Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals roll into the 2016 season focused on a single question: Can they zap the memory of last year's embarrassing implosion and claw back to the postseason?

One of the defining moments of the Washington Nationals' 2015 season saw Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper engage in a dugout skirmish on Sept. 27.

The incident led Washington to suspend Papelbon for four games, ending his 2015 season, per Bill Ladson of MLB.com. 

At 23 years old, Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper is becoming the face of Major League Baseball. He's a three-time All-Star in just four seasons in the majors and is the reigning National League MVP after a campaign in which he hit .330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBI.

The Washington Nationals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a deal with veteran pitcher Bronson Arroyo. 

The team also revealed it was a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

What's scarier than Bryce Harper? How about Bryce Harper stacked on top of Yoenis Cespedes?

Not literally, of course, although that would indeed be scary. As a middle-of-the-lineup duo for the Washington Nationals or anyone else, however, it's tough to imagine a more fearsome twosome.

Infielder Daniel Murphy reportedly agreed Thursday to a three-year deal with the Washington Nationals, per Jim Bowden of ESPN. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the news. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has a plan for how the Washington Nationals can recover from their disappointing 2015, and it starts with trading closer Jonathan Papelbon.

The Washington Nationals are in a spot where they can glance back and see a less-than-awesome 2015 season and also look forward at a future that could take both of their biggest homegrown stars away.

An enviable spot? Well, no. But if nothing else, it's a spot that should spur the Nationals into some serious action this winter.

Close your eyes, Washington Nationals fans, and picture it: Bryce Harper and Jason Heyward, two of the game's most dynamic young players, roaming the outfield together.

It's far from a sure thing, but it's also not an impossible dream.

The rumor, which dropped as the winter meetings were wrapping up in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, came courtesy of CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman:

Bullpen pitcher Yusmeiro Petit burned the Washington Nationals in the postseason in 2014. Now, he will reportedly join them in 2016.