Mike Rizzo: "We'll continue to be aggressive and bold" (with video)

SAN DIEGO - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is approaching this offseason with a totally open mind.

With a load of talented players under contract for the 2015 season, the Nationals could be World Series contenders even if they don't add much the rest of this winter. They also could make a splash, adding a big-name infielder or trading one of the guys in their collection of players who will become free agents after this upcoming season, a group that includes starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, shortstop Ian Desmond and reliever Tyler Clippard.

With Day One of the Winter Meetings pretty much in the books, Rizzo says he and the Nats will continue to consider all options, and are willing to listen to any offers put in front of them.

"We're open for business, and if and when the right deal comes about, we'll pull the trigger like we always do," Rizzo said from his suite at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. "(We've) never been afraid to make a trade, and we'll continue to be aggressive and bold and try and increase our productivity and upgrade the club any way we can."

The big questions around the Nats this winter are centered around how they'll approach things with Zimmermann, Fister, Desmond and Clippard. All are significant contributors to the ballclub, and all could hold a good amount of trade value.

The Nationals plan to meet with Zimmermann's representatives this week, according to a source, but Rizzo didn't have much to offer on any updates in negotiations with Zimmermann, Fister, Desmond or Clippard.

"I wouldn't describe any progress," Rizzo said. "We're doing a lot of business down here, we've talked about a lot of players with a lot of teams. We've met with some agents about players. But nothing to report on any of the potential free agents after '15."

With those four (along with Denard Span) all set to hit free agency next winter, the Nats need to try and put the best team on the field in 2015 while also keeping an eye on future seasons. That's a tough line to straddle, and it's why Rizzo is so open to considering any and all trade offers put in front of him.

"It's a delicate balance, no question about it," Rizzo said. "It's been our philosophy throughout - the majority of the deals we've ever made had current-year capabilities, but we also had to look forward and worry about the future years, also. I think we've done a good job of balancing win now with looking towards the future, and we'll continue to do so. ...

"We always have to have the grand view and have a global perspective of what we're trying to do to keep us viable, not only in '15, but throughout."

Rizzo said that teams have called the Nats about Clippard, who is set to make upwards of $9 million next season in his final year of arbitration. But Clippard is a key member of the Nats bullpen, and the team would surely need a solid return for him in order to deal the veteran right-hander.

If Clippard does return to the Nats in 2015, Rizzo said that he'll be slotted in as the Nats' eighth-inning guy, behind Drew Storen. With Rafael Soriano departing via free agency, Storen is now set up to be the Nats closer next season.

"We're going to go to spring training, Drew will be penciled into the ninth inning, Clip in the eighth inning and we'll take it from there," Rizzo said.

When it comes to the team's search for an infielder, Rizzo says that the Nats have considered both free agent and trade options.

The Nats have maintained contact with the representatives for Asdrubal Cabrera, who became a free agent after spending the last two months of the season with the Nats following a trade at the non-waiver trade deadline. But as of right now, Rizzo couldn't (or wouldn't) handicap whether an infielder is more likely to come in a trade or in a free agent signing.

Rizzo will also look to bolster the Nats bullpen and bench, and is looking for bench players who Matt Williams can "maximize in different game situations."

Rizzo says he doesn't feel any pressure to finalize anything while here in San Diego. The Nats have acquired players at the Winter Meetings each of the last two years (Jerry Blevins via trade last year, Dan Haren via free agency in 2012), but they won't force anything this week.

"We're going to make good baseball deals, whenever we find them," he said. "There's no timetable that says we have to do anything here."