Reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams is a powerful man because he’s the one who gets to hand over the Washington Nationals‘ lineup card on Opening Day 2015.
From top to bottom, bullpen to backstop, Washington’s roster is built to win right now.
Through several smaller, calculated moves—and one very big play—general manager Mike Rizzo has put together one of the most complete squads in baseball—a unit that is now the favorite to win the World Series, according to Odds Shark.
But the beauty of the Nationals’ impressive roster is its resemblance to last year’s group. Aside from the very necessary trade that shored up second base with Yunel Escobar and the gargantuan pile of money that brought in Max Scherzer, Washington’s nucleus from a season ago features largely the same names.
But nothing is set in stone.
With Scherzer‘s arrival in D.C., Stephen Strasburg or Jordan Zimmermann could be more valuable as trade bait than a member of the Nats‘ terrifying rotation. Either way, the team is reportedly listening to offers.
Yes, #Nats are willing to trade Stephen Strasburg if they don’t get acceptable offer for Zimmermann (in event they land Scherzer).
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 18, 2015
Ian Desmond has also reportedly been shopped around as he enters the final year of his contract with no sign of an extension in sight, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
But this Opening Day projection comes from the school of thought that Washington is content to close up shop for the winter and keep its stars in town for 2015.
This 25-man roster is a finely tuned machine that could propel the Nationals to a second consecutive National League East title, with designs on much more than that.