Washington Nationals
2016: 95-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLDS. Manager: Dusty Baker (second season). He’s here: CF Adam Eaton, C Matt Wieters, 1B-LF Adam Lind, RHP Joe Blanton, RHP Joe Nathan, LHP Enny Romero. He’s outta here: RHP Mark Melancon, C Wilson Ramos, INF Danny Espinosa, CF Ben Revere, LHP Marc Rzepczynski.
Projected lineup: SS Trea Turner (.342, 13 HRs, 40 RBIs, 33 SBs in 73 games), 3B Anthony Rendon (.270, 20, 85, 38 2Bs), 2B Daniel Murphy (.347, 25, 104, 47 2Bs), RF Bryce Harper (.243, 24, 86), LF Jayson Werth (.244, 21, 69), CF Adam Eaton (.284, 14, 59 with White Sox), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.218, 15, 46), C Matt Wieters (.243, 17, 66 with Orioles). Rotation: RH Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA, 284 Ks, 228⅓ IP, NL Cy Young Award), RH Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 3.60), RH Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83), LH Gio Gonzalez (11-11, 4.57), RH Joe Ross (7-5, 3.43). Hot spot: Bullpen. With Melancon gone to the San Francisco Giants as a free agent, and a failed bid to sign Kenley Jansen away from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nationals appear set to begin the season without an established, experienced closer. Folks such as Kelley, Treinen and Glover entered spring training with an opportunity to seize the job, but as of 1½ weeks to go before opening day, a closer had not been named. Washington has had back-endof-the-bullpen issues in past Octobers, so perhaps GM Mike Rizzo will look to make yet another deal for a ninth-inning man around the trade deadline. Outlook: The lineup is probably as good as it’s ever been, especially if Harper and Zimmerman bounce back from down years and Turner comes even close to replicating what he did as runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year while learning a new position, center field. Turner will be back at his natural spot, shortstop, and the team hopes Eaton will provide stability in CF. Wieters offers pop from both sides as the new catcher. If Scherzer and Strasburg are healthy, the rotation should be quite good again, maybe even strong enough to prevent bullpen questions from having much of a negative effect. Washington has been toggling back and forth between NL East champion and no-postseason disappointment in recent years; with Baker steering the way, the Nationals hope to make a second consecutive playoff trip for the first time — and finally win a series, too.