Could the Nats bring back any of their own free agents?

We spend a lot of time talking about free agents the Nationals might be interested in acquiring, newcomers who could help bolster their 2021 roster. But what about the possibility of re-signing free agents who played here in 2020?

The Nationals already brought back one guy who could've departed: Josh Harrison, who signed a one-year deal very early in the offseason. Otherwise, they've stayed away from their own free agents so far.

That, of course, could change as spring training inches closer. What are the odds of a reunion with anyone else from last year's club?

Here's a rundown of the remaining players, grouped into categories based on the likelihood of a return ...

LIKELY: RYAN ZIMMERMAN
This is the one guy who seems obvious to re-sign. Just as was the case last winter, Zimmerman is a free agent. And just as was the case last winter, he has made it known he's willing to accept a low-salary deal and a bench role for the only organization that's ever employed him.

Is there a chance the Nationals would pass, perhaps concerned the 36-year-old got rusty after sitting out last season and believing they can find a better backup first baseman? Sure, that's possible. But general manager Mike Rizzo has given no indication the franchise is ready to move on from its very first draft pick.

And truth be told, Zimmerman actually seems like a good fit to back up Josh Bell: starting some games against left-handers, coming off the bench to pinch-hit and serving as a late-inning defensive replacement. It's not a 100 percent guarantee Zimmerman's coming back for another season, but it's still way more likely he does than doesn't.

MAYBE: SEAN DOOLITTLE, KURT SUZUKI
The Nationals need a left-handed reliever, and they need a second catcher to share the job with Yan Gomes. Why not just bring back a couple of guys who previously held those roles here? Because each is coming off a down year, and at this point, the organization may feel compelled to seek an upgrade.

It's certainly plausible either or both could return, though, with Doolittle the likelier candidate. He's not that far removed from being one of the most unhittable lefties in baseball. But all that usage in the first half of 2019 might have permanently ended that version of him. He was working hard at the end of 2020 to reinvent himself, trying to move his fastball around the zone more and start throwing his off-speed pitches with more frequency. The Nats might prefer more of a sure thing in a left-handed reliever, but they know Doolittle better than anyone, and they might see him as an inexpensive candidate for a bounceback season.

The case to re-sign Suzuki doesn't appear as strong. Now 37, he's unlikely to recapture his old form at the plate. And he's a real liability in the field. Having said that, the catching market is thinning by the day. (Another free agent, Curt Casali, signed with the Giants on Monday.) If this drags on and there just aren't any clearly superior candidates out there, it's not out of the question Rizzo would come back around to Suzuki and re-sign him to be Gomes' No. 2 catcher.

UNLIKELY: ASDRÚBAL CABRERA, BROCK HOLT, ANÍBAL SÁNCHEZ
These guys all served a purpose in the past (especially Cabrera and Sánchez in 2019) but none seems to make much sense on the 2021 roster.

The Nationals aren't short on infielders at this point, and if they do acquire another one they would probably get a starting third baseman (or possibly second baseman and then move Starlin Castro to third). Cabrera's the consummate pro, but there just doesn't seem like there's real need for him this year. And Holt, while a nice midseason pickup while the roster was ravaged by injuries, would have a really hard time cracking the roster now.

The Nationals do need a reliable No. 4 starter. If they knew they'd get the 2019 version of Sánchez, they'd re-sign him in a heartbeat. But he really struggled in 2020, and it's fair to wonder if there's anything left in that tank at 37. Besides, there are no shortage of younger or more reliable options out there, and you've got to think Rizzo is going to bring one of them on board sooner rather than later.

ALREADY GONE: ADAM EATON, HOWIE KENDRICK, ERIC THAMES
Three veterans from the 2020 roster who became free agents at season's end already are locked in for 2021 elsewhere. Eaton is going back to the White Sox, signing a one-year deal that guarantees him $8 million. Thames has decided to head back to Asia in an attempt to resurrect his career, signing with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan for $1.2 million. And Kendrick has decided to retire after a stellar career that culminated with a 2019 postseason performance nobody in D.C. will ever forget.