USA Today MLB Organizational Report: Washington Nationals

The headline is Contenders or pretenders? With or without Harper, 19, team expects to take next step. The article does a general writeup with some organizational stats (including that the organization only paid $700,000 per win in 2011, proving that "the plan" is thrifty!), a position-by-position assessment ("position competition abounds") and an extremely brief look at the farm system ("Well-stocked system set to pay off"). They look at the five upcoming prospects - Harper, Meyer, Rendon, Purke, and ... Eury Perez? Really? No accounting for taste, I suppose. Marrerro, Moore, Lombardozzi, Hague, and Hood do get mentioned in their positional assessments.

The report is as of December 26, so it includes the Gio Gonzalez trade and the acquisition of Ryan Perry but does not include the DeRosa signing - only notable since the need for a deeper bench is cited in the report. The publication does state that the farm system remains stocked even after the Gonzalez trade. A little light reading for y'all to help us through the next couple of weeks as we slog our way to February 19 (52 days until Pitchers and Catchers Report!), February 23 (Position Players Report!) and March 3 (First ST Game!).