the season, it was revealed that Kelley had been pitching with bone chips in his elbow all year and would receive a stem cell injection in an attempt to clear things up.

Now, Kelley claims to be healthy heading into 2018. If this is the case, there is no reason to believe that he will not return to being a dominant reliever. However, considering he has been exceptionally injury-prone throughout his entire career, there is cause for concern.

If Kelley is healthy, he could successfully fill a setup role. Adding him to the “law firm” would create a deep bullpen capable of securing any lead. However, the Nats must be careful with Kelley.

New manager Dave Martinez has already said that the Nats will be hesitant to deploy Kelley on consecutive days. This seems to be a solid plan, as the Nats need to limit his workload as much as possible.

If Kelley is healthy in 2018, which could be a big if, look for him to produce a tremendous bounce-back campaign.

Sammy Solis

Although the Nats’ bullpen is highlighted by the “law firm”, who receive most of the attention, Sammy Solis is among the Nats’ most important relievers. The 29-year-old lefty has established himself as somewhat of an unsung hero in the ‘pen.

One of Solis’ most valuable traits is his versatility. In today’s game, when bullpen roles are almost always established, Solis is an outlier.

In the past, Solis has served as everything from a left-handed specialist to long reliever. Since the Nats are lacking a bonafide long reliever once again in 2018 and Oliver Perez departed in free agency, Solis will likely continue to be deployed in several roles.

Solis has also proven to be exceptionally effective in the postseason. He was brilliant in the 2016 National League Division Series, pitching to a 1.93 ERA while appearing in all five games. He pitched well again in the 2017 postseason, working in three of the five games.

The only blemish on Solis’ career thus far has been a few injuries. He underwent Tommy John Surgery early in his professional career and has endured several injuries since. His stats in 2017 were a bit inflated, which was largely due to left elbow inflammation.

If Solis is able to remain healthy in 2018, he should once again be a valuable member of the bullpen. He does not get the attention he deserves, but he is among the Nats’ most important relievers.

Enny Romero

Like Solis, Enny Romero is a valuable lefty in the Nats’ bullpen. The Nats traded for the 27-year-old shortly before spring training last year, and the move paid huge dividends. The Nats acquired Romero for next to nothing, due to his previous control issues, but he finally managed to harness his control with the Nats.

Romero enjoyed a tremendous season in DC, pitching to a 3.56 ERA in 53 games. The 6’3 lefty uses his size and triple digit fastball to create a menacing presence on the mound. He may not always know exactly where his fastball will wind up, but that only contributes to his menacing presence.

Unfortunately, forearm tightness forced Romero to miss about a month towards the end of the season. Although he returned in time for the postseason, he did not have much time to get back into the swing of things before October. Because of this, he was never used in the NLDS.

Now, Romero will look to build upon his terrific 2017 season. If he is able to continue to harness his control while blowing hitters away with his blazing fastball, he has the potential to be a dominant reliever.

He has the makeup of a closer, so having him set things up for the “law firm” will effectively shorten games. If he is able to continue to tap into his potential, he can be an invaluable member of the bullpen.

Romero had a great debut season in DC in 2017, and you can expect more of the same from him moving forward.

Joaquin Benoit

Shortly after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last week, the Nats unexpectedly signed veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit. The Nats have a solid bullpen but were lacking depth, which Benoit provides.

Despite the fact that Benoit is 40 years old, he is still an effective reliever. He struggled a bit for the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017, but had strung together seven straight solid seasons before that.

With the Nats, Benoit will likely serve as a middle reliever, setting things up for Kintzler, Madson, and Doolittle. He also serves as insurance for injury-plagued relievers, such as Kelley and Koda Glover.

Glover, who is dominant when healthy, is dealing with shoulder inflammation once again this spring. As of a week into camp, he had still not thrown, which is almost certain to force him to miss Opening Day. This would have been an issue before signing Benoit, but the Nats now have a proven reliever to fill the final spot in the ‘pen.

One of Benoit’s most valuable traits is his veteran presence and postseason experience. He has pitched to a 2.82 ERA in 20 career postseason appearances, including two scoreless appearances in the 2012 World Series.

Although Benoit is a bit of a wild card, he is certainly capable of being an effective reliever.

Matt Wieters

2017 was Matt Wieters‘ first season not spent with the Baltimore Orioles, and it was one to forget. Whether being away from Baltimore affected him or not, he struggled mightily.

Wieters got off to an outstanding start, batting .301 with four homers in April, but then plummeted. When all was said and done, the veteran backstop produced a .225/.288/.344 slash line to go with 10 homers and 52 RBI.

