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In his first comments since an Al Jazeera America report linked him to alleged performance-enhancing drug use, Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman was defiant Tuesday.

According to Chase Hughes of CSNMidAtlantic.com, the 31-year-old first baseman lamented the fact that the report could negatively impact his reputation within the community:

I’ve spent my whole career, my whole life really doing things the right way, so you’re shocked. … It’s one of those things where you don’t really have an answer. You don’t know why or how this happened. Then, you turn from being shocked to being angry and frustrated. The biggest thing that frustrated me or angered me was not so much what you guys think or baseball players think, but I spend a lot of time I think in the community in D.C. with kids and families and things like that. To think that, I guess my integrity and the person that I really am is questioned by someone who has never met me, doesn’t know what I’m about. I think that was probably the hardest part.

As seen in this video of the report, courtesy of Al Jazeera English on Twitter, Zimmerman was one of many accused of PED involvement, including Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning:

Zimmerman and Howard both filed a defamation lawsuit against Al Jazeera America on the heels of source Charlie Sly recanting the statements that Al Jazeera used to create the report.

Per Hughes, Zimmerman didn’t think twice about filing the suit since he felt it was important to do everything possible to protect his reputation:

It was an easy decision for me to do it because I’m fortunate enough to have the resources. It’s really, really hard to win these suits, but I think it’s my responsibility not only to clear my name but if I do this and whether I win or lose on the defamation suit whatever it is, even if it gets to a trial, I sort of felt a responsibility because I am able to fight it that maybe if this stops this from happening to just one person after me, then it’s worth it.

The 2005 first-round pick also revealed that he believes his trainer, Jason Riley, being linked to the report is the primary reason why his name was mentioned by Al Jazeera America:

None of that stuff is true. I’ve never done any of that. I’ve never thought about doing any of that. It’s a tough spot. You do everything the right way. You work. You think something like this will never happen, and then, for some reason, it does.

I think Jason Riley is the reason that I was involved in this. Jason is a trainer I’ve worked with for years. His reputation is one of, if not the cleanest reputation trainers have. I can’t speak for what happens with who he’s involved with, things like that … I would assume that that’s the link. It’s kind of reckless. A lot of people have worked with trainers and things like that. It’s hard to just throw peoples’ names out there without really having any sort of proof.

Zimmerman is a former All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner who has enjoyed an excellent 11-year career in Major League Baseball thus far.

The career .283 hitter with 200 home runs and 783 RBI has spent his entire career with the Nats and his name has never been at the forefront of PED suspicion until now.

According to Hughes, Zimmerman doesn’t believe he has been treated fairly nor presumed innocent since the report was released despite his track record: “There’s gotta be a line drawn somewhere. There’s gotta be a way for innocent people to not be basically be proven guilty in the public opinion and then have to fight to be innocent. It’s supposed to be the other way around in this country.”

If the Nationals are going to return to the playoffs in 2016 after a one-year absence, they need Zimmerman to be on the field and to be among their top offensive contributors.

Fairly or not, Zimmerman figures to be under enhanced scrutiny by Major League Baseball moving forward due to the report.

There hasn’t been any news with regard to a potential suspension, but going up against Al Jazeera America and winning could be Zimmerman’s best hope of clearing his name.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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The Washington Nationals roll into the 2016 season focused on a single question: Can they zap the memory of last year’s embarrassing implosion and claw back to the postseason?

As spring gives way to summer, however, another question may creep into the foreground in D.C.: Can the Nats afford to lose Stephen Strasburg next winter and get virtually nothing in return?

Odds are, this will be Strasburg‘s final season in the nation’s capital, one way or another. The 27-year-old right-hander has battled injuries and inconsistency in his six big league seasons, but he’s an unmitigated stud who’ll be the crown jewel of an otherwise pedestrian 2016-17 free-agent class.

Strasburg dominated in 2014, pacing the Senior Circuit with 242 strikeouts. After grappling with back and neck issues, he finished strong last season, posting a 1.90 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 66.1 innings after the All-Star break, erasing a lot of concern.

