In a week filled with playoff hype for the Redskins, the Nationals will take a slice of the attention today with a press conference - carried live at noon on MASN and MASNsports.com - introducing new second baseman Daniel Murphy.
While Murphy, the reigning National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, represents the biggest offseason acquisition so far, general manager Mike Rizzo has also been busy assembling a new bullpen and adding veteran role players for depth.
Besides announcing Murphy's three-year deal yesterday, the Nationals confirmed a one-year contract reportedly worth $3 million (with an additional $1.25 million in incentives) for infielder Stephen Drew. The 31-year-old slashed only .201/.271/.381 in 131 games with the Yankees last season, but did deliver 17 homers, tied for third most among major league second basemen.
Drew, a 10-year veteran, brings experience in 28 postseason games, including a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2013 when he batted .253 with 13 homers, 29 doubles and 67 RBIs. He also provides another left-handed bat - something the Nationals lacked badly last season - and gives manager Dusty Baker's plenty of infield options with his ability to play second base, shortstop and third base.
Murphy's signing seems to give Danny Espinosa the shot to become the Nationals everyday shortstop for the first time in his six-year career. Certainly, there figures to be competition there in the spring with highly touted prospect Trea Turner and Drew challenging.
"That's the one thing that I believe in: giving guys opportunity," Baker said. "I can't give you the job, but I can give you an opportunity to take the job."
More than anything, Drew's signing guarantees another capable veteran reserve. Aside from Bryce Harper's scorching bat and Max Scherzer's blazing arm, the Nationals bench was the lifeblood of the first four months of the season in 2015. Because of widespread and persisting injuries to key veterans, players like rookie Michael A. Taylor, Clint Robinson, Tyler Moore and Espinosa carried the Nats through much of the summer as they maintained a hold on first place.
Unless Rizzo adds another veteran outfielder, the dynamic Taylor will start in center field. If Taylor somehow ends up on the bench, he provides speed, power and top-flight late-inning defense.
Robinson, the big lefty swinger, gives the Nationals an attractive bat off the bench with the ability to back up Ryan Zimmerman at first and Jayson Werth in left.
Outfielder Matt den Dekker made the most of his playing time at the end of last season, batting .346/.393/.731 with two homers, four doubles, three RBIs and six runs scored over his final 10 games. He brings speed, solid defense and another left-handed bat to the bench.
"I know how to run this race," Baker said. "I know what it takes as a player and a coach and a manager, and it's a long race. We need to make sure we have a capable bench. When I looked at the schedule in May, we're playing 20 (games) in a row. I looked at the schedule in August and we're playing 20 games in a row. I mean, you need some backup to give some guys some rest or else you're gonna break them down by the end of the season.
"So you need some depth. And also, we're trying to get some depth at Triple-A because to win this thing, it takes an entire organization. It takes more than the 25 guys that are here. Very rarely have been on a team where you go start to finish without somebody getting hurt."