The 2014 Washington Nationals season was simply magical. The team rode a terrific pitching staff and outstanding seasons from Adam LaRoche, Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth to give Matt Williams his first division title in his rookie season as a manager. The team overcame lengthy injuries to Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman to win 96 games in the regular season before bowing out to the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS 3 games to 1. Certainly the early exit in the playoffs left a sour taste in the mouths of Nats fans this winter, but overall, the 2014 season must be seen as a tremendous year for Washington.

The Nationals entered this offseason without many holes to fill, as most of last year’s roster was still under contract with Washington. Thus most expected a relatively quiet winter for Washington’s front office. The biggest question surrounded who would play second base, as Danny Espinosa has struggled offensively the past two years and midseason acquisition Asdrubal Cabrera was a free agent. And the early part of the offseason was relatively tranquil, as Washington traded Ross Detwiler in early December and dealt Steven Souza Jr. a few days before Christmas.

Then as they say, “Business picked up” after the New Year, as Washington traded fan-favorite Tyler Clippard to Oakland for Yunel Escobar, signed Max Scherzer to the 2nd richest contract ever for a free agent pitcher, and signed reliever Casey Janssen to fill Clippard’s spot in the bullpen. Not that they were not before, but these moves made Washington the clear favorite to win the NL East and perhaps represent the National League in the World Series.

Fast forward to spring training and much of the time the team was in Viera, the focus was on injuries, as the team saw Escobar, Rendon, and Denard Span, amongst others, injure themselves early in camp. This combined with the slow recoveries from Nate McLouth and Werth has left the club with some questions surrounding the offense, specifically the reserves, as they enter the season. However, most of the injured players are expected back in April, with Span perhaps closer to May 1st.

Now that Opening Day has finally arrived (thank goodness), the Washington Nationals still appear the clear favorite in the NL East, as Miami and New York project closer to 80-85 wins this season and Atlanta and Philadelphia appear to be fighting for the 2016 #1 pick as the worst team in baseball. The biggest questions entering this season is the health of the roster due to the number of players beginning the year on the disabled list, and the overall strength of the bullpen. Washington should have one of the best rotations in the past decade and the offense projects to be in the top-third in baseball with the return to health of Zimmerman and Ramos and the emergence of Bryce Harper.

On paper Washington has the best overall roster in the National League and a strong farm system to help provide depth throughout the long season. I expect the Marlins and Mets to contend early in the season, before the Nationals depth and overall talent base pulls them away from the pack around July 4th. Washington will win their 3rd NL East title in four seasons while coasting to another 90+ win season. Then in the playoffs I am confident Washington will capture their first playoff series victory since returning to the nation’s capital. I am also predicting this season firmly makes Washington a baseball town and will capture the enthusiasm of the entire region this summer.

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2015 BOLD Washington Nationals Prognostications

1) Denard Span plays fewer than 50 games for Washington this season before a midseason trade, mostly due to the emergence of Michael Taylor.

2) Aroldis Chapman will be in a Nationals uniform on July 28th, as A.J. Cole and others are sent to Cincinnati to obtain the closer and bolster the bullpen.

3) Blake Treinen will be the team’s setup man all season, as Casey Janssen makes fewer than 20 appearances for Washington this year.

4) Bryce Harper has a top-3 finish in the NL MVP voting, as he hits 34 home runs and drives in 108 runs.

5) The Nationals represent the National League in the World Series.