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  4. title => "Nationals haven\u2019t replaced Anthony Rendon, but Mike Rizzo believes third base is a strength"
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  6. article_body => "<p>WASHINGTON--As the Nationals embark on the 2020 season, they\u2019re slated to do so without an everyday third baseman. That\u2019s a far cry from their usual approach at the hot corner, as the team has always entered the year with either Ryan Zimmerman or Anthony Rendon penciled in at third.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s still time for the club to sign Josh Donaldson, the top remaining free agent left on the market. But while general manager Mike Rizzo won\u2019t \u201cclose the door on anybody,\u201d he maintains that he\u2019s happy with the depth Washington has built at the position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t see it as a hole, we see it as a strength,\u201d Rizzo said at the Nationals' annual WinterFest event on Saturday. \u201cWe got a lot of versatility. Of course, you\u2019re not going to replicate or replace Anthony Rendon and his numbers on the field, his presence in the clubhouse, things he does in the community. But we\u2019re going to be a different team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rizzo mentioned Asdr\u00fabal Cabrera, Starlin Castro, Howie Kendrick and Carter Kieboom as potential options to play the position in 2020. Although he hasn\u2019t yet discussed lineup construction with manager Davey Martinez, Rizzo thinks this distribution-of-wealth approach will give Washington a different look but still allow it to compete for another championship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s by design that we give our manager flexibility to do what he feels comfortable with that given day,\u201d Rizzo said. \u201cIt\u2019s a long season. We needed about 48 players last year to win the world title and this thing takes a village. It takes a lot of players. You\u2019ve got to have great depth and you have to have players that are willing to accept the challenge if being versatile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Nationals\u2019 40-man roster is at 38, which would leave room for the potential signings of both Zimmerman and Donaldson. But Washington is projected to be close to the luxury-tax threshold and signing Donaldson alone would be enough to push the team over.<\/p>\n<p>But even if Washington brings in Donaldson, the club will have a new look regardless. Castro, Cabrera and Kendrick join a deep infield that also includes Trea Turner and Eric Thames. None of them have the kind of ceiling that Rendon did, but Rizzo argues the team is still going to be competitive in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe like our versatility, we like our depth at the position and we\u2019ve got a good mixture of young players that are up and coming and veterans that have proven themselves,\u201d Rizzo said. We\u2019re \u201cgiving Davey a lot of tools to work with to keep the bench sharp and to keep the everyday players fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE NATIONALS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Chemistry:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/theres-no-replacing-gerardo-parra-he-left-his-mark-nationals-clubhouse\">Nats hope to continue what Parra started<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>It's not that deep:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/despite-wait-josh-donaldsons-free-agency-nothing-bryce-harpers\">Donaldson's FA&nbsp;nothing like Harper's<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Worth the risk:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/nationals-choose-risk-age-over-risk-recent-results-when-building-bullpen\">Nats choose to invest in veterans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/45f390d2-bee9-421b-b519-fb712394d291\/episodes\/f69f0617-c052-4d68-ad80-981ab9e00859\/embed?theme=light-blue\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n"
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Nationals

Nationals

WASHINGTON--As the Nationals embark on the 2020 season, they’re slated to do so without an everyday third baseman. That’s a far cry from their usual approach at the hot corner, as the team has always entered the year with either Ryan Zimmerman or Anthony Rendon penciled in at third.

There’s still time for the club to sign Josh Donaldson, the top remaining free agent left on the market. But while general manager Mike Rizzo won’t “close the door on anybody,” he maintains that he’s happy with the depth Washington has built at the position.

“We don’t see it as a hole, we see it as a strength,” Rizzo said at the Nationals' annual WinterFest event on Saturday. “We got a lot of versatility. Of course, you’re not going to replicate or replace Anthony Rendon and his numbers on the field, his presence in the clubhouse, things he does in the community. But we’re going to be a different team.”

Rizzo mentioned Asdrúbal Cabrera, Starlin Castro, Howie Kendrick and Carter Kieboom as potential options to play the position in 2020. Although he hasn’t yet discussed lineup construction with manager Davey Martinez, Rizzo thinks this distribution-of-wealth approach will give Washington a different look but still allow it to compete for another championship.

“It’s by design that we give our manager flexibility to do what he feels comfortable with that given day,” Rizzo said. “It’s a long season. We needed about 48 players last year to win the world title and this thing takes a village. It takes a lot of players. You’ve got to have great depth and you have to have players that are willing to accept the challenge if being versatile.”

 

The Nationals’ 40-man roster is at 38, which would leave room for the potential signings of both Zimmerman and Donaldson. But Washington is projected to be close to the luxury-tax threshold and signing Donaldson alone would be enough to push the team over.

But even if Washington brings in Donaldson, the club will have a new look regardless. Castro, Cabrera and Kendrick join a deep infield that also includes Trea Turner and Eric Thames. None of them have the kind of ceiling that Rendon did, but Rizzo argues the team is still going to be competitive in 2020.

“We like our versatility, we like our depth at the position and we’ve got a good mixture of young players that are up and coming and veterans that have proven themselves,” Rizzo said. We’re “giving Davey a lot of tools to work with to keep the bench sharp and to keep the everyday players fresh.”

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