To the surprise of no one, Wieters exercised his $10.5 million player option for 2018. Now, he will attempt to return to form.

After the 2017 season, Wieters revealed that one of his offseason goals was to lose weight. He weighed about 235 pounds last season, but said he wanted to get closer to the 225 pounds he weighed when he entered the league.

Wieters showed up to camp slimmer than last year, which will hopefully help him return to form. He is one of the biggest catchers in the league, standing at 6’5, so losing some weight could be beneficial.

Hopefully, Wieters will rebound in 2018. He was among the most well-paid players on the Nats’ roster in 2017, yet he posted a -0.2 WAR. This cannot happen again.

If Wieters is able to return to form, his presence would give the Nats one of the deepest lineups in the league. He spent most of 2017 batting in the seven-hole, so any production makes the lineup that much deeper.

With Michael Taylor likely batting behind him, the Nats could have solid offensive production from all eight of their position players.

Wieters is coming off of the worst season of his career, but he is a prime bounce-back candidate. If he is able to play like he did last April, he is in for quite the year.

Miguel Montero

The Nats were rumored to be interested in acquiring another catcher to complement Wieters this offseason, possibly even to start over him, but this never came to fruition. However, the Nats did sign veteran backstop Miguel Montero to a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training.

Now, Montero will compete with Pedro Severino and Jhonatan Solano for the backup role. Of these three candidates, Montero has the upper hand.

Although Montero is an unremarkable player, he would make a fine backup. He has hit .216 in each of the last two seasons, but he had a solid offensive campaign in 2015. He was also an all-star as recently as 2014.

Nats fans are familiar with Montero from a June matchup with the Cubs. The Nats stole seven bases with him behind the plate, but he blamed Jake Arrieta after the game. He was designated for assignment the next day and traded to Toronto shortly after.

This would lead you to believe that Montero is a defensive liability, but he is actually a solid defender. According to Baseball Prospectus, all of his catching metrics are above average. He will not win a gold glove, but he is competent behind the plate.

Perhaps the biggest thing that Montero has working in his favor is the fact that Dave Martinez is already familiar with him. Martinez coached him in Chicago, and has raved about his game-calling abilities.

Considering Montero’s competition is mostly unproven, Martinez and co. will likely put their trust in Montero’s veteran presence. Montero is a known commodity for Martinez, which could land him a major league job.

Ryan Zimmerman

Ryan Zimmerman, the Nats’ first draft pick upon returning to DC, has served as the face of the franchise for most of the team’s brief history. However, several injury-riddled seasons were detrimental to his production and he began to lose grasp of the honor.

That is, until 2017. Zimmerman finally managed to remain healthy for an entire season, and he put together one of the best seasons of his career. When all was said and done, he produced a .303/.358/.573 slash line to go with a career-high 36 homers and 108 RBI.

Some people attributed Zimmerman’s bounce-back campaign to an improved launch angle, but he claims it was just because he was finally healthy. The former was likely a factor, but the latter was largely responsible.

Now, Zimmerman will look to build on his fantastic 2017 season. If he is going to replicate his success, he must remain healthy again. Injuries have the ability to derail a career, which Zimmerman is a prime example of.

If Zimmerman is able to remain healthy, he should have another terrific season. However, if he goes back to battling injuries, 2018 could be a long year.

Zimmerman finally produced what everyone knew he was capable of in 2017, which completely revitalized his career. This time last year, people were making the case for Adam Lind to start over the face of the franchise.

Now, Zimmerman is correctly considered to be one of the top first basemen in the game.

Daniel Murphy

Since Daniel Murphy left New York for DC, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. He won the Silver Slugger Award for National League second basemen in each of his first two seasons with the Nats, which speaks to his offensive prowess.

There is no question about Murphy’s offensive abilities. What is being questioned, however, is his status for Opening Day.

The star second baseman underwent microfracture surgery to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his right knee shortly after the Nats’ season ended, which could force him to miss Opening Day.

Recovery from microfracture surgery typically takes six months to a year, which would likely rule Murphy out for Opening Day, but he is progressing well.

There is no need to rush Murphy back, but Dave Martinez has stated that he is on track to return for Opening Day. If this is the case, the Nats will be getting an enormous offensive boost that they were not counting on getting until a little later in the year.

While it is tempting to rush Murphy back to be ready in time for the start of the season, it is not necessary. The Nats are all but guaranteed to win the weak NL East, so they do not need him in the lineup for the entire regular season. He will be most important come October.