Then again, as Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post pointed out, “Contract years can test mental fortitude.”

Still, assuming his arm doesn’t fall off in 2016, someone is going to throw a lot of years and dollars at Strasburg. A massive bidding war is close to a foregone conclusion.

The Nationals could wade in. They proved they’re willing to spend big on pitching with the seven-year, $210 million deal they handed Max Scherzer in January 2015. But the law of supply and demand will not be on their side, and it’s easy to imagine a deep-pocketed suitor swooping in and stealing Strasburg.

Oh, and did we mention that his agent is Scott Boras? Cue the cash register sound effect.

Strasburg sounded the right notes recently, doing the familiar “live in the moment, see what happens” two-step that all impending mega-free-agents are expected to do.

“I really don’t know,” the former No. 1 overall pick said, per Todd Dybas of the Washington Times. “It’s not like I’ve been in a contract year before. I know what I know, and I know that I go out there, and I bust my butt every single day. If I give it everything [I] have to help this team win some games, all that other stuff is going to take care of itself.”

OK, back to the Nats‘ dilemma. Currently, their goal is to scramble to the top of the National League East heap, period. They entered last season with the hype winds blowing stiffly at their back and proceeded to dissolve into a puddle of dysfunction. Their 83-79 record only hints at the acrimony and disappointment. 

Veteran skipper Dusty Baker has replaced Matt Williams at the helm. And while Washington whiffed on big-ticket free-agent targets, including Jason Heyward, they added complementary piece,s such as second baseman Daniel Murphy and outfielder Ben Revere.

The defending NL champion New York Mets are the division favorites until further notice, but the Nats have more than a fighting chance.

They’ve got reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, after all, plus a rotation fronted by Scherzer—who twirled a pair of no-hitters last season—and Strasburg. And they can cross their fingers that contributors like Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon will rebound from injuries.

For what it’s worth, FanGraphs projects the Nationals to win the NL East by three games over the Mets. Now they’ve just got to do it on the field.

Assuming they get off to a strong start and look like clear contenders by the trade deadline, the choice to keep Strasburg will be an easy one. The Nats have been waiting for years to get over the hump, advancing as far as the division series in 2012 and 2014, but never breaking through.

With Harper himself set to hit the open market after the 2018 season, this window won’t stay open forever. 

On the other hand, if Washington stumbles again and the pitching-rich Mets appear to be running away with things, the temptation to deal Strasburg and net a haul of prospects or MLB-ready talent will grow. 

“I think they are willing to listen [to offers] this time,” a source told Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller in November. “He did well in the second half, so they’re thinking of him as a top-of-the-rotation guy. He’s not a No. 3 anymore. It would have to be a pretty good price for him. But he is one year from free agency, and he’s not going to re-sign.”

The winter has come and (almost) gone, and Strasburg remains. Those trade sparks, however, could be reignited in an instant.

Yes, Strasburg would be a rental if the Nats moved him in July. Then again, as general manager Mike Rizzo pointed out, per James Wagner of the Washington Post, “A lot of guys in the last year of their deal reap big rewards in the trade when you’re really good.”

One prospect the Nationals discussed this offseason in a potential Strasburg swap, Wagner added, was Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. That deal never happened, of course, but it gives you a sense of the talent Washington could reap, particularly if Strasburg pitches to the peak of his ability.

So that’s where the rock meets the hard place. If Strasburg is dealing like an ace in the waning weeks of July and the Nats are clinging to the fringes of the playoff chase, do they keep him and hope for a surge or cash him in before he bolts for a Boras-aided payday?

Yes, the Nationals could extend a qualifying offer to Strasburg and thus net a draft pick assuming he rejects it and signs elsewhere after the season. But that won’t equal what they could get in a trade from a pitching-desperate contender in the heat of the race.

In the end, this is a wait-and-see decision contingent upon variables we can’t know until the games count and the action commences. But as the Nationals embark on their 2016 redemption tour, the Strasburg conundrum will loom large in the background.

