Looking Over the Washington Nationals' Infield for 2010

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Heading into the final turn of the Washington Nationals’ fifth season in Washington, it’s time to assess who will be—and won’t be—important pieces of the 2010 puzzle.

First Base:

Adam Dunn (.286-33-89)

Based on his small sampling at first during the World Baseball Classic, most of us believed that Dunn was going to be a far larger liability at first than in left. However, now that he’s had the opportunity to play there regularly for almost a month, I must say I’m pleasantly surprised at his defense.

Offensively, he’s giving the Nationals much more than expected. Dunn has been going more to left in 2009, taking what the defense will give him. A lifetime .247 hitter, Dunn is batting .286 this season.

Mark Teixiera, who the National wooed last winter and is making twice what Dunn is, has two fewer homers, three more RBI, and the same batting average. Teixiera’s on-base percentage is 20 points lower.

Yes, the Nationals lucked into not getting straddled with Teixiera’s unwieldy contract and then finding Dunn in the bargain basement.

Mike Rizzo and the Lerner family must now acknowledge their good fortune and sign Dunn to a long-term contract, something in the range of 5-years, $75 million.

Will Dunn extend with the Nationals? I think he will. He’s not the kind of guy who enjoys bouncing from team to team, and I think he has to see the progress the team has made, especially with the signing of Stephen Strasburg.

He’s a keeper.

Second Base:

Alberto Gonzalez (.262-1-27)

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