2014 Washington Nationals: Captain America's Team

[JimRiceHOFer]

Nats Announce NLDS Roster

http://curlyw.mlblogs.com/2014/10/03/nationals-announce-2014-nlds-roster/?partnerId=as_was_20141003_32792646
 
Former Red Sox Matt Thornton going for two World Series rings in a row...
 
Scott Hairston, who has never played in a playoff game in his 11 year MLB career, left off the roster.

 

[JimRiceHOFer]

And the season lives on...

 

[TheYaz67]

No longer unfortunately - and while the bullpen was again an "issue", the real problem was actually that only Rendon and Harper showed up to hit.
 
So Rizzo has some work to do in the offseason - I would guess that Soriano, LaRoche and Span are all not coming back - all are FAs and/or have buyouts/option year in their current contracts.  That saves you $25M to $30M at least, but much of that is going to be eaten up by significantly increased arb awards to Zimmermann, Strasburg, Fister, Clippard and Desmond among others - almost all of whom are Free Agents in 2016 I believe.  Would not surprise me if Rizzo buys out the last arb year and several FA years for Zimmermann, Stras and Desmond in the offseason.
 
The rotation is set for 2015 with all 5 guys coming back - no changes there, but bullpen will need some work obviously with Soriano and others perhaps leaving b/c of FA.  I think Zimmerman shifts over to 1st base (Rendon at 3rd) and then you just need to figure out 2nd base (Cabrera back, and/or Espinosa) and your 3rd OF behind Harper and Werth - could fill that internally with either Michael Taylor and/or Tyler Moore or something like that to save money for 2016. 
 
All the big decisions will hit in 2016 when the Nats have a crapload of Free Agents, unless as mentioned Rizzo gets some of them under contract this offseason....

 

[dcmissle]

Last night was largely on Williams for reasons discussed on the game thread.

But it is also on Rizzo. Two of the last three years, the bullpen has flushed them out of the postseason. Last night was entirely predictable, as the leaks began in late July. Any doubts about can be instantly removed by reading upthread.

So big picture, Rizzo has had chihuahuas guarding two Crown Jewels that pretty soon may be headed to different museums unless Ted Lerner is willing to dig into his pockets to the tune of a half billion combined - and even then he may lose one or both of them.

Rizzo has laid a solid foundation and is a good GM. But he may well have outsmarted himself by insisting on winning every trade and having too many untouchable "jewels" in the minor league system.

Andrew Miller would have done wonders here.

 

[B H Kim]

Andrew Miller would have done wonders here.

 
Williams probably would have designated him as the 6th inning guy and still gone to Barrett in the 7th.  

 

[loshjott]

No longer unfortunately - and while the bullpen was again an "issue", the real problem was actually that only Rendon and Harper showed up to hit.
 
So Rizzo has some work to do in the offseason - I would guess that Soriano, LaRoche and Span are all not coming back - all are FAs and/or have buyouts/option year in their current contracts.  That saves you $25M to $30M at least, but much of that is going to be eaten up by significantly increased arb awards to Zimmermann, Strasburg, Fister, Clippard and Desmond among others - almost all of whom are Free Agents in 2016 I believe.  Would not surprise me if Rizzo buys out the last arb year and several FA years for Zimmermann, Stras and Desmond in the offseason.
 
The rotation is set for 2015 with all 5 guys coming back - no changes there, but bullpen will need some work obviously with Soriano and others perhaps leaving b/c of FA.  I think Zimmerman shifts over to 1st base (Rendon at 3rd) and then you just need to figure out 2nd base (Cabrera back, and/or Espinosa) and your 3rd OF behind Harper and Werth - could fill that internally with either Michael Taylor and/or Tyler Moore or something like that to save money for 2016. 
 
All the big decisions will hit in 2016 when the Nats have a crapload of Free Agents, unless as mentioned Rizzo gets some of them under contract this offseason....

  
There's a lot wrong in here.
 
Span has a $9M club option for 2015 which will undoubtedly be picked up. He's not going anywhere.
 
Z'mann and Desmond already are signed thru their arb years and both are free agents in 2016. Desmond turned down a long-term deal last off season. Z'mann will be offered the sun and moon and stars somewhere, I hope it's in DC.
 
Fister and Strasburg are still in club control in 2016.
 
LaRoche is definitely gone with Ryan Zim moving to first and Rendon anchoring 3rd. Nats would probably like Cabrera (free agent) back for 2B, but unlikely will pay enough to do so.
 
Soriano has a $14M club option which I can't imagine will get picked up.
 
I do not know how long the team has control over Clippard.
 
And there's no way Boras will let the Nats buy out Strasburg or Harper's arb years. 

 

[TheYaz67]

I agree that even at $9M, Span could be sticking around - he played much better in year two after a disappointing debut and the Nats have to kind of be GFIN mode in 2015 because this team will definitely not be the same core going into 2016.  But that $500K buy out has to be tempting given all the other impending commitments, if they believe a younger player can perform as well in the field (Span will be 31 next year, which is getting older for a CF)....
 
From every source I have seen (COTS, b-ref), Fister is a free agent in 2016 - Clippard will get his final arb award this year, then is also a free agent in 2016 along with many others...