Who could the Washington Nationals target this offseason?
Heading into the 2015 season, the Washington Nationals were picked by many fans and experts to run away with the National League East and make a run at the World Series.
Unfortunately for them, the Nats were incredibly underwhelming, finishing seven games back of the first place New York Mets, culminating in the firing of 2014 NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams.
The Winter Meetings are quickly approaching -- they begin December 6 in Nashville -- and the Nationals have some areas of need. The team is losing several impact players in Jordan Zimmermann, Denard Span, Ian Desmond, Doug Fister and Matt Thornton. Who could they target in free agency or trade that could shore up their roster?
1. Jason Heyward
This is a reach. Heyward is poised to earn more than $200 million on the free agent market (or close to it) this offseason, but Washington has shown it can get creative with its contracts. Last season, they gave Max Scherzer a seven-year, $210 million deal, but it is paid over 15 years. If they can offer Heyward a unique contract, possibly with an opt-out clause, it might be enough to sway the 26-year-old. Right now, the Nats have Bryce Harper guaranteed to take up an outfield spot, but it's up in the air after him. Michael Taylor has shown flashes of brilliance, but only hit .229 with a .282 on-base percentage over 138 games in 2015. Jayson Werth battled injuries last season, playing in just 88 games. Acquiring Heyward, who hit .293 with 13 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 2015, would give the Nats another franchise centerpiece in the outfield while providing a much-needed lefty bat to the lineup.
2. Gerardo Parra
If the Nationals don't splurge on Heyward this offseason, Parra could be a cheaper option. Though he isn't as young as Heyward, he isn't old by any means -- he's just 28. He had a tough time adjusting to the AL East after being traded to Baltimore at the deadline in 2015, hitting just .237 over 55 games. However, in 100 games with Milwaukee in 2015, Parra looked like an All-Star, hitting .328 with nine home runs and 24 doubles. Parra doesn't strikeout much (93 K's in 2015), but he doesn't walk much either, carrying a .328 on-base percentage in 2015. He might play best as a platoon option with both Taylor and Werth.
3. Aroldis Chapman
It was reported Monday that the Nationals were "chasing" Chapman and Darren O'Day (more on him later), despite having a seemingly-set back of the pen with Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon. Should the team find takers for those two, it could certainly clear room for an elite closer in Chapman. The flame-throwing lefty is under contract for only the 2016 season and will come at a high price from the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out an astounding 116 hitters in 66 1/3 innings while pitching to a 1.63 ERA in 2015. He would provide an immediate boost to the Nats bullpen, but the Reds will likely seek a similar (or better) return to what the four prospects the Padres received for Craig Kimbrel.
4. Darren O'Day
While Chapman might be harder to acquire considering the prospects he could command, O'Day is a free agent with some ties to D.C. The 33-year-old sidearmer is widely seen as the top bullpen arm on the free agent market and has no shortage of suitors. He carried just a 1.92 ERA in four seasons in Baltimore, capped with a stellar 2015 season in which he struck out 82 hitters in 65 1/3 innings and had a 1.52 ERA. O'Day's wife, Elizabeth Prann, is a reporter in Washington D.C., giving the Nationals that extra leg-up over the rest of the teams in his pursuit.
5. Daniel Murphy
Murphy is an intriguing one, isn't he? The Nationals sorely need infield help, especially with Desmond departing. Murphy has the ability to play multiple positions (albeit not great) and has been a consistent hitter from the left side. Across 130 games in 2015, Murphy hit .281 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI while striking out just 38 times. Of course, you have to mention his unbelievable performance this postseason -- he hit home runs in six-straight games in the NLDS and NLCS. That postseason run likely boosted his value this offseason, but it would be tough for the Nats to justify giving the 30-year-old more than a three-year deal.
