Werth-y options

It hasn't been a quiet offseason for Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth. At this point, I'm sure you've seen the TMZ-like images of Werth entering a Fairfax County jail to serve part of a five-day sentence after pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge. It was the result of being pulled over last July after exceeding 105 mph in his Porsche on Interstate 495 in Virginia. Though embarrassing, this will not interfere with the season in any way, as Werth will finish his sentence shortly.

On Jan. 9, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder with an expected recovery and rehabilitation period of 2-3 months. Many questioned why Werth opted for the surgery so late in the offseason for an injury that occurred crashing into the right field wall at Nationals Park while making a catch last August. Like many athletes though, surgery is the last option and Werth attempted to improve the shoulder through rehabilitation first.

Werth's initial bit of offseason news came back in December when Nats general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Werth would be swapping outfield positions with Bryce Harper for the coming season. Harper moves to right field while Werth will take over left field in 2015.

Moving Harper, 22, to right field gives the Nats more speed and a stronger arm at the position. In addition, it also hopefully saves Werth's health in left, a less physically demanding position. The 35-year-old Werth has three years and $63 million left on his contract. A broken left wrist caused him to miss half of the season in 2012. That's the only significant injury that he's dealt with in four seasons in a Nationals uniform. He played in 147 games last year, batting .292 with 16 home runs and 82 RBIs. Like most in the Nats lineup, Werth struggled at the plate in the National League Division Series, managing only one hit in 17 at-bats with five strikeouts in the four games.

The 2-3 month timetable Werth was given for full recovery places his availability in jeopardy for the start of the season.

"My goal is opening day. If I can't make opening day in D.C., then I want to make opening day in Boston. I'm going to try to be back as soon as I can without doing something stupid," Werth told The Washington Post last month.

So who could we see in left field when the Mets come to Nationals Park on opening day if Werth is unable to play? Heading into spring training, the options are Nate McLouth, Tyler Moore, Kevin Frandsen, Mike Carp and Michael Taylor.

McLouth is heading to Viera, Fla., looking to redeem himself after a tough first year with the Nationals in 2014. He managed just a .173 batting average with one home run and seven RBIs in 79 games before right shoulder inflammation cut his season short. He has one year remaining at $5 million with an option for 2016 on a contract he earned after a productive 2013 season with the Orioles. The 33-year-old hit .258 with 12 home runs and 25 RBIs in 146 games that year. He played 128 of those games in left field.

Moore, 28, is facing a critical spring. He is out of minor league options, meaning he either needs to make the Nationals' opening day roster, or be subjected to the waiver wire on his way to the minors. He's struggled to maintain his offense with inconsistent playing time, batting just .231 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 42 games last year. He's played in 73 games in left field over the past three seasons with the Nats.

Frandsen returns after a productive season as the Nats' chief utility man. He played significant time at four different positions in 2014, including 21 games in left field. In 105 total games, the 32-year-old hit .259 with one home run and 17 RBIs.

Carp, a non-roster invitee to spring training, has played 106 games in left field during his six major league seasons. He had a tough 2014 season at the plate, hitting only .175 in 59 games with Boston and Texas. He'll be one to watch in the spring to see if he can regain his 2013 form when he clubbed nine home runs with 43 RBIs and a .296 average in 86 games with the Red Sox.

The most intriguing potential replacement is Taylor. The 23-year-old made the jump to the majors in August 2014 and promptly hit his first home run in his big league debut. There weren't many highlights for Taylor after that, though. He hit just .205 with 17 strikeouts in 39 at-bats in 17 games. He had a total of 144 strikeouts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse last year. However, he possesses tremendous speed and range and is considered the Nats' top defensive outfield prospect.