Maybe they’ll run the table and render the point moot. Or perhaps they’ll crash and burn and make the choice an easy one.

What seems more probable, however, is that they’ll be close enough to go for it, but not far enough ahead to erase all doubt. If that’s the case, they should hang on to Strasburg and roll the dice.

Winning windows don’t stay open forever. And sometimes, an ace up your sleeve is worth two in the deck.

All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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One of the defining moments of the Washington Nationals‘ 2015 season saw Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper engage in a dugout skirmish on Sept. 27.

The incident led Washington to suspend Papelbon for four games, ending his 2015 season, per Bill Ladson of MLB.com. 

After arriving at spring training this week, Papelbon met with reporters to discuss the 2016 season and tried to move past the infamous fight with the defending National League MVP on Friday.

Papelbon told the media, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, “I realized that what I did was wrong.” According to Whyno, Papelbon noted that he and Harper are good now.

Expanding on those thoughts, Papelbon said he’s thought about the fight a lot over the last five months, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports:

According to Todd Dybas of the Washington Times, Papelbon said he’s “an imperfect person in an imperfect world.” On his suspension, per Zuckerman, Papelbon said it was “probably the toughest point of my career.”

Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post reported in November that Harper reached out to Papelbon in an effort to ensure “their relationship as teammates is functional next season.”

Papelbon did not endear himself to fans in Washington by going after the team’s best player. It didn’t help that the incident came four days after he had received a suspension for hitting Baltimore‘s Manny Machado with a pitch.

Some thought the Nationals would try to get rid of Papelbon before the 2016 season started, but general manager Mike Rizzo said the team viewed the right-hander as “being one of our late-inning relievers” after trading Drew Storen to Toronto, per Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic. 

With all of that drama behind them, the Nationals can look forward to 2016. Last season was a disaster on all fronts, with the exception of Harper’s MVP performance, so getting a fresh start will be the best thing for everyone involved.

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At 23 years old, Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper is becoming the face of Major League Baseball. He’s a three-time All-Star in just four seasons in the majors and is the reigning National League MVP after a campaign in which he hit .330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBI.

Although he won’t be a free agent until the 2018 season concludes, there is talk that he could become the game’s first $400 million player—which would easily surpass Giancarlo Stanton’s record $325 million, 13-year contract. On Thursday, Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., asked him about the possibility of receiving a record-breaking contract in an interview that will air Friday (h/t Chris Lingebach of CBS DC). Harper replied:

Yeah, I mean I don’t really think about that stuff. I just try to play the years out and do everything I can to help my team win. But don’t sell me short. That’s what you’re doing right now to me, so don’t do that.

I’m looking forward to just playing this year, just looking forward to playing the next couple years. And I think all that stuff will play out.

While he sounded humble in the beginning of the answer, his brazen side came out when hinting that $400 million may not be where his contract tops out. It would be quite a jump from the $5 million he is set to make next year, per Spotrac.com.

Of course, being humble is hard when you are anointed the sport’s next big superstar before your senior year of high school. His fiery attitude and talent have carried him far in the game, but he has also rubbed some people the wrong way, including teammate Jonathan Papelbon, who choked Harper in the dugout near the end of last season.

However, the outfielder is young, still learning how to be a professional and putting up numbers the game has rarely seen for someone of his age. He was the youngest player to unanimously win the MVP award, as well as the youngest since 1969 to hit three home runs in a game.

Ace of MLB Stats put his 2015 season into perspective:

He has yet to enter his prime and has 97 home runs and 248 RBI in 510 games while sporting an impressive .289/.384/.517 slash line. Here’s a visual of his short career, per Daren Willman of MLB.com:

It’s debatable whether MLB contracts are getting out of hand, but if the market dictates it, there is little doubt that Harper will be worth at least $400 million when he is a 25-year-old free agent.

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The Washington Nationals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a deal with veteran pitcher Bronson Arroyo. 

The team also revealed it was a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

Per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Arroyo will be receiving a $2 million base deal that is filled with incentives. He can earn up to $8 million if he makes 32 starts in 2016.     

