How do the Nationals get better defensively in 2019?

There are any number of ways the Nationals need to get better on an individual basis, addressing specific needs at specific positions. But there's also a broader way the Nats need to get better, something that encompasses the entire roster.

They need to be a better defensive ballclub.

There's really no disputing this fact. Even though they boast an elite third baseman in Anthony Rendon, an above-average shortstop in Trea Turner ,and really athletic center fielders in Michael A. Taylor and Victor Robles, the Nationals as a whole were not very good in the field this season.

How bad were they? By FanGraphs.com's overall defensive formula, the Nats ranked 20th in the majors in defense. By Defensive Runs Saved, they ranked 25th.

Now this is the portion of this article where the author is obligated to point out that advanced defensive metrics aren't perfect, that they still contain elements of subjectivity (as opposed to objectivity) and that they don't always seem to match up with the all-important eye test. To wit: Rendon had a -6 Defensive Runs Saved rating. That doesn't make sense to anyone who watched him on a daily basis.

Still, the Nationals' front office and coaching staff acknowledged at season's end the need to improve on many "little things," and defense is high on that list.

How do the Nats get better in the field? They can run more drills in spring training, pound the fundamentals into everyone's brains and perhaps see some improvement as a result. But really, this is about improving the personnel at certain positions and hoping a few returning players are better with the glove in 2019 than they were in 2018.

Where can they improve the personnel? How about at second base, which was among the team's biggest problem areas this season. Nationals second sackers rated 28th in the majors with a -14 Defensive Runs Saved rating. Not what you're looking for out of a position typically known for good defense.

Daniel Murphy, bless his heart, just wasn't very good in the field. (He ranked 31st out of 33 major league second baseman by FanGraphs' metric and was dead last with -18 Defensive Runs Saved.) That's among the reasons the Nats have no plans to re-sign the veteran free agent.

Wilmer Difo was solid (10th in FanGraphs' rating, 12th in DRS at +3), but he's still inconsistent in the field and at the plate. Howie Kendrick can hit, but the Nationals shouldn't count on him to be a positive with his glove after returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

So if the Nats decide to pursue another second baseman, don't be surprised if they prioritize defense. (For what it's worth, free agents D.J. LeMahieu and Ian Kinsler ranked second and third, respectively, at the position this year.)

That's probably the only potential upgrade on the infield. Rendon and Turner aren't going anywhere, and for all the handwringing over Ryan Zimmerman, it's worth noting the veteran ranked sixth among all major league first basemen by FanGraphs' metric and had a +2 DRS rating at first base.

So that brings us to the outfield, which is an area in need of some major improvement. The Nationals rated poorly at all three positions in 2018, with center field (20th in FanGraphs' metric, 23rd in DRS) slightly better than left field (28th in both categories) and right field (24th in FanGraphs' metric, 29th in DRS).

It's no secret that Bryce Harper was a significant contributor to those negative numbers, both in right and center field. He simply wasn't a good defensive player this season, whether as a result of deteriorating skills, the occasional lapses in effort or a calculated attempt to avoid injury in his contract year. Whatever the reason, the Nationals have to take this into consideration as they decide just how much they're willing to commit to Harper in a long-term deal.

If Harper signs elsewhere, it'll be Adam Eaton full-time in right field. That's supposed to be his best position; he had a +22 DRS in right field for the White Sox in 2016, but he slipped to a -4 this season. Eaton believes a full and normal offseason after the pounding his surgically repaired knee and ankle took will do him wonders and allow him to return to form in the field. The Nats are banking on that coming true.

Juan Soto, for all the remarkable things he did at the plate as a 19-year-old, was a work in progress in left field. It should be noted he was learning a new position on the fly, in the big leagues no less, and he did show improvement from month to month. It stands to reason he'll continue to improve with experience, but it's also fair to say he's probably never going to be known for his glove.

Which leaves center field, and this is where the Nationals might just see their biggest improvement from 2018 to 2019. Whether it's Robles or Taylor, the Nats figure to have an elite defender out in center field on a daily basis next season. That should make a difference and help this outfield - and the entire team's defense - get better.