Nats strike early, still looking to shop around

WASHINGTON -- Count the Nationals as early shoppers this winter.
Washington traded for Kyle Barraclough and signed Trevor Rosenthal in October to help bolster its bullpen. The Nationals grabbed Kurt Suzuki in free agency and acquired Yan Gomes from the Indians to create a formidable catching duo. And then they reached a six-year deal with left-hander Patrick Corbin, the consensus top free-agent starter available. Before they even arrive at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas this weekend, the Nats have already addressed several of their most pressing needs.
"We're very impatient people," general manager Mike Rizzo said with a laugh. "We have a wish list, and we try to get things done when you see something that makes sense for you."
There remains at least one major item on the Nationals' winter checklist that has not been resolved -- Bryce Harper's free agency. Harper's Bazaar, coined by his agent Scott Boras, will likely be in full swing this week in Harper's hometown of Las Vegas. It could be an opportunity for several teams to meet with Harper, Boras and company. Even after their already active start to the offseason, the Nats are almost certain to circle back with Harper at some point.

But Washington finds itself in an advantageous position at the Winter Meetings. The Nationals have already crossed off the most glaring weaknesses on their roster and can now focus on minor tweaks as they attempt to build this team back into a postseason contender. Their needs are less dire than they were at the start of the offseason, and yet Washington remains in position to strike again if it can find a deal it believes has good value.
Club needs
Gathering some clarity on Harper's next move would be helpful, but the Nats have also made it clear they will not wait around for his decision to fill the rest of their needs. Even after adding Corbin, their rotation depth is thin, and it seems almost certain they will explore adding another starting pitcher. The bullpen also still feels an arm short and Rizzo has stated several times they can never have enough relief help. And they need to rebuild their bench, starting with a left-handed complement for Ryan Zimmerman at first base and maybe someone to help at second base.

Whom might they trade?
Outfield is perhaps the strongest position of depth within the organization, and it's where the Nationals have the potential to deal. This becomes especially true if they can bring Harper back, as a logjam in the outfield could mean the chance to explore potential trade destinations for Adam Eaton or Michael A. Taylor.
Prospects to know
Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom are the Nationals' top two prospects, and MLB Pipeline's fourth- and 37th-ranked prospects overall. At the moment, it is difficult to see Washington trading either player. After rejecting all trade proposals involving Robles for the past two years, Robles seems poised to begin the regular season as the starting center fielder in D.C. The organization values Kieboom highly, and he could be on track to make his Major League debut in 2019. Harper's return could change things, but for now, the Nats do not seem interested in trading away their top prospects.

Rule 5 Draft
Rarely are the Nationals active participants in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft. They protected one player, adding reliever James Bourque to the 40-man last month, and with the addition of Corbin they will have 38 players on their roster. Notable players within the organization left unprotected include outfielder Telmito Agustin and José Marmolejos. Agustin is Washington's 12th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and Marmolejos is No. 25.
Payroll summary
The Nationals should still have financial flexibility to work with this offseason even after adding five players. The combined salary of their new arrivals comes out to about $43 million, and about $62 million came off the books from last year's payroll from seven players (not including Harper). Washington seems intent on remaining under the luxury tax threshold after exceeding it the past two seasons, although signing Harper would almost certainly push the Nats' payroll beyond that mark.