Arroyo, 38, last pitched an MLB game in 2014, when he started 14 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks that season. He went 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 86.0 innings pitched. He missed all of the 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, however.

Arroyo, who won a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and was a 2006 National League All-Star and 2010 Gold Glove winner, is a possibility at the bottom of Washington’s rotation.

While he was never an elite pitcher, Arroyo was always an innings-eater who threw 175 or more innings in every season between 2004-2013 and posted 10 or more wins eight times in his career.

The Nationals will be hoping Arroyo can exceed expectations and fit into the fourth or fifth slot in the rotation, giving them quality starts and consistency. He won’t miss a ton of bats or overpower hitters, but he’s an experienced veteran option for Washington and offers it a solid potential option in the rotation. 

That kind of veteran experience could prove vital to a team that is looking to compete for the National League East in 2016.

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What’s scarier than Bryce Harper? How about Bryce Harper stacked on top of Yoenis Cespedes?

Not literally, of course, although that would indeed be scary. As a middle-of-the-lineup duo for the Washington Nationals or anyone else, however, it’s tough to imagine a more fearsome twosome.

As of January 12, Cespedes still doesn’t have a job. Someone is going to pay him to play baseball next season, but it’s unclear who that will be.

That’s been the nature of this winter’s hitters market, which has developed more slowly than an unshaken Polaroid. In addition to Cespedes, five-tool 28-year-old Justin Upton and reigning MLB home run leader Chris Davis, among others, sat unsigned entering Tuesday.

As for the Nats/Cespedes connection, it’s mostly speculative. On Dec. 31, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman posited Washington as a possible landing spot for the Cuban slugger, but he quoted a team-connected source as saying, “Probably not, at least not at the moment.”

The Nationals have since acquired center fielder Ben Revere from the Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Drew Storen. With Harper ensconced in right field, veteran Jayson Werth in left and youngster Michael Taylor also in the mix, it might seem like there’s no room for Cespedes.

Werth, though, is coming off an injury-marred campaign that saw him hit just .221 with a .685 OPS in 88 games. Taylor is a talented but unproven commodity. And Revere, while a nice ancillary addition, is several notches below elite.

Cespedes, meanwhile, would immediately and measurably move the Nats’ offensive needle northward. And, again, pairing him with Harper would create a duo that would cause opposing pitchers to wake in a cold sweat, mumbling about fastballs deposited into the stratosphere.

Here’s a number: 16.2. That’s what you get when you combine Harper’s MLB-leading 9.5 WAR and Cespedes’ No. 7-ranked 6.7 tally, per FanGraphs.

If you don’t love WAR, you can add up Harper’s 42 home runs and Cespedes’ 35. Or Harper’s 99 RBI and Cespedes’ 105. Or—well, you get the idea. These are two of the premier mashers in the game, no matter which measure you choose. 

Cespedes makes his presence felt in the field as well. He has a howitzer arm and was the best defensive left fielder in baseball last season. 

“He’s got all the tools, that’s for sure,” said Michael Cuddyer of his then-New York Mets teammate last August, per John Harper of the New York Daily News. “He’s like Home Depot.”

Cespedes arrived in New York at the trade deadline and proceeded to go on an otherworldly tear, propelling the Mets to their first postseason appearance since 2006.

Now, after signing former Met Daniel Murphy, the Nationals could twist the knife in the defending National League champs by nabbing Cespedes.

Yes, there are risks. As Eno Sarris noted at ESPN.com, the projection systems are foretelling a significant decline at the plate for Cespedes next season. And as the New York Daily News‘ Harper outlined, “Cespedes has been dogged by whispers that he’s a bit of a diva who has done things his way in the past and hasn’t been the most coachable player in the game.”

That alone is a red flag for a club that’s trying to pick up the pieces of a lost season, one that bloomed with hype and promise and withered with inconsistency and infighting.

But new skipper Dusty Baker, legitimate criticisms aside, is an accomplished players’ manager who has worked with outsized personalities ranging from Barry Bonds to Sammy Sosa. Surely, he could juggle the egos of Cespedes and Harper and retain a modicum of clubhouse harmony.

