Washington Nationals Interested In John Smoltz Acc. To FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.

The Nationals have ZERO starting pitching…Zimmerman is the best trade option we have. He is my favorite player on the team but if we trade him we can get a whole lot for him. Halladay is in his prime for a pitcher and could pitch for another 5-6 years. Combine him with Strausburg and Harden. Its a gamble to sign Harden but he is a really talented pitcher. Look at when the Red Sox signed Josh Becket early in his career he had injuries. Harden is a little risky but the reward is a #1 Pitcher. Trading Zimmerman for another #1 like Halladay and Having Strausburg in the rotation would Help. Don’t forget Lannan would be a decent #4 started and Jordan Zimmerman is pretty good. Put the younger talented pitching into the bullpen like the Yankee’s did with Joba Chamberlain and they can learn at the MLB level instead of being stuck in one of the worst Minor League systems. Our hitting is pretty good but honestly for a 3B Zimmerman is not the best hitter out there. Check this out…

Number 1 we need pitching…

We can spend $20,000,000
Sign some quality free agents and trade Zimmerman
Let the younger talent learn in the MLB not get stuck in the minors.

I would sign….

Vladimir Guerrero type B so we would lose a 2nd round pick He wants to start so put him in RF and move Dukes to LF.
CF Rocco Baldelli – Minor Leauges in case of injuries
SS Khalil Greene – Solid fielder
3B Troy Glaus – to replace Zimmerman he is 33 years old and still has 2 good years left.
OF Rick Ankiel – Lots of talent and potentiality…maybe let him pitch a little too when he isn’t in the lineup. possible left hand power bat off the bench
3B Bobby Crosby – Good defensive backup at 3B Minor Leagues
P Jose Contreras – at 38 years old he would be a great closer option look at Mariano Rivera.
P Rich Harden – 28 Type B FA lose a draft pick but worth it.
P Brett Myers – 29
P Kelvim Escobar 33 – Bullpen setup man or closer

MY DREAM 2010 25 man Roster

C – Brandon Inge TRADE from DETROIT for Josh Willingham
1B – Adam Dunn
2B – Cristian Guzman
SS – Ian Desmond
3B – Troy Glaus FA
OF – Elijah Dukes
OF- Nyjer Morgan
OF – Vladimir Guerrero FA

Bench -

C Jose Bautista – I know he is not a Catcher but transition him to Catcher he can play OF and IF (get him in the Roy Halladay Deal from Toronto)
UTIL – Khali Greene
UTIL – Destin Hood
OF- Rocco Baldelli
1B – Mike Morse

Starting Rotation

1. RHP Roy Halladay – TRADE Ryan Zimmerman
2. LHP Dontrell WIllis TRADE / Brandon Inge from Tigers for Josh WIllingham + prospects
3. RHP Rich Harden – FA
4. LHP John Lannan –
5. RHP Stephen Strausburg

Maybe even consider going to a 4 man Rotation and let Strausburg pitch out of the bullpen to start out.

…put the young talent t in the Bullpen to learn:

MR – Jordan ZImmerman
MR – Jack McGeary LHP work in progress but coming out of the bullpen can learn
MR – Ross Detwiler LHP
Short Relief – Drew Storen RHP #2 Draft pick 20 years old talented
LR – Brett Myers FA – Very Talented
SU – Shairon Martis – Would fit very well as a setup man I think
CL Kelvim Escobar – FA

Combine that rotation with the FA signings with some key trades and this could be a very nice team that will sell out the stadium with excitement every night. People will forget about Zimmerman once we start winning games.
 
Lineup:

R Elijah Dukes (LF)
L Nyjer Morgan (CF)
S Cristian Guzman (2B)
R Vladimir Guerrero (RF)
L Adam Dunn (1B)
R Troy Glaus (3B)
R Brandon Inge / Jose Bautista PLATOON ©
*P -———-*
R Ian Desmond (SS)

I know all NL teams hit the pitcher 9th but i think its better to hit the pitcher 8th, the worst hitter should always hit 8th to have a good option for the top of the order and Desmond would be fine hitting 9th.