My 2009 Nationals

If I was Jim Bowden and I had a decent amount of money to go out and sign a couple free agents and the free will to trade my players this is how I would try and shape up Nationals.

I applaud the trade for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen. Josh brings a little more power to the team, and Scott brings a solid #1 or #2 starter to the team.

I would first re-sign Aaron Boone to a 2-year deal at any cost. Boone is a great utility player who can come off the bench or start.

In free agency I would pursue Adam Dunn to play first base with a contract offer of 3 years at $20 million with a club-option 4th year worth $9 million or a $3 million buy-out, Mark Johnson as a backup catcher to Jesus Flores and offering him a contract of 2 years at $3 million, and finally try and sign Braden Looper to be the second starter at $16 million for 3 years and a 4th year player option worth $7 million.

A trade I would try to make during the off-season would be to acquire Cla Meredith from the Padres for outfielder Austin Kearns. The Padres are in need of offense and the Nationals could use some more bullpen help, then again what team can't. The Nationals might have to eat some of Kearns' contract though since the Padres are dealing with budget constraints for 2009.

If all went to play this would be my 25-man roster for the 2009 Nationals:
Batting Order:
SS - Christian Guzman
1B - Adam Dunn
3B - Ryan Zimmerman
LF - Josh Willingham
RF - Lastings Milledge
C - Jesus Flores
CF - Elijah Dukes
2B - Anderson Hernandez

Bench - Willy Mo Pena (OF)
Bench - Aaron Boone (UTIL)
Bench - Mark Johnson (C)
Bench - Ronnie Belliard (2B/1B)
Bench - Dmitri Young (1B)

SP - Scott Olsen
SP - Braden Looper
SP - John Lannan
SP - Tim Redding
SP - Jordan Zimmerman

RP - Joel Hanrahan (closer)
RP - Steven Shell (set-up)
RP - Saul Rivera
RP - Jesus Colome
RP - Cla Meredith
RP - Garrett Mock
RP - Mike Hinckley

Keep the Moves Coming

So far in the off-season I am impressed the Nationals are looking to establish that they want to win. Already Jim Bowden has traded for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen from the rival Marlins.

I believe the Nationals should look for that offensive-minded first basemen at this time. Through free agency there are players such as Mark Teixeira out there that will require a lot of money. Realistically the Nationals should go after a player such as Adam Dunn or Kevin Millar to play first base.

Aside from first base a catcher seems to be a needed acquisition. In the FA market catchers are thin, but there are players who can get the job done such as veterans Michael Barrett, who has had recent injury problems, Mark Johnson who showed a little spark in St. Louis last year and he has been around the league so he knows how to call games, and Toby Hall is a catcher who can help this young staff out tremendously.

In all likely hood I expect more  on the trade side compared to free agent signings from Bowden right now.