The most talked-about aspect of the Nationals’ 2015 collapse was the team’s less-than-advertised super-rotation. But an offense that posted the second-lowest batting average in the NL after the All-Star break didn’t help.

Will Washington actually land Cespedes? It seems less likely after the Revere trade, but the Nationals did make a serious run at Jason Heyward before he signed for eight years and $184 million with the Chicago Cubs, meaning a nine-figure offer for an outfielder isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

Should it happen? Doubters can debate the merits of giving eye-popping years and dollars to the 30-year-old Cespedes. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported the figure “being bandied” is six years and around $150 million. That’s a major investment.

Remember, though, Harper could become a free agent as soon as 2019, and right-hander Stephen Strasburg may bolt after this season. 

The time is now for the perennially underachieving Nats. The window won’t stay open forever. Which means it’s time to get bold, get scary and, why not, get Cespedes. 

All statistics and contract information courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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Infielder Daniel Murphy reportedly agreed Thursday to a three-year deal with the Washington Nationals, per Jim Bowden of ESPN. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the news. 

Rosenthal added the deal is for three years and worth $37.5 million.  

One of the most productive left-handed hitters in last season’s New York Mets lineup, Murphy proved over seven years in the Big Apple that he is a great hitter. He held a .280 batting average in six of his first seven seasons and hit a career-high 14 long balls last year.

However, Murphy has been a liability in the field, committing 13 or more errors in each of the past four years. But his bat has been too valuable to keep out of the lineup. 

And even while he approached free agency, Murphy adored the franchise that gave him his start, as he told the New York Post‘s Steve Serby: “I know that this organization has done more for me than I think any other organization in baseball would have done, and I love ’em for it.”

However, Murphy will now play for New York’s National League East rival.

Murphy could fit in the second spot of the Nationals lineup. A contact hitter who finds his way on base, he can help set the table for the likes of Bryce Harper in the nation’s capital.

In October, Murphy broke a drought in which he’d played 903 games without making the postseason, and he turned plenty of heads in the playoffs. He drilled seven home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs and was a major reason why the Mets reached the World Series.

If he can provide the same level of production in Washington, Nationals fans will be thrilled with their new second baseman.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has a plan for how the Washington Nationals can recover from their disappointing 2015, and it starts with trading closer Jonathan Papelbon.

“First of all, they need to get rid of Papelbon,” McConnell told Politico on Tuesday (h/t Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com). “Getting in fights with the most valuable player in the National League strikes me as not a team-building exercise.”

Acquired in a midseason trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, Papelbon was apparently an oil-water mix with the Nationals clubhouse after his arrival. The situation culminated with a late-season dugout scuffle with outfielder Bryce Harper. Papelbon was ultimately suspended four games for the incident and recently filed a grievance against the Nationals, looking to recoup lost salary. 

Still, those within the Nationals clubhouse see the issue as being nonexistent.    

“Papelbon and Harper are fine together,” a person within the Nationals organization told Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. “Harp just wants to win. All he cares about is that we have a 45-save relief pitcher who’s going to help us.”

Clubhouse discord at the very least played a part in the dismissal of manager Matt Williams, who has since been replaced by Dusty Baker. It does not appear the Nationals have any plans of trading Papelbon at this time either, with general manager Mike Rizzo recently telling reporters the current plan is for him to return.

Even if the Nationals were to follow McConnell’s request, they may have a tough time. Papelbon has 17 teams on a no-trade clause, per Crasnick. (Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.)

The senator offered additional advice, saying the club needs help in the outfield and starting rotation. 

“I think they need a solid, good-hitting outfielder because Jayson Werth is getting older and not playing many games anymore,” McConnell told Politico (h/t Ted Berg of For the Win). “We could use another starter, although I think this young guy, Lucas Giolito, down in the minors, might be their answer to Jordan Zimmermann’s departure.”

