A year has passed and the broad goals are no different for the Nationals as their offseason begins Monday. The organization that earlier this season became the poster child for dysfunction in Major League Baseball must find a way to shake off its second consecutive year with more than 100 losses.
There will be one major difference this winter, however. In August, the Nats appointed Mike Rizzo the permanent general manager. He will be the point man for a host of offseason moves — hiring a field manager and coaching staff, retooling a disjointed front office and adding as much talent as possible to baseball’s worst club.
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“We’re definitely not satisfied with the way things turned out this year,” Rizzo told MASN last week. “It’s all about winning games and that’s what we’re planning on in the future and that’s what we’re all about this winter.”
That process will begin, according to Rizzo, by targeting free agents who can help. An experienced starting pitcher — or two — is the highest priority. Too often this season the Nats relied on unproven rookie pitchers in the rotation. But Rizzo also wants to improve his team by adding depth to the bullpen and speed and athleticism to the lineup.
That process began in July when Rizzo traded for center fielder Nyjer Morgan. The 29-year-old established himself as one of the game’s best defensive players. Infielder Ian Desmond and outfielder Justin Maxwell also fit that bill. Both will take their strong Septembers into spring training next year.
Trades will again be an option in the offseason, Rizzo said. That’s how Washington picked up outfielder Josh Willingham last winter and he hit 24 home runs and helped solidify the middle of the batting order.
But those moves will all come after the World Series. The first order of business is finding a permanent manager. Interim manager Jim Riggleman, who took over for Manny Acta in July, guided his club to a 33-42 record in 75 games.
“We’re going to do our due diligence. We owe it to the [fans] to explore our other options,” Rizzo told MASN on Sunday. “Jim is certainly going to be involved in the process and [will] be a definite candidate for the permanent job. But we want to make a decision as soon as we can to get our coaching staff under wraps.”
