2010 MLB Season Preview: Washington Nationals

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Stephen Strasburg (SP)
Jason Marquis (SP)
Chien-Ming Wang (SP)
Adam Kennedy (2B)
Ivan Rodriguez (C)
Matt Capps (RP)
Brian Bruney (RP)
Livan Hernandez (SP)
Nyjer Morgan (CF)

Key Departures:

Anderson Hernandez (2B)
Lastings Milledge (OF)
Kip Wells (SP)
Mike MacDougal (RP)
Saul Rivera (RP)
Jesus Colome (RP)

Honestly I don't think the Nationals will be that bad this year. Maybe I've been drinking the MASN kool aid, but this team doesn't look half bad. After all, if you go from a season in which your second baseman was Anderson Hernandez to a season in which your starting second baseman is not Anderson Hernandez, that's change I can believe in.

While the acquisition of Adam Kennedy is not similar to the Bush to Obama transition, for the Nationals it represents a new day in which a half-way decent player may want to be overpaid to play for D.C. The addition of Ivan Rodriguez could be a major boon for a team with so many young pitchers. Having his experience behind the plate could advance the development of youngsters like Stephen Strasburg, Craig Stammen, Colin Balester and Ross Detwiler.

Speaking of those young pitchers, Nats GM Mike Rizzo is betting the house (and his job in all likelihood) that their decision to invest most of their draft picks in young pitching pays off. If Strasburg and Detwiler are able to mature and offer some consistency this season, Rizzo will be lauded by the baseball pundits. I don't expect either to put it all together this season, but there is potential for the Nationals to have two aces on their staff in three year's time.

The Nationals lineup is not so much material for a stand-up comedy bit as it used to be. Adam Dunn will be in his contract year this season and Ryan Zimmerman will be eager to prove he can two seasons together without missing significant time due to injury. Nyjer Morgan was a revelation for the Nationals last season, turning in stellar defense and stealing any base he could.

All of that being said, I do not think the Nationals are going anywhere in this division. For all of the offseason improvement and buzz, this is still a cellar team. But at least this season, they might be a little bit more fun to watch.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Nyjer Morgan (CF)
2. Christian Guzman (SS)
3. Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
4. Adam Dunn (1B)
5. Josh Willingham (LF)
6. Elijah Dukes (RF)
7. Ivan Rodriguez (C)
8. Adam Kennedy (2B)
9. John Lannan (P)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. John Lannan
2. Jason Marquis
3. Scott Olsen
4. J.D. Martin
5. Garrett Mock

Best Reliever: Brian Bruney

Closer: Matt Capps

Predicted Finish: Fifth in the NL East