At the very least, it appears Washington agrees with McConnell regarding his outfield comment. The club made an aggressive effort to sign Jason Heyward before he agreed to an eight-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the Nationals actually offered Heyward a $200 million contract, which is more than what he signed with in Chicago.

Either way, it’s unlikely the senator’s words will do much to sway Washington’s offseason plans—even if he does sound like a generally knowledgeable fan.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

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The Washington Nationals are in a spot where they can glance back and see a less-than-awesome 2015 season and also look forward at a future that could take both of their biggest homegrown stars away.

An enviable spot? Well, no. But if nothing else, it’s a spot that should spur the Nationals into some serious action this winter.

Ideally the Nationals’ winter checklist will see them extend star right-hander Stephen Strasburg and star right fielder Bryce Harper. Strasburg, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2009, is only a year away from free agency. Harper, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2010, is three years away from free agency. But extending him in the wake of a season in which he OPS’d 1.109 with 42 homers is a good time to do it.

But here’s some advice on what to do with your breath: Don’t hold it.

Strasburg, 27, and Harper, 23, are represented by Scott Boras, who indicated at the winter meetings last week that nothing is imminent—particularly not with Harper, as Boras says it’s up to the Nats to instigate extension talks.

“I think those are club dynamics,” Boras said, via Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider. “Whenever any team approaches me about any player, obviously we have dialogue with them. But at this point in time, Bryce is going to be there for three more years; very happy there. So we’ll just go forward.”

However, let’s be real here. Boras generally doesn’t do extensions, and it’s hard to imagine him changing his tune no matter how hard the Nationals go after Strasburg or Harper.

If Strasburg can make it through 2016 unscathed, he’ll be the best starting pitcher on the market next winter. If Harper can make it through the next three seasons unscathed, he’ll be the most attractive free agent since Alex Rodriguez.

The guy who knows this better than anyone is Mr. Boras himself.

So that sound that’s now materializing in your head is the ticking of a clock. Because the Nationals can’t take it for granted that either Strasburg or Harper will be sticking around long-term, it’s on them to do what they can to win while they’re still around.

And make no mistake, that’s going to require some effort.

Does this sound like stating the obvious? It might sound like stating the obvious. 

After all, it’s generally a good idea for a team to put some effort into the offseason when it’s coming off of a mere 83-win season. It’s an even better idea when said season features bad chemistry and incompetent leadership. It’s a downright awesome idea when the offseason has already robbed a team of an ace starting pitcher and a starting infielder and is threatening to rob it of three more regulars.

Thing is, though, the Nationals actually could justify a quiet offseason if they need to.

Sure, it stands out that the Nationals have already lost Jordan Zimmermann to free agency and Yunel Escobar in a trade and that they could also lose Ian Desmond, Denard Span and Doug Fister. That’s a good chunk of talent that’s missing.

But the Nationals’ big addition is not to be overlooked. They began their offseason by booting Matt Williams and replacing him with veteran skipper Dusty Baker. He’s known as a true player’s manager, so the Nationals may improve simply by letting him clean up last year’s dysfunction.

Just as important, let’s realize that Baker is taking over a roster that isn’t the disaster some might see it as. Heck, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello notes that it actually projects as elite heading into 2016:

This isn’t hard to believe. The Nationals are returning many players from their 2015 roster, which wasn’t undone by a lack of talent.

At the center of it all, obviously, was Harper doing MVP things at the dish. Strasburg also gave the team a lift, finishing the year on a 10-start tear that lowered his ERA to 3.46. Gio Gonzalez also had a good season, and Max Scherzer was downright fantastic in his first year with the club.

Even more so than bad chemistry and poor leadership, what really killed Washington’s 2015 season was injuries. Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman were hurt for much of the year and weren’t themselves when they were healthy. Strasburg also missed time with injuries.

And that’s just among the players who are due to return in 2016.

If the injury bug leaves Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman alone, Harper will have lots of help on offense. If Strasburg can stay healthy, the front three of the Nationals rotation will be outstanding.

But, yeah. If you’re thinking “Those are some big ifs,” you’re not wrong.

