Organizational depth chart reveals Nats' positions of need

The Winter Meetings begin one week from today in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., so the Nationals - along with the rest of the baseball world - should be just about ready to start getting serious about making actual transactions that will alter their roster in 2018 and beyond.

We already have a hunch what's on Mike Rizzo's shopping list - No. 5 starter, right-handed relievers, bench players - but it's also helpful to view this in the context of what the Nationals already have in-house. Not only at the major league level, but in the upper levels of their farm system, as well.

General managers don't just build 25-man rosters. They build rosters that go way deeper than that, recognizing how many players they're going to need over the course of a season. (If you didn't know, the Nats used 49 players this year, which actually was their highest total since way back in 2009.)

So to begin this work week, let's take a moment to look at the Nationals' entire organization depth chart as it currently stands at each position. Much will change between now and mid-February, but this gives some perspective on what aspects of the roster do need some bolstering, whether at the big league or minor league level. (Keep in mind that some players are listed as backups at multiple positions) ...

STARTING PITCHERS
Max Scherzer
Stephen Strasburg
Gio Gonzalez
Tanner Roark
Joe Ross (out until July 2018)
A.J. Cole
Erick Fedde
Austin Voth
Kyle McGowin
Jaron Long
Austen Williams
Wirkin Estevez
Jefry Rodriguez
Seth Romero

RELIEF PITCHERS
Sean Doolittle
Ryan Madson
Shawn Kelley
Sammy Solís
Enny Romero
Koda Glover
Matt Grace
Austin Adams
Trevor Gott
Wander Suero
Dakota Bacus
Jimmy Cordero

CATCHERS
Matt Wieters
Pedro Severino
Raudy Read
Spencer Kieboom
Taylor Gushue

FIRST BASEMEN
Ryan Zimmerman
Daniel Murphy
Jose Marmolejos

SECOND BASEMEN
Daniel Murphy
Wilmer Difo
Adrián Sanchez

SHORTSTOPS
Trea Turner
Wilmer Difo
Adrián Sanchez

THIRD BASEMEN
Anthony Rendon
Wilmer Difo
Adrián Sanchez
Kelvin Gutierrez
Drew Ward

LEFT FIELDERS
Adam Eaton
Brian Goodwin
Rafael Bautista
Andrew Stevenson
Ryan Raburn
Jose Marmolejos

CENTER FIELDERS
Michael A. Taylor
Brian Goodwin
Victor Robles
Andrew Stevenson
Rafael Bautista

RIGHT FIELDERS
Bryce Harper
Brian Goodwin
Victor Robles
Andrew Stevenson
Rafael Bautista
Ryan Raburn