Last in a series
MAYBE Jayson Werth knew what he was doing, after all.
A year removed from his decision to take the money and run from the powerhouse Phillies to the power-starved Nationals, Werth's total postseason deficit is one crushing NLDS defeat at the hands of the Cardinals.
And no, the Nationals will not have a Holy Trinity like Halladay, Lee and Hamels in their rotation. But, despite a purge of recognizable if unproductive veterans, they might have a formidable club.
For the second straight year, the Nats made a serious run at an offseason prize when they pursued Prince Fielder, the consolation prize for teams in the Albert Pujols sweepstakes. Last season, Werth was the No. 2 free agent behind Carl Crawford. Fielder landed with Detroit.
Perhaps as important, they went after, and got, lefthander Gio Gonzalez in a significant trade. That's the same Gio Gonzalez who completed the Phillies' trade of Jim Thome to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand. The White Sox, who drafted Gonzalez 38th overall in 2004, got Gonzalez back the next year as part of the Freddy Garcia deal with the Phillies and sent him to Oakland in 2008.
Gonzalez, 26, went 31-21 with a 3.17 earned run average and 368 strikeouts in 65 starts with Oakland the past two seasons, his third and fourth in the majors.
By comparison, Cole Hamels went 24-21 with a 3.66 ERA and 364 strikeouts in 65 starts in his third and fourth seasons, with a considerably better ballclub.
The Nationals locked up Gonzalez with a 5-year, $42 million deal as soon as he hit D.C. That means he is expected to pitch in tandem with terrifyingly talented Stephen Strasburg for the next half-decade.
Strasburg, you might remember, blew through the majors for 12 games in 2010 (5-3, 92 strikeouts in 68 innings), got hurt, then came back from elbow surgery in September and held opponents to four earned runs in five starts.
Gonzalez might turn out to be the biggest bargain of the offseason. Hamels matured into a consistently better pitcher after he reached Gonzalez' age and experience marks.
The Nationals' pursuit of Fielder is another indicator that this is not the same old Expos/Nationals doormat. The Nats also are trying to extend cornerstone third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the division's new Scott Rolen . . . and maybe better.
