New year's resolutions for the Nationals

A crazy 2015 is now in the rear view mirror for the Nationals. A season loaded with expectations broadened by 'Where's my ring?' proclamations came crashing to an end with an embarrassing in-house fight a day after elimination from the postseason picture. Injuries ruined the core of the team and the Nationals never quite recovered.

But there were plenty of positives, led by Bryce Harper's breakthrough MVP season and Max Scherzer's two no-hitters. At 23, Harper appears poised to remain in the conversation as baseball's best player. And Scherzer, already a Cy Young winner in the American League, looks like a contender for the same honors in the National League next season.

So what new year's resolutions should the Nationals commit to as we begin 2016?

1. Find a closer: The Nationals have a closer in their bullpen. Actually, they have two. The question is whether they want either of them. Drew Storen's season tanked after he was replaced as closer at the trade deadline when Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo acquired Jonathan Papelbon. Storen has been on the trading block all offseason, but currently remains the Nationals best eighth-inning option out of the bullpen.

Papelbon went 7-for-9 in save chances with a 3.04 ERA in 22 appearances for the Nats before his season ended prematurely with a seven-game suspension for throwing at Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and then instigating a fight with Harper. Rizzo has been reportedly attempting to deal Papelbon while searching for his replacement. But most of the game's top closers have either been traded or already signed this offseason.

Several Nationals veterans indicated during Winterfest that they don't anticipate any hangover from the Papelbon/Harper skirmish. But is that just lip service? In any event, Papelbon's continued presence on the Nationals roster is upsetting to fans and guarantees to create further distraction when spring training commences. It's likely not the way the Lerners would prefer a new season to begin, but at this point, Rizzo appears to be running out of better options.

2. Stay healthy: Denard Span, Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman missed a combined 324 games in 2015. Stephen Strasburg spent two stints on the disabled list and Doug Fister was sidelined for a month. Heck, Nate McLouth never made it on the field. The Nationals held a press conference early this offseason announcing an overhaul of their training staff with an innovative shift in their medical approach. Whatever works, as long as the thick of the lineup is uniform and swinging a bat.

3. Empower Harper as the team leader: Forget that he's 23, this is Harper's team. Harper more than led by example throughout his record-breaking campaign. Now it's time to take the next step as the leader of the clubhouse as well.

Happy new year! It's been honor to share Nationals Pastime with all of you over the past year. I'm looking forward to a tremendous 2016.