It’s easy to sit and wonder about how good the Nationals lineup will be if Rendon, Werth and Zimmerman are in it, but two of those guys are old and the other has a history of injuries, as does Strasburg.

While we’re tackling a list of areas where the 2016 Nationals could go bust, let’s also grant that they’re betting heavily on some less-than-sure things.

Trea Turner is a talented shortstop prospect, but he has all of 44 major league plate appearances. Michael A. Taylor is a capable defensive center fielder with some power and speed, but he needs to kick a bad whiff habit. Joe Ross flashed some pretty good stuff in 16 appearances in 2015, but he’s a 22-year-old who only has those 16 appearances.

Bottom line: Washington’s current lineup is one that could be good, but it’s not nearly solid enough for anyone to take that as a given. It needs depth.

And considering the circumstances, it shouldn’t just be any depth.

In the NL East, the Nationals need to worry about keeping up with the New York Mets. They’re coming off of a trip to the World Series, and you might have noticed them directly behind the Nationals in Petriello‘s 2016 WAR projections. With a vaunted starting rotation and a lineup that features a good amount of depth, that’s arguably even more believable than Washington’s 2016 WAR projection.

Elsewhere, it’s not just the Mets the Nationals need to worry about if they want to win big while they still have Strasburg and Harper.

The big threat in the National League is in Chicago, where the Cubs have built a superteam. The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals are also still dangerous. Out west, the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants have built themselves into dangerous contenders. That only gives the Los Angeles Dodgers more incentive to put their mountains of riches and young talent to use in response.

To the Nationals’ credit, it seems like they’re aware of all of this.

Petriello highlighted a lefty-hitting outfielder and middle infield depth as the Nationals’ two biggest needs. This would explain the clubs attempts to sign Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, who definitely could have filled both needs.

But though the Nationals signaled with those pursuits that they want to go big, they’ve also indicated that they’re OK going small if they can’t make good on their “Plan As.”

Take what’s happened with the club’s bullpen. The Nationals were heavily linked to Darren O’Day and have also been strongly connected to Cincinnati Reds flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman. But the Nationals missed out on O’Day and have rightfully called off their pursuit of Chapman.

The Nationals have responded to these misses, not by going after alternative relief aces but by settling for lesser options. They’ve traded for Trevor Gott and signed Shawn Kelley and Oliver Perez. Washington’s bullpen is definitely deeper after these moves but not exactly more dangerous.

The Nationals won’t be doomed if they continue like this, as adding complementary pieces to a team that has big potential isn’t the worst idea. But considering that their future also has bust potential in a landscape that features some heavy hitters, merely adding these pieces isn’t the best idea either.

So that need for a lefty-hitting outfielder? That’s a good excuse for the Nats to make good on the interest that Pete Kerzel of MASN Sports says they have in Colorado Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon. 

That need for middle infield depth? The best way to fix that might be to trade for Todd Frazier, someone who Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Nationals are interested in. Washington could plant him at third and move Rendon back to second. 

While the Nationals are at it, one would feel much more comfortable about their rotation depth if they went somewhere with their interest in Mike Leake. The bullpen doesn’t necessarily have to be a finished product either. Bill Ladson of MLB.com has reported the Nationals are looking at Pirates closer Mark Melancon, who would be an upgrade over either Jonathan Papelbon or Drew Storen. While the Nationals are at it, one or both of them needs to go.

As things stand now, it’s hard to say that the Nationals’ window is closing in a hurry. They have a strong core in place—stronger than their lousy 2015 indicates, to be sure.

But for the first time since the Nationals rose to power in 2012, the point at which their window is going to start closing is in sight. The two homegrown stars they’ve been building around may not be sticking around for much longer. If the Nationals want to send them out on a high note, they need to keep building.

It’s either that or pony up to keep them around for the long-haul. But good luck with that.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.

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Close your eyes, Washington Nationals fans, and picture it: Bryce Harper and Jason Heyward, two of the game’s most dynamic young players, roaming the outfield together.

