"I like where we’re at," Mike Rizzo told reporters after the Washington Nationals acquired Ben Revere from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month.
"We’ve done a lot of the things that we wanted to get better at during the offseason. I think we’re much more balanced now. I think we’re a different offensive club. Our offensive efficiency should go up. We’re going to strike out less and put the ball in play more. We’re going to be more athletic and faster this year. We’ve got ourselves an array of different players that are versatile. We’ve given Dusty [Baker] a lot of ammunition in a lot of different ways to win a ballgame.
"We like the way the roster is constructed right now. We feel comfortable with the roster in general and with the bullpen. If we broke camp and started the season today, we’d be comfortable with where we’re at. But of course, we never rest and we’re always trying to improve the baseball team.
"I like the rotation as it is," he said. "We have a very talented, quality starting rotation. We have a lot of depth. I like the roster as we are constructed right now. I don’t see any major needs that we haven’t addressed."
Of course since then, Rizzo and Co. in the Nationals' front office have made a play for 30-year-old free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, and now FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says the Nationals are interested in a less flashy free agent: right-hander Bronson Arroyo:
Sources: #Nationals showing interest in free-agent RHP Bronson Arroyo along with #Reds. Possible reunion for Arroyo in WAS with Dusty Baker.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 25, 2016
Arroyo, who turns 39 on Feb. 24, missed 2015 season while recovering from TJ surgery - and was traded from #DBacks to #Braves to #Dodgers.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 25, 2016
Arroyo, 38 for now, missed the 2015 season after having Tommy John surgery.
While he was out and rehabbing, he was traded twice, first from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Atlanta Braves and then from the Braves to LA Dodgers before he was granted free agency in November.
As Rosenthal mentioned, the 15-year veteran has history with Baker, who managed the right-hander from 2008-2013 when both were in Cincinnati.
In his last full season in the majors in 2013 with the Reds, who are also interested according to Rosenthal, Arroyo was (14-12) with a 3.79 ERA, a 4.49 FIP, 34 walks (1.51 BB/9) and 124 Ks (5.52 K/9) in 32 starts and 202 innings pitched.
In 14 starts for the D-Backs in 2014, Arroyo was (7-4) with a 4.08 ERA, a 4.32 FIP, 19 walks (1.99 BB/9) and 47 Ks (4.92 K/9) in 86 innings before he was shut down.
Will the Nationals add to their starting depth? Does Arroyo make sense?