Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals (2010 record: 69-93)

The addition of free agent Jayson Werth speaks volumes about the Nationals’ growth in terms of the perception of the team as it continues its journey towards baseball relevance. The trade-off from Adam Dunn to Werth may or may not make an impact on the field in terms of wins and losses, but it makes a clear statement about the possibilities for the future.

In the past three years, Jayson Werth has averaged 29 HR, 92 R, 83 RBI, 17 SB, and .279 AVG.  In 2010, Jayson Werth established a career-high .352 BABIP. This number suggests luck because of his career-low line-drive rate of 17.5 percent. 

There are essentially two schools of thought on the Washington Nationals' signing of Jayson Werth. he first school absolutely hates the deal and points to Werth's age, health history, and small number of productive seasons. The other school sees the signing as a must in order for the Nats to establish themselves as offseason contenders.

Heading into 2011, one player is generating more anticipation than any other. 

It's not Stephen Strasburg, as he's still six months away from being fully healthy. 

It's not Bryce Harper; he likely won't even sniff the big leagues this season.

It's Danny Espinosa, the rookie second baseman who burst on the scene for the last few weeks of the 2010 season.

Bryce Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, and one of the most hyped prospects of all time was reassigned earlier today to the Washington Nationals minor league spring training camp.

After drafting Harper with the first overall pick, the Nationals signed him to a five-year, $9.9 million major league contract which includes guaranteed invites to spring training. Harper was impressive in his first appearance, batting .389 with five RBIs.

In Spanish, the word Espinosa means thorny. A rose is thorny. Danny Espinosa is much like a rose. He can be a thing or beauty for his fantasy owners, or he can be downright painful.

Forget about Stephen Strasburg—Bryce Harper is the hottest thing in baseball now. His bat has been compared to the late, great Ted Williams and he might be the most hyped prospect of all-time.

It is hard to say whether or not Harper is ready to break into the bigs. Last season, he played in junior college and the year before that, he was still in high school.

Do you think that Bryce Harper is ready for the show? I don’t think he is quite there. If the Nationals are smart, they will wait until they call Harper up to the majors.

It’s a fickle life in Major League Baseball. Here today, gone tomorrow is a phrase often used when referring to ballplayers who had a quick run of success before seemingly losing it altogether, or players felled by injuries who were unable to make it all the way back.

The stories of great fame and then injury go back many years in baseball, especially among pitchers. Dizzy Dean was a classic example.

Known as the Ace of the Gashouse Gang for the St. Louis Cardinals, Dean was the last pitcher to win 30 games in the National League, reaching that mark in 1934.

Heading into spring training, the Washington Nationals appeared to have four players who were capable of being quality every-day major league catchers.

And three games into the Grapefruit League schedule, nothing has changed.

I know, I know.  You must think I'm crazy.  Maybe I am.  But there's no question that, for the first time in a long, long while, there's legitimate excitement about the future of baseball in Washington, D.C.

Am I jumping the gun a little bit?  Maybe.  Could I be falling for the hype and headed for inevitable disappointment?  It's possible.  But maybe I'm right.