You can't always get what you want

Whether it was a surprise or not, the Nationals chased free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes last week before the slugger opted to return to the Mets. The part that was hard to swallow for most Nats fans was why Cespedes chose a three-year deal with New York instead of the five-year offer on the table in Washington.

Even more difficult was that the scenario seems to be replaying itself over and over this offseason. Last month, general manager Mike Rizzo laid a reported $200 million on the table for Jason Heyward before the All-Star outfielder opted for less money with the Cubs.

"We made an aggressive, legitimate market-value offer to a terrific player and he decided to take it elsewhere," Rizzo said a few days after Heyward signed with Chicago. "He's a terrific player, a great citizen and an all-around good guy. Those things are expected. We have alternative plans for everything that we get done and things that we don't get done. We wish him well and we'll certainly make arrangements to improve the roster other ways."

But Heyward wasn't alone. The Nationals also targeted versatile veteran Ben Zobrist and reliever Darren O'Day early this winter with highly competitive offers. Zobrist signed with the Cubs, while O'Day stayed in Baltimore.

"I don't see any common thing between the three other than they chose the teams that they chose over many other teams that had interest in them," Rizzo said at Winterfest.

So why are the Nationals missing on some of the big names in free agency this offseason? Are players shying away from the fallout of a trying season ending with a dugout brawl between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper?

Maybe, but unlikely. Consider that Zobrist chose to play for his old manager Joe Maddon in Chicago, while O'Day and Cespedes returned to their ballclubs.

Rizzo upgraded the Nationals lineup by adding free agent second baseman Daniel Murphy and replaced Denard Span with speedster Ben Revere. He also revamped the bullpen by adding four veteran relievers.

Yet still the questions remain.