Looking Over the Washington Nationals' Infield for 2010

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)

With Anderson Hernandez back with the Mets, Gonzalez was given the opportunity to show the Nationals that he is a major league second baseman.

Alas, he didn’t do it.

Gonzalez is a capable major league player who can help the Nationals as a backup at both second and short, and that is a nice piece to have on your roster.

But he’ll never be an everyday player.

And Ronnie Belliard has, for the second year in a row, endured a miserable first half while playing irregularly only to explode after the All Star Break.

Well below .200 a month ago, Belliard is now batting .246-5-22 and is showing the same kind of power he did last year, when he would have hit .287-22-92 in a 520 at-bat season.

Had the Nationals just given him the job in spring, I think he would have put up significant numbers again.

That said, Belliard is the last year of his contract, was talking about retiring just two months ago, and will be 35 next season.

Pass.

There are no second base prospects in the minors anywhere, so the Nationals only hope will be to add a starter via a trade or free agency. Mark De Rosa and Brian Roberts are the two impact second baseman available.

Shortstop:

Cristian Guzman (.306-6-43)

Offensively, Guzman has been either really good or really bad in 2009, while his defense has been mostly mediocre. Because he has one more year remaining on his two-year, $16 million contract, he’s not tradable, and the Nationals aren’t going to pay him $8 million to ride the bench.

And they aren’t going to release him.

Unless he is traded to a contender now in a waiver wire deal, he’s going to be the Nationals’ shortstop in 2010 under the Austin Kearns rule.

You know, if Jim Bowden was stupid enough to pay him that much money, then he has to remain on the team.

Third Base:

Ryan Zimmerman (.299-26-85)

Zimmerman, the team’s first No. 1 draft pick, has been threatening to blossom into a star for three years and this year, finally, ability and production intersected.

Zimmerman, still only 25, is on pace to hit .300-34-112, the type of numbers that made the Mets’ David Wright a star. Defensively, those air-mail throws have disappeared and he continues to make spectacular plays in the field.

Sorry, Stephen Strasburg; Zimmerman is still the face of the franchise.

Catcher:

Jesus Flores (311-4-15)

Flores’ was on pace to hit .311-20-75 before being injured and (pretty much) lost for the year.

Flores is also just 25, and has a solid career ahead of him. He only needs to stay healthy.

Given the chance to play 130 games, and remain injury free, Flores will be an All Star catcher.

We’ll look at the outfield tomorrow.