It's unclear how much activity the Nationals will generate at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. But headed into the annual gathering, there's plenty of talk -- however farfetched it may be -- about the Nationals' involvement with two high-profile free agents.
There's no secret the team is interested in Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira, a Severna Park, Md., native and a switch-hitter who would immediately fill the team's wish for a left-handed bat in the middle of its lineup. If that option falls through -- the Nationals typically haven't shelled out top dollar for free agents, and Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, is expected to ignite a bidding war between the Red Sox, Angels and other big-market teams, not to mention the Nationals and Orioles -- former Diamondbacks slugger Adam Dunn might be a fit.
The left-hander is a favorite of general manager Jim Bowden from their days in Cincinnati, hits 40 home runs with robotic regularity (he has ended at that number each of the last four seasons) and routinely draws 100 walks, a skill lacking in the Nationals' lineup.
Washington will likely look to unload one of its highly paid disappointments, Austin Kearns and Nick Johnson being the most likely candidates. In addition, the team is still in the market for proven starting pitchers.
While there's still plenty of doubt about the team's ability to pay top free agents, as well as the question of how many elite players want to sign with baseball's worst team, expect the Nationals' name to surface early and often in Las Vegas.
