With or without Rendon, Nats have infield spots to fill

SAN DIEGO - Whether or not Anthony Rendon re-signs with them, the Nationals are going to need to address other needs across their infield this winter. It's a complicated puzzle with several moving parts. But all paths ultimately lead to the same place: Multiple transactions necessary to fill out their entire infield before spring training.

If they had to fill out a lineup card today, the Nationals would know they had Trea Turner at shortstop. They could pencil the recently re-signed Howie Kendrick at either first or second base. But that still leaves two open spots with no sure things on the current big league roster to fill those gaps.

"We're looking for an infielder," general manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday. "We have the flexibility to be able to (add) an infielder, be it a third baseman or a second baseman. We like that flexibility, but that's one of the things on our wish list: to give us a veteran infielder to go along with our young players."

It all starts, of course, with Rendon. If the MVP finalist and postseason hero returns, he's the Nationals' third baseman. If he goes elsewhere - or if he drags out the free agent process too long - they'll have to make a hard push to sign Josh Donaldson. The 34-year-old former American League MVP won't come cheap himself; he reportedly seeks a four-year deal in the range of $100 million.

Beyond Donaldson, there really aren't any other starting third basemen left on the free agent market who could come close to matching that kind of production. So the Nationals might have to try to be a bit more creative in addressing that area of need.

Could they seek a third baseman via trade instead of free agency? Perhaps. There have been rumblings out of Chicago that the Cubs could be shopping Kris Bryant (another former MVP), but a source familiar with the Nationals' discussions said that's not currently on their radar.

What, then, about Carter Kieboom? The organization's top infield prospect is a natural shortstop, but he saw action at both second and third bases last season at Triple-A Fresno, and either of those positions appears his eventual destination once he makes the big league roster (perhaps as soon as opening day 2020).

"I think he's a born-and-raised shortstop," Rizzo said. "We like the fact that shortstops can move to second or third. We think he's going to be a good defensive infielder, be it at third base or second base, and with shortstop filled with Trea, we feel that he gives us options at both positions."

Even if Kieboom wins a job coming out of spring training - and that's far from a given at this point - the Nationals still need at least one more infielder. They're determined not to overplay Kendrick once again, making sure the 36-year-old with a history of leg injuries holds up through the rigors of another long season. So they need to provide him some help.

"My biggest thing with him is just to get him through the season and keep him healthy," manager Davey Martinez said this week.

Ryan Zimmerman is the obvious choice to share the first base job. Now a free agent for the first time in his career, the career National has made it clear he has no intention of ever playing for another franchise and is willing to take a major pay cut from his $18 million salary this season. The two parties haven't engaged in any significant contract negotiations yet this winter, but sources from both sides insist something will get done eventually and that nobody feels rushed to make it happen yet.

That still doesn't completely finalize the Nationals' likely infield, though. They'll seek another veteran (like mid-season pickup Asdrúbal Cabrera) to fill another spot, whether as the primary second baseman if Kieboom's not ready, a possible third baseman if Rendon or Donaldson aren't signed, or a reliable bat off the bench.

It seems less likely the Nationals will re-sign lefty slugger Matt Adams or veteran second baseman Brian Dozier after their disappointing 2019 seasons, but they haven't ruled out either of those players.