MLB Free-Agent Rumors: Would Signing Prince Fielder Make Nationals a Contender?

While the vast majority of the big-time free agents have found their home for 2012, Prince Fielder remains without a team and is by far the biggest name still on the market.

The pool of interested teams has been a vast one, yet no clear front-runner had emerged for his services with the Cubs, Nationals and Blue Jays looking to be the three most likely landing spots.

However, it was reported earlier today that the Nationals have seemingly emerged as the favorites to sign the 27-year-old slugger. However, would adding his bat to the lineup be enough to push the Nationals into the ranks of contender?

The team has already pulled off one big move this offseason, dealing a four-player prospect package to the Nationals to land 26-year-old left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

An All-Star last season on his way to winning 16 games and posting a terrific 3.12 ERA, Gonzalez cost the Nationals a good deal, but he gives the team another established starter after they missed out on signing free agent target Mark Buehrle.

He will be joined by a healthy Stephen Strasburg, who made a remarkably fast recovery from Tommy John surgery last season to make five late season starts, posting a 1.50 ERA and striking out a batter an inning.

Jordan Zimmerman follows them and could be one of the breakout candidates of the 2012 season after going 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA last season over 26 starts. Still just 25, the former second-round pick could give the Nationals three very good starting pitchers for the next several seasons.

Beyond that group, the rotation will likely be filled out by veterans John Lannan (10-13, 3.70 ERA) and Chien-Ming Wang (4-3, 4.04 ERA).

The bullpen should be strong once again after posting a 3.20 ERA last season and young closer Drew Storen (43 Saves, 2.75 ERA) and All-Star setup man Tyler Clippard (1.83 ERA, 88.1 IP) will once again fill the late inning roles.

Moving onto the lineup, the team is still in search of a center fielder after making a run at Denard Span and B.J. Upton at the deadline last season and will open the season with Roger Bernadina (.243 BA, 17 SB) manning the position.

Beyond that, though, the lineup looks strong and would clearly be taken to another level with the addition of Fielder.

The team has a solid young middle infield in 25-year-old Danny Espinosa and 26-year-old Ian Desmond, an established slugger in Ryan Zimmerman, and an emerging star in Michael Morse who hit .303 BA, 31 HR and 95 RBI in his first season as an everyday player last year.

Add in mega-contract signee Jayson Werth and catcher Wilson Ramos, who is coming off of a stellar rookie season (.267 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 4th in NL R.O.Y. voting) and the lineup is deep from top to bottom.

Potential Nationals Lineup With Fielder
SS Ian Desmond
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Prince Fielder
LF Michael Morse
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
CF Roger Bernadina

Then there is the impending rise of phenom Bryce Harper, who showed flashes of dominance in the minor leagues last season but clearly still needs more seasoning. Still, he could see at least a taste of big league action as soon as this coming season.

Regardless of what happens, the National League East will be a tough division this coming season, with the Phillies again among the NL favorites, the Braves returning more-or-less the same team that missed the postseason by a game last year and the Marlins who added Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle in the offseason and will be looking to open their new park in style.

Add in the Cardinals and Diamondbacks who look poised to make a return to the postseason, as well as teams like the Giants and Rockies who look to be better in 2012 and the National League is very deep. 

Even with Fielder, the Nationals might not quite be there yet, but adding him to the mix would make the NL East look more like the AL East and at the very least would likely mean a winning team in our nation's capital after the team went 80-81 last season.

However, after signing Werth to a big contract last year, if the team lands Fielder they will have far loftier goals than a winning season, and anything short of playing in October would be a let-down.