Plenty of former Nationals still looking for work

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There are tons of still-unsigned free agents out there, as everyone's well aware at this point. And included on that long list are a whole bunch of former Nationals players, and we're not just talking about Bryce Harper.

Several key members of the 2018 Nats are still looking for jobs, even as pitchers and catchers have reported across Florida and Arizona and position players are about to join them.

Like Gio Gonzalez, whose long-awaited first foray into free agency hasn't gone anything close to as hoped. The 33-year-old lefty delayed his free agency when he agreed to a five-year extension (plus two club options) upon getting traded to the Nationals prior to the 2012 season. He's paying the price for that decision now, because the current market isn't nearly as strong as it would've been a few years ago.

Gonzalez had a down year, going 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA. But he pitched much better after his trade to the Brewers (3-0, 2.13 ERA in five starts). And he still boasts a career track record that should be appealing to general managers.

Gonzalez has made at least 31 starts in eight of his last nine seasons, and in that time he's gone 120-86 with a 3.49 ERA. Here are the only left-handers who boast a lower ERA with at least 1,000 innings pitched since 2010: Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale, Madison Bumgarner, David Price, Cole Hamels and Jon Lester.

No, Gio doesn't belong in the same category as those guys, but he's legitimately right behind them.

Also still unsigned is Matt Wieters, who is in a tough spot. The 32-year-old catcher has been a below-average hitter each of the last three seasons, with a .679 OPS in that time. And he played in only 76 games for the Nationals last season due to a major hamstring injury.

You'd think some team out there would want a veteran backup catcher like Wieters. But so far, that hasn't been the case.

Ryan Madson initially hoped to keep pitching into his 40s - he's currently 38 - but that may not happen. The Athletic reported earlier this week that the veteran reliever may not pitch this season, apparently unsatisfied with whatever offers might be on the table for him.

Madson, of course, was lights-out for the Nationals in 2017, but he had a difficult 2018 season both for the Nats and later for the Dodgers (including in the playoffs). If this is the end of the road for him, he'll have enjoyed an impressive career that included two World Series titles.

Among other former Nationals still unemployed are Tyler Clippard, Edwin Jackson and Denard Span. But at least there was some good news yesterday: Drew Storen agreed to a minor league contract with the Royals. Storen, who missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, will attempt to resurrect his up-and-down career in Kansas City.