Nats still talking to Rockies, Michael A. Taylor still working to improve

We've been home less than 48 hours from the Winter Meetings, but the rumors continue to swirl.

The Nationals remain in contact with the Rockies about a trio of left-handed hitting outfielders, one of the areas that general manager Mike Rizzo specifically wanted to improve this offseason. That's not to say that veteran slugger Carlos Gonzalez, center fielder Charlie Blackmon or left fielder Corey Dickerson are being fitted for curly W caps, but that the teams continue to talk is proof that at least something one is saying is interesting enough to facilitate further discussions.

After ridding themselves of shorstop Troy Tulowitzki's mammoth contract at the non-waiver trade deadline in July, the Rockies still want to shed payroll, and the 30-year-old Gonzalez has been widely shopped. There are two seasons left on the seven-year, $80 million extension he signed in 2011 and he's owed $37 million on that pact. A 40-homer, 97-RBI season in 2015 made him a lot more attractive to teams in need of a power hitter, as did the fact that the oft-injured Gonzalez played a career-high 153 games.

Blackmon, 29, saw his power numbers drop a little last season, but he still slashed .287/.347/.450 to go along with 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. He's arbitration eligible for the first time this winter and made only $517,500 last year; MLBTrade Rumors predicts he'll earn $4.5 million through arbitration. (Check out his beard, which is Jayson Werth-worthy). Dickerson, 26, was limited to 65 games last year after fracturing ribs while trying to make a diving catch, which helped explain how he fell from 24 homers and 76 RBIs to 10 homers and 31 RBIs. He's arbitration-eligible for the first time after next season and made only $512,500.

The trouble with any Rockies hitter, of course, is the pronounced home/road splits, with players flourishing in Coors Field and struggling away from the thin Denver air.

The Rockies like to collect young arms and, since they're in a salary-dumping and rebuilding mode, they'd probably prefer to deal Gonzalez. Some of the promising pitchers the Nats have stockpiled might interest them, though I'm sure guys like Erick Fedde, Austin Voth and Reynaldo Lopez would rather pitch in Nationals Park than the Mile High City, which treats hurlers rudely. Don't worry, top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito isn't in this - or any - discussion.

I wrote last week about the search for a left-handed hitting outfielder and who might be most affected by such a move. All three of the Rockies targets can play center, though Gonzalez is more suited to a corner now and Dickerson has played more left field. Right now, Michael A. Taylor is the starting center fielder, though the Nationals would like him to cut down on his strikeouts and work on making more contact at the plate. Taylor can't use his speed if he doesn't get on base, though his athleticism and wheels are a nice cushion with Werth in left field.

For the time being, Taylor is blocking out any talk of being displaced. It's not known if the Nats would keep him as a fourth outfielder or send him to Triple-A for some more seasoning. Some in the organization think he's ready to contribute on a full-time basis and will grow into a better player than the one that subbed for Denard Span last year; others worry that he strikes out too much and doesn't get on base enough.

"That's something that I'm not focused on right now," Taylor said at Winterfest. "I feel like, with my game, if I go out there and be the best I can, that's really all I can do and kind of see where the chips fall after that."

But Taylor knows where he has to improve.

"I have some work to do," he said. "I feel like, at times, I was able to be consistent with what I was trying to do with the plate. I'm still not happy with where I'm at. Hopefully, I never will be and always trying to get better. In the game, I think, one of the things I struggled with was fouling off fastballs, a simple thing I can do to cut down on strikeouts and put the ball in play more. Just try not to do too much with the baseball. I think it's more a mentality thing than anything else. ... Just not try to hit home runs and knock the cover off the ball, just try to hit the ball on the screws."