Washington Nationals: Why the Nats Must Get Prince Fielder

2011 was an exciting year for the Washington Nationals, and possibly their most successful in seven years of existence. The Nats have had a wealth of talent and feel-good moments in the past, but no season engaged fans and made an overall statement like 2011.

Now, Washington enters a critical offseason that could define their success for the next half-decade. And Milwaukee Brewers superstar Prince Fielder can make dreams come true in D.C. is he decides to come to the nation's capital.

A Different Mindset

Five years into existence, the Nationals had a similar plan every offseason: survive. They had very little to work with and almost no direction. To give an idea of the "fill the roster" mentality, in 2007, the Nationals invited an unheard-of 36 pitchers to spring training because four of their starters had left the previous year.

The only constant was fan favorite and superstar third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been a National for life.

Then, in 2010, the Nationals broke the bank for Philadelphia Phillies star Jayson Werth for seven years and $126 million. While the move didn't necessarily bring success, that was never really the point; the idea was to show baseball that the Nationals were finally willing to put their foot to the gas and find a way to win baseball games.  

The years of losing led to the deliverance of two once-in-a-generation talents in pitcher Stephen Strasburg and baseball prodigy Bryce Harper. These two young stars prompted the Nationals brass to finally realize that the team would be good soon, and they went ahead and made the move for Werth.

It signaled that winning was finally important to the laughingstock of baseball.

Rotational Psychology

Pitching wins baseball games—the Washington Nationals have figured that out. And this should be one of the biggest draws for Fielder, one of the ways to convince him to land in D.C. After recently acquiring Oakland Athletics star Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals have given themselves a rare commodity—three excellent starters at the top of their rotation.

Stephen Strasburg, of course, is No. 1 on the rotation. Then comes young Jordan Zimmermann, who, in 2011, came on to the scene and was often unhittable, at one point allowing two runs or less in six consecutive starts. Gonzalez comes third, an established young star who would be a No. 1 or 2 in most rotations.

Nos. 4 and 5 are a fight between Chien-Ming Wang, John Lannan and Ross Detwiler. All three had superb stretches in 2011, and Detwiler showed some incredible stuff down the stretch.

This rotation has a chance to be one of the best in all of baseball. Having a chance to win three out of every five games should tell Fielder that Washington is a winning destination.

Wait? Werth Hits Seventh?

Yes, it could happen...if Fielder comes to D.C. Check out the power that could grace the Nationals lineup: Ryan Zimmerman (.289, 12 HR in only 101 games), Mike Morse (.303, 31 HR, 95 RBI), Jayson Werth (an off year at .232 and 20 HR can only get better) and the once-in-a-lifetime Bryce Harper, who ripped up the minor leagues and is far ahead of his development.

Add Fielder and his .299 AVG/38 HR/120 RBI line and you're talking about a fearsome lineup that could include Jayson Werth in the seven hole.

Jayson Werth has never hit in the seven hole in his life, but the Nationals lineup could be too loaded to believe otherwise.

Exciting Possibilities

The Nationals will be a playoff-or-bust team for the first time in their history in 2012. The NL East still has the Phillies and Braves, as well as the improved Marlins, so it won't be easy.

But for the first time in seven years, the Nationals will enter a season ready to compete for a World Series.