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On paper, the Nationals vacant presidency might not be the most attractive situation for potential candidates. The team is putting the finishing touches on another season that saw them finish in the N.L. East cellar, and the team is drawing fewer fans than ever to the ballpark. But people will apply for this job because of the future, which happens to look pretty bright in Nats Town.
Stan Kasten hasn't put together a complete foundation for a contending team, but there are a number of important pieces in place. Stephen Strasburg should come back healthy in about a year, and could still be the dominant starter we saw before his injury. Bryce Harper might turn out to be the kind of bat that you can build a lineup around. And the team also has a lot of young complimentary players that could could blossom into role players on a winning team.
In two years, when Strasburg is healthy (knock on wood), and Harper is making his MLB debut (maybe), the new President will be in his second year with the club, and the team should be much better than the one he inherited. If he can supplant the current roster with good free agent aquistions and strong trades, the team could have an even brighter future.
It might not be the most attractive job in the world, but there is no where to go but up, and there are already pieces in place that might help you get there. The hardest part of this job will be waiting around long enough to watch the young talent that is already on the team come into their own.
Today's must-reads from around the SB Nation network:
- Larry Johnson is out, which means it's time for the Keiland Williams era in Washington to officially begin, finally. Hogs Haven discusses how he can make the most of it.
- Testudo Times is looking ahead to Basketball season, specifically the potential emergence of Cliff Tucker.
- Bullets Forever has an extensive re-cap of Ernie Grunfeld's pre-training camp press conference.
On tap on SB Nation D.C.: Jack Anderson counts down five keys to a Redskins victory over the Rams on Sunday; and Varsity News takes a look at Friendship Collegiate, a charter school trying to find it's way in the D.C. football scene.