Whatever the signing of free-agent outfielder Adam Dunn accomplishes on the field for the Nationals this season, it has already paid dividends on the club’s perception of itself.
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The Nationals energized what had been a sleepy offseason with the signing of slugger Adam Dunn this week. But the club had made a few earlier moves that could prove key to a resurgent 2009.
Other than Dunn’s signing, the biggest splash was a trade of second-base prospect Emilio Bonifacio to Florida for outfielder Josh Willingham, 29, and left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen, 25.
Willingham finds himself in the middle of a crowded outfield with Dunn and holdovers Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns, Willie Harris and possibly Wily Mo Pena, who missed much of last season after shoulder surgery.
Harris was re-signed to a two-year, $3 million contract in December after posting a career-high 13 home runs in 2008 and proving his defensive versatility. Harris is likely headed back to the role of super-sub envisioned for him last year.
The Nats took care of shortstop before last season even ended, signing Cristian Guzman to a two-year, $16 million contract extension last July. That plugged what would have been a gaping hole at short with no player in the minor-league system on the immediate horizon.
The Nats tried a cost-effective method to bolstering their starting rotation. Olsen was arbitration-eligible when traded by the Marlins and agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal last week. Washington also signed former Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera to a one-year, $2.6 million deal and lefty Odalis Perez, who posted a 4.34 ERA for the Nats last year, was a minor-league signee after finding little interest on the free-agent market. His is a non-guaranteed contract. With the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft, the Nats took reliever Terrell Young, a flamethrowing right-hander from the Cincinnati Reds, but will have to keep him on the major-league roster all season or else offer Young back to his former team.Subtractions
Few major defections. The Nats did lose right-hander starter Tim Redding, who had an excellent first three months in 2008, but faded in the second half of the season. He signed with the New York Mets. Back-up infielder Aaron Boone also departed, signing a contract with the Houston Astros. The Nats also waived closer Chad Cordero after he refused to be designated for assignment in the fall. Cordero missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.
As anxious as fans have been to see how the front office would improve the organization this offseason, Nats players have been equally curious. Dunn, 29, was introduced at a press conference at Nationals Park on Thursday. He is the first major free-agent signing by Washington since the team moved to the District from Montreal in 2005.
“Any time you can get a cleanup hitter like [Dunn] it’s only going to make things easier on all of us,” said Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. “This is something that we really needed. We have a good core group of guys here. But you have to add to that when you can.”
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The Nationals hit the second-fewest home runs in the National League last season (117) and scored just 641 runs, third-fewest in all of baseball. With better health for Zimmerman (shoulder), outfielders Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes and first baseman Nick Johnson (wrist), the front office is hopeful that a glaring weakness can become a strength in 2009.
“Pitchers will have to work a little harder getting through our lineup this year,” said Nats right-handed pitcher Jason Bergmann. “Of course, now there will be a lot more open competition for few jobs in the field. Spring training will definitely be telling now — not only in the pitching staff but also in the batting order.”
It didn’t hurt the organization’s credibility, according to Zimmerman and Bergmann, that the Nats made a serious run at star free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira earlier in the winter, offering the most overall money, according to sources, but falling short because Teixeira wanted to play for a winning team. Washington had the worst record in baseball last year at 59-102.
