Wire Taps: Who will replace Tanner Roark?; Second base proposals; Nationals plotting next moves...

So, the Winter Meetings have come and gone and Bryce Harper is still a free agent. Funny how that happened.

Here’s the news from Nats Park:

Nationals still have questions as Meetings end (MLB.com)
"Even though the Nats appeared to have finished most of their shopping before the Winter Meetings began -- adding Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes at catcher, Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough in the bullpen and signing left-hander Patrick Corbin -- it is clear they are not finished tweaking their roster. And that includes potentially re-engaging in talks with [Bryce] Harper, the proverbial door that no one seems willing to close."

The winter meetings are over. The Nationals’ work is not. (WaPo)
The Winter Meetings were supposed to be full of splashes, but they were rather dull for all of baseball, the Nationals included, minus a deal sending Tanner Roark to the Reds. Now, they need another starter or two, and they're hunting for a second baseman and bench replacements.

No joke: The Nationals have many possible answers for what’s on second (WaPo)
There are quite a few very good second basemen on the market — and the Nats can get a defensively sound, offensively competent player for not that much, ranging from Jed Lowrie to Marwin Gonzalez, to serve as a holdover until Carter Kieboom or Luis Garcia arrives (unless they get traded for a new starter). Or they could do about fifty other things affecting everything else involving second base.

Nationals seem unlikely to wait long to fill pitching void left by Tanner Roark trade (WaPo)
"In fact, they didn’t wait long to make a push for his replacement. They tried to sign [right]-hander Lance Lynn Wednesday, according to people familiar with their plans who said the Nationals were unwilling to give Lynn three years. The Texas Rangers gave him a third year. So the Nationals had to look elsewhere."

Tanner Roark is out, who could be in? (NBCSW)
The Nats decided that Tanner Roark wasn't worth the $10 million, meaning that they could go for another top-tier starter, pay a few mediocre starters, or... hope for the best with Joe Ross, Henderson Alvarez and Erick Fedde?

Nats head home minus Roark, but with door wide open for others (MASN)
The Nationals are seemingly keeping the door propped open with Bryce Harper, while Anthony Rendon is sounding more and more willing to sign an extension — but nothing will be set until Harper signs somewhere.

Nats pursue several options to replace Tanner Roark (106.7 The Fan)
Lynn? Wade Miley? Anibal Sanchez? The options are endless!