Nationalsclub.com | Washington Nationals News, nationals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> Coming off an abysmal 102-loss season, the Nationals would figure to be better by default in 2009. That said, they still have a world of issues to sort out this spring, with plenty of reason to doubt whether they can show significant progress.</div>General manager Jim Bowden made only a handful of changes to his team's roster this winter before landing a big fish days before spring training was to begin. According to multiple media reports, Adam Dunn agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal, and he is likely to take over as the team's first baseman. Prior to that move, left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham were acquired in a trade with the Marlins, and right-hander Daniel Cabrera was signed as a free agent. Still, the best way for Washington to make serious strides in 2009 is for its core of young players to perform up its potential, and stay healthy in the process. Ryan Zimmerman, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Jesus Flores give manager Manny Acta a solid group of guys 25 and younger, but all struggled at times in 2008 and all suffered injuries. The Nationals' rotation also must find some stability, preferably from its young arms. Left-handers John Lannan and Olsen will anchor the starting unit at the beginning of the season, but the most important contributors could be young right-handers Collin Balester and Jordan Zimmermann. Each will have a shot to make the club this spring, though each could be best served with some more time at Class AAA. There will be several position battles at spring training, none more wide open than in the outfield, where as many as six veteran players are vying for starting jobs. Milledge, Dukes and Willingham would seem to have the leg up heading into camp, but Austin Kearns (who is due to make a team-high $8 million) wants to prove he deserves to retain his spot in right field. Injury-prone Wily Mo Pena and utility man Willie Harris also will vie for playing time. The situation at first base might have cleared up with the arrival of Dunn. The Nationals went into the offseason saying they couldn't count on Nick Johnson to return healthy after he missed most of the past two seasons. There will be an open competition at second base, with Anderson Hernandez hoping to earn the job over veteran Ronnie Belliard. Hernandez has never shown he can hit consistently at the big-league level, but he performed well last September after his acquisition from the Mets, and he's coming off a strong showing in the Dominican winter league. The underlying storyline to it all will center around Acta. Once hailed as the perfect man to lead this organization through its rebuilding project, Acta is coming off a 59-102 season and is unsigned beyond 2009. Bowden fired all but one of the coaches at the end of the season, leading to speculation Acta's job could be on the line if the Nationals do not quickly show signs of progress this year. WHERE, WHEN: Space Coast Stadium, Viera, Fla. First exhibition game is Feb. 25 against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla. TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE: 2B Anderson Hernandez has never managed to hit consistently in the major leagues. But the 26-year-old posted a .333 average in 28 games after his acquisition from the Mets last fall, and he was voted the second most-valuable player of the Dominican winter league. With an opportunity to win Washington's starting second base job, Hernandez could be primed for a career rejuvenation. TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT: RHP Shawn Hill was touted as perhaps the Nationals' future ace when he arrived at spring training in 2008. But persistent forearm pain derailed his season and left him with an unsure future. Hill says he's healthy again, but he's never managed to make it through a full year intact, and there's little reason to believe he can reverse course now. AUTHORITY FIGURES: Manny Acta is well-respected throughout the Nationals organization and throughout baseball. But after a dismal 2008 season that saw Washington lose 102 games, Acta could find himself on the hot seat. The club has yet to pick up his option for 2010, leaving him a lame duck. GM Jim Bowden also fired all of Acta's staff (except for pitching coach Randy St. Claire) at the end of the season, putting more pressure on the manager to deliver this year.<div class="spacer10"></div><div class="gray_dots"></div><div id="body_footer_link">Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today </div><div class="gray

Coming off an abysmal 102-loss season, the Nationals would figure to be better by default in 2009. That said, they still have a world of issues to sort out this spring, with plenty of reason to doubt whether they can show significant progress.

General manager Jim Bowden made only a handful of changes to his team's roster this winter before landing a big fish days before spring training was to begin. According to multiple media reports, Adam Dunn agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal, and he is likely to take over as the team's first baseman.

Prior to that move, left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham were acquired in a trade with the Marlins, and right-hander Daniel Cabrera was signed as a free agent.

Still, the best way for Washington to make serious strides in 2009 is for its core of young players to perform up its potential, and stay healthy in the process. Ryan Zimmerman, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Jesus Flores give manager Manny Acta a solid group of guys 25 and younger, but all struggled at times in 2008 and all suffered injuries.

The Nationals' rotation also must find some stability, preferably from its young arms. Left-handers John Lannan and Olsen will anchor the starting unit at the beginning of the season, but the most important contributors could be young right-handers Collin Balester and Jordan Zimmermann. Each will have a shot to make the club this spring, though each could be best served with some more time at Class AAA.

There will be several position battles at spring training, none more wide open than in the outfield, where as many as six veteran players are vying for starting jobs. Milledge, Dukes and Willingham would seem to have the leg up heading into camp, but Austin Kearns (who is due to make a team-high $8 million) wants to prove he deserves to retain his spot in right field. Injury-prone Wily Mo Pena and utility man Willie Harris also will vie for playing time.

The situation at first base might have cleared up with the arrival of Dunn. The Nationals went into the offseason saying they couldn't count on Nick Johnson to return healthy after he missed most of the past two seasons.

There will be an open competition at second base, with Anderson Hernandez hoping to earn the job over veteran Ronnie Belliard. Hernandez has never shown he can hit consistently at the big-league level, but he performed well last September after his acquisition from the Mets, and he's coming off a strong showing in the Dominican winter league.

The underlying storyline to it all will center around Acta. Once hailed as the perfect man to lead this organization through its rebuilding project, Acta is coming off a 59-102 season and is unsigned beyond 2009. Bowden fired all but one of the coaches at the end of the season, leading to speculation Acta's job could be on the line if the Nationals do not quickly show signs of progress this year.

WHERE, WHEN: Space Coast Stadium, Viera, Fla. First exhibition game is Feb. 25 against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla.

TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE: 2B Anderson Hernandez has never managed to hit consistently in the major leagues. But the 26-year-old posted a .333 average in 28 games after his acquisition from the Mets last fall, and he was voted the second most-valuable player of the Dominican winter league. With an opportunity to win Washington's starting second base job, Hernandez could be primed for a career rejuvenation.

TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT: RHP Shawn Hill was touted as perhaps the Nationals' future ace when he arrived at spring training in 2008. But persistent forearm pain derailed his season and left him with an unsure future. Hill says he's healthy again, but he's never managed to make it through a full year intact, and there's little reason to believe he can reverse course now.

AUTHORITY FIGURES: Manny Acta is well-respected throughout the Nationals organization and throughout baseball. But after a dismal 2008 season that saw Washington lose 102 games, Acta could find himself on the hot seat. The club has yet to pick up his option for 2010, leaving him a lame duck. GM Jim Bowden also fired all of Acta's staff (except for pitching coach Randy St. Claire) at the end of the season, putting more pressure on the manager to deliver this year.

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