The Nats should also ensure that Murphy receives proper preparation before throwing him into a regular season game. He struggled in the World Baseball Classic last winter after a modified spring training and would likely struggle again this year without participating in spring training.

For now, Murphy is doing what he can on his knees. Unfortunately, this does not include live batting practice. If he is not ready to take live batting practice and hit in exhibition games a couple weeks before Opening Day, he should spend a little time in extended sprig training once the team heads north.

Once Murphy is in the lineup for good, whenever that is, he should put together another outstanding offensive season. It is his final year under team control, so he may have a typical monster contract season.

The Nats also hired his former hitting coach, Kevin Long. Murphy is very fond of Long from his days with the Mets, and having him with the Nats could help Murphy produce his best season yet.

Murphy may get a late start to the year, but he will have a great season whenever he is ready.

Trea Turner

Although he is just 24, Trea Turner has already established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the game. He has stolen 81 bases in his first 198 games, which amounts to about a stolen base every other game.

Unfortunately, Turner’s 2017 season was partially derailed by injuries. He still put together a solid season, batting .284 with 11 homers and 46 stolen bases, but he missed nearly two months after his wrist was fractured by a Pedro Strop fastball.

Somehow, despite missing two months, Turner ranked third on the stolen base leaderboard. The two players ahead of him, Dee Gordon and Billy Hamilton, played in 158 and 139 games, respectively. Turner, on the other hand, played in 98.

All of Turner’s missed time appeared to catch up to him in the postseason, as he struggled mightily throughout the NLDS. It is extremely difficult to produce after missing so much time, which was obvious with Turner.

Turner’s struggles were partially responsible for the Nats’ ultimate demise, considering they were unable to generate much offense without him. This goes to show just how important he is to the lineup.

Now that he is healthy, Turner should return to form. Although his postseason struggles were frustrating, they are not cause for concern.

Since Turner was promoted in the middle of the 2016 season and was injured in ’17, he does not yet have a complete season under his belt. Whenever his first complete season comes, he will produce astounding numbers.

Hopefully, that comes in the Nats’ fateful 2018 season.

Anthony Rendon

Although Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer receive most of the attention, Anthony Rendon may be the Nats’ most valuable player. As a matter of fact, you could make the argument that Rendon was the National League’s most valuable player last year.

According to FanGraphs, Rendon led the National League in WAR in 2017, beating out stars, such as Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, and Joey Votto.

Despite leading the National League in WAR, Rendon hardly received any attention. Somehow, he was not even named an all-star. However, that is the way he likes it; he does not mind flying under the radar.

Now, Rendon will attempt to build on his tremendous 2017 campaign. While he may not lead the NL in WAR again, he should have another productive season.

In today’s homer-obsessed game, Rendon is an oddity. He has no trouble hitting homers, as he hit 25 in 2017, but he is mostly known for his gap-to-gap power. Nats fans affectionately refer to him as, “Tony Two Bags”, which speaks to his outstanding gap-to-gap power.

Rendon is also among the most well-rounded players in the league. He is an elite defender at the hot corner and can steal a bag when necessary. Although he does not steal many bases (he stole seven in 2017), he has the speed and aggressiveness to go from first to third, score from second, etc.

It is rare in today’s game, but Rendon is a true five-tool player. He is barely recognized nationally, but Nats fans understand how valuable he is. He has established himself as one of the best players in the league, and he should dominate once again in 2018.

Matt Adams

In 2017, Adam Lind served as an integral member of the Nats. He provided phenomenal at-bats off the bench, as well as spelling Ryan Zimmerman at first, and even playing left field on occasion. He will not return in 2018, but the Nats will not miss him.

This offseason, the Nats signed Matt Adams to replace Lind. At 29 years old, Adams is essentially a younger version of Lind.

Although he likely will not sport bleached blonde hair, Adams will be a carbon copy of Lind.

Like Lind, Adams will serve as Zimmerman’s backup. Adams can spell Zimmerman whenever he needs a day off, but he is also capable of becoming the primary first baseman if Zimmerman suffers an injury.

In addition to playing first base, Adams is capable of filling in in the outfield. He should not be their first choice in the outfield, but he can certainly play left field if needed.

If Adams hits like he did last year, when he hit .274 with 20 homers in limited playing time, the Nats may occasionally put him in left to get him the at-bats he deserves.

Although losing Lind after his great season last year was disappointing, the Nats found a perfect replacement. Adams may not get much attention, due to his reserve role, but he can be an extremely valuable player.