It’s far from a sure thing, but it’s also not an impossible dream.

The rumor, which dropped as the winter meetings were wrapping up in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, came courtesy of CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman:

Heyman added Heyward is “said to have a $200 million offer,” more likely from St. Louis or Washington than from the Chicago Cubs—the outfielder’s other possible suitor. Heyman mentioned a possible unnamed fourth interested party as well.

That figure is no surprise. The 26-year-old Heyward is one of the winter’s most coveted free agents. If Zack Greinke and David Price can sail past the $200 million mark, why not him?

And remember, the Nats were the team that swooped in and signed right-hander Max Scherzer last offseason for $210 million to cap off their supposed super-rotation.

Scherzer pitched well, twirling a pair of no-hitters, but the Nationals’ season crumbled into a heap of injury and infighting.

Now, they’ve got a shot at redemption. Why not aim for it with a super outfield, anchored by a pair of legit five-tool studs? Call them the 10-tool twosome. 

There are a lot of ways to illustrate how good a Harper-Heyward tandem would be. While wins above replacement (WAR) is an imperfect stat, it works just fine here.

By FanGraphs’ measure, Harper paced the field in WAR with a 9.5 mark. Heyward, meanwhile, checked in at No. 17 in the game with 6.0 WAR. That combined 15.5 mark would have been the highest of any two teammates in the game, eclipsing the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Clayton Kershaw (8.6) and Greinke (5.9), who combined for 14.5 WAR.

Harper was the superior hitter last year in his breakout National League MVP season, as he cracked 42 home runs with an eye-popping 1.109 OPS. But Heyward turned in a well-rounded offensive performance of his own, posting a .293/.359/.439 slash line and stealing 23 bases.

Oh, and he was the best defensive right fielder in the game.

Speaking of which, right field in the nation’s capital is currently occupied by Harper, who started 139 of his 151 games there. His other starts came in center field, but the more likely move would be to put Heyward there. 

Heyward started only eight games in center in 2015, but the three-time Gold Glove winner’s range and leather are more than adequate to man the position full time. Or, at least, until veteran Jayson Werth—who is owed $42 million over the next two seasons—vacates his outfield spot.

As long as we’re looking down the road, it’s worth asking if sinking big bucks into Heyward would preclude the Nationals from locking up Harper when he hits the market after the 2018 season. It’s entirely possible the answer is “yes.”

But here’s another perspective: The Nats might not be able to sign Harper at that point—Heyward or not. Remember, Harper just turned 23 in October, meaning he’ll be slightly younger than Heyward is now when he inevitably tests free agency, and he will have likely put up gaudier numbers.

With deep-pocketed suitors such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and basically everyone else with two nickels to rub together lining up, Harper could land a deal that makes Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million pact with the Miami Marlins look like couch-cushion change.

A similar argument can be made about right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who will become a free agent next winter, as Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal noted:

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. For this season, and the next couple of seasons, a Harper-Heyward union has the potential to rock the MLB world. These are generational talents. And while nothing is guaranteed, putting them in the same dugout could be one of the more face-meltingly awesome experiments in recent baseball history.

Would it be enough to propel Washington past the defending NL champion New York Mets and their stellar young rotation? There’s no telling, though the fact that Heyward has tagged Mets pitchers to the tune of a .917 career OPS has to make the Washington faithful smile a little.

They’ll be smiling a lot if this rumor turns out to have legs. Sure, it may be another hot-stove mirage—one of many pulse-raising scenarios that remain forever in hypothetical limbo.

“Heyward to D.C.” didn’t sound probable in mid-November if you listened to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo.

“I wouldn’t think we’d be big players for one of the big free-agent outfielders,” Rizzo said at the time, per James Wagner of the Washington Post. “We like the three guys that we have. We think Michael Taylor is going to be a terrific major league player.”

A lot can change in a month, especially this time of year. And it has, if the chatter is to be believed.

So go ahead and close your eyes, Nats fans. You had a rough season. You deserve to dream big.

All statistics and contract information current as of Dec. 11 and courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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