Wilmer Difo

Since the Nats are among the most injury-plagued teams in the league seemingly every year, their bench players are integral members of the team. They typically boast a solid bench, which was the case once again in 2017. While it was partially comprised of veterans, such as Adam Lind and Howie Kendrick, there were a couple younger players that played large roles.

Of these younger players, Wilmer Difo was among the most noteworthy. He did a phenomenal job of filling in for various infielders, while also proving his loyalty to the team by spending a little time in the outfield.

In addition to his defensive versatility, Difo provides a solid bat and great energy. He can also match-up with any pitcher as a switch hitter, which gives Dave Martinez some flexibility.

The only downside to Difo, is that he struggles when he does not receive regular at-bats. He is a dynamic young player when he plays everyday, but he is not great off the bench. Pinch-hitting is one of the most difficult tasks in baseball, and it is one that Difo has not yet mastered.

If an infielder suffers and injury and has to miss at least a couple weeks, Difo is a great replacement. However, he is not a great option to spell someone for a game or two.

However, there may be regular playing time available to begin the season. Daniel Murphy is still rehabbing from his microfracture surgery, and may not be ready for Opening Day, so Difo could be the Opening Day starter at second base.

Even if Murphy returns for Opening Day, he is going to need additional days off throughout the year to keep his knee healthy. Although Difo is capable of playing anywhere in the infield, the bulk of his playing time will likely come at second base.

Finally, 2018 is a big year for Difo. Considering Murphy’s contract expires at the end of the year, Difo may be the permanent starting second baseman as early as 2019. Although he has struggled as a bench player at times, he would make a great starter.

If Difo produces another solid season in 2018, he will likely be the starting second baseman in 2019 and beyond.

Adam Eaton

Last offseason, the Nats acquired Adam Eaton in what was widely considered to be an extremely lopsided trade. They parted with three of their top pitching prospects, but Eaton was a solid outfielder coming off of an excellent season.

Then, once the season began, Eaton showed why the Nats were willing to give up so much to pry him from the White Sox. He got off to an outstanding start, batting .297 in his first 23 games. He had only spent a month with the Nats, but he already established himself as a fan favorite.

Unfortunately, as quickly as Eaton established himself in DC, his season fell apart even quicker. He landed awkwardly on first base while running out an infield single in late-April, launching him past the bag. The next day, it was announced that he had torn his ACL and meniscus.

Eaton missed the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery, but he is now ready to return.

Whether Eaton or Trea Turner should lead off was a great debate last year, but Dave Martinez put an end to it early this year. He recently announced that Eaton will lead off, which is the right call.

With Eaton back in the lineup, the Nats are a much better team. Michael Taylor did a great job of filling in last year, but he is not the spark plug that Eaton is.

Eaton’s return will also take some pressure off of Turner. If Turner struggled last year, as he did in the postseason, the Nats struggled to generate offense. With Eaton in the lineup, the Nats have two table setters who excel at generating offense.

Although Eaton played center field last year, he will now shift to left. Taylor proved that he is ready to be a full-time starter, so he will remain in center this year. Eaton has not played left much, but it should be a relatively easy transition. The move will also be beneficial for him, as he does not have to cover as much ground after undergoing knee surgery.

Eaton showcased a lot in his first month as a National last year. If he is able to replicate that success for a full season, we are in for quite the show.

Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor has always been a highly-regarded member of the Nationals organization, even being ranked as their second-best prospect in 2015, but he always struggled in the majors. He had gotten several extended chances to prove himself when other outfielders suffered injuries, but he was never able to take advantage of them.

That is, until 2017.

Taylor was on the Opening Day roster, but that was not exactly a slam dunk decision. Then, Eaton suffered a season-ending injury and Taylor was suddenly thrust into a starting role.

This would likely be Taylor’s final chance to prove himself, and he took full advantage of it. He was a mainstay at the bottom of the lineup, typically batting eight, but he raked.

When all was said and done, Taylor produced a .271/.320/.486 slash line to go with 19 homers and 17 stolen bases. Had he been the starter for the entire season, he may have joined the 20/20 club. That’s not too shabby for an eight-hole hitter.

In addition to outstanding offensive production, Taylor was an elite defender in center field. According to FanGraphs, he led all center fielders with a 10.1 UZR. Defensive wizard Byron Buxton was right behind him, at 9.9, but the next center fielder was over two points behind them.

Although Taylor is not a high-profile center fielder, he was recognized for his defensive efforts. He did not win the Gold Glove Award, but he was named a finalist, along with Ender Inciarte and Billy Hamilton.

Now, Taylor is entering his first major league season as a full-time starter. If last year was any indication of what he is capable of, he is ready to produce another terrific season.

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper has been the most scrutinized player on the Nats for most of his major league career, but that will become even more exaggerated in 2018. His contract expires after the season, meaning he is about nine months from embarking on the most anticipated free agency of all-time.

Players typically do one of two things in a contract year; they either have a career year or choke under pressure and diminish their stock. Harper has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, so there is no reason to believe he will choke under the pressure of his impending free agency.

Harper has produced historic seasons in the past, but he may reach a new level in 2018. It seems cliche, but he is in the best shape of his life. His offseason workout partner, Joey Gallo, said that he is as focused as he has ever been and has been crushing his workouts all winter.

If Harper has a career year in 2018, he will further strengthen his case for the most lucrative contract ever. There has been speculation that he will sign a deal worth $400-500 million, which would shatter Giancarlo Stanton’s record $325 million megadeal.

Despite the fact that Harper’s contract status is one of the most intriguing storylines around the league this year, he is completely focused on helping the Nationals win. He began his first press conference of spring training by stating that he will not answer any questions concerning anything beyond 2018.

Although Harper received some backlash for his comments, it was the right thing to do. He is completely focused on 2018, and he’ll worry about ’19 when we get there.

Every move that Harper makes throughout the season will be heavily scrutinized, but this won’t bother him. If he is able to stay healthy, he could produce yet another historic season.

Howie Kendrick

After being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies around the trade deadline, Howie Kendrick was quietly among the most valuable players on the Nats. He did not start, which somewhat prohibited him from getting much attention, but he did a phenomenal job.

In 52 games with the Nats, Kendrick produced a .293/.343/.494 slash line to go with seven homers and 25 RBI. He also raked with the Phillies, as he had a season batting average of .315.

In addition to producing offensively, Kendrick is an extremely versatile defender. He is a natural second baseman, but has recently learned to play the outfield as well. He played first base, second base, left field, and right field during his brief time with the Nats.

Kendrick was a favorite of Dusty Baker’s due to his defensive versatility, and the same will be true of Dave Martinez.

Although Kendrick’s contract expired after the 2017 season, he signed a two-year deal in January to return to the Nats. This was a great move for the Nats, as he will once again play a major role.

Because of Kendrick’s versatility, he is capable of spelling several starters. This will be very beneficial in 2018, as he can spell Daniel Murphy and Adam Eaton, who are both returning from knee surgeries.

Murphy and Eaton will likely receive additional days off, in an effort to ease them back, so having Kendrick is huge. Kendrick could also sneak into the Opening Day lineup because Murphy’s status is up in the air. Although the Nats would love to have Murphy in the lineup, they would be in good hands with Kendrick.

Re-signing Kendrick was an under-the-radar move, but it could pay huge dividends. Although he does not receive much attention, he is one of the Nats’ most important players.

Brian Goodwin

Brian Goodwin has long been a highly-regarded member of the Nats’ organization, as he was a first-round draft pick in 2011, but he did not develop as they would have hoped. He was always high on their prospect lists, peaking at number two in 2013, but could not quite figure things out.

Then, Goodwin finally earned a promotion to the majors in 2016. He was having a solid season in AAA, which he continued in the bigs. In the first 22 games of his major league career, he hit .286.

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Despite his solid 2016, he began ’17 in the minors. However, after several major league outfielders suffered injuries, he quickly returned to the Nats. He had finally come into his own, proving he belonged in the majors.

In 74 games, he produced a .251/.313/.498 slash line to go with 13 homers and 30 RBI. Although these are not eye-popping numbers, they are great for a fourth outfielder.

Now, Goodwin will play a similar role in 2018. The outfield is not quite as crowded after the departure of Jayson Werth, but there is still not a starting role available. However, Goodwin can be a valuable player off the bench.

Considering the Nats’ extensive injury history, especially among outfielders, it is only a matter of time until a job opens up for Goodwin. In the meantime, he can spell all three starters.

The fourth outfielder is an under-appreciated player on most teams, which certainly rings true for Goodwin and the Nats. He may not receive the attention he deserves, but he is an integral member of the team.

Next: Gio Gonzalez hopes to remain in DC

Only 25 players can be on the active roster at a time, but the grueling major league season requires closer to 40. Goodwin, along with many more players, will contribute in 2018. We have said this in the past and had it not work out, but this Nationals team is certainly capable of bringing a parade to South Capitol Street.