Nats infield returns almost entirely intact, with one big change

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ...

Despite significant changes across just about every other part of the roster, the Nationals' infield returns almost entirely intact in 2019 - with one notable exception at second base.

Daniel Murphy, one of the best all-around hitters in baseball, has moved on after spending most of the last three years in D.C. terrorizing opposing pitchers. Among all batters who have taken at least 500 plate appearances for this franchise since it arrived in town, nobody produced a higher batting average (.329) or OPS (.930) than Murphy.

Suffice it to say, Brian Dozier has some awfully big shoes to fill. The Nationals aren't expecting Murphy-like production from their new second baseman, but they are counting on him bouncing back from a rough 2018 in Minnesota and Los Angeles and hitting for the kind of power he did the previous four seasons, when he averaged 32 homers, 34 doubles and 85 RBIs.

Dozier, 31, played through a bone bruise in his left knee much of last year, and he admitted it had an adverse effect on his swing. Healthy now, he believes he can return to form, not only at the plate but in the field, where he won a Gold Glove in 2017. He may not hit like Murphy, but his glove will represent an upgrade.

The rest of the Nationals infield provides plenty of pop to make up for any dropoff at second base, beginning with the stalwart who has manned third base for the better part of the last six seasons. There are few players more consistent from year to year than Anthony Rendon, who in each of his four healthy big league seasons has totaled 20 to 25 homers, 38 to 44 doubles and 83 to 100 RBIs. And we haven't even mentioned his sparkling defensive play yet.

This, of course, is a particularly important season for Rendon, who is eligible for free agency in the fall and is poised to command a gargantuan contract. He has professed his desire to stay in Washington long-term, and the team has professed its desire to keep him here. Perhaps the two sides will be able to hash out an agreeable deal before opening day. If not, this could be a lingering question all season long.

Rendon's partner in crime and best friend on the roster, Trea Turner, will look to build off the best all-around season of his burgeoning career. It perhaps wasn't as flashy as his previous performances, but Turner's 2018 was impressive for its consistency and improvement in all facets of the game.

Turner managed to work the count better, seeing nearly four pitches per plate appearance (above league average). He raised his walk rate from 6.7 percent to 9.3 percent. He didn't run at will, but he still led the league with 43 stolen bases while maintaining an 83 percent success rate. He played solid defense, ranking fourth among all National League shortstops in FanGraphs.com's rating system. And he kept himself on the field, becoming the first Nats player to appear in all 162 games since a young Ryan Zimmerman did it in 2007.

Zimmerman hasn't come close to playing in that many games in quite some time, and his 2018 season was marred by an oblique injury that sidelined him for two months and ultimately left him with only 85 games played and 323 plate appearances. The Nationals need more than that this year, because when he's in the lineup he remains quite productive. No, Zimmerman didn't duplicate his remarkable 2017 All-Star campaign, but he still sported the eighth-highest OPS among all first basemen last season.

As always, the Nationals hope for the best with Zimmerman but they've also prepared for the worst by signing a backup first baseman more than capable of playing every day if needed. Matt Adams, who was traded to the Cardinals during the late August roster dump, returns on a one-year deal and will serve in the same capacity he did last season. The big lefty bopper was much more productive in the first half (.927 OPS) than in the second half (.548) and the Nats will hope he can recapture some of that early magic in his return.

Wilmer Difo returns as the backup middle infielder. The Nationals love his talent and his effervescent personality, but they'd really love to see more consistency from him, not only day to day but at-bat to at-bat. Barring injury to one of the starters, he may not get a ton of playing time, so he's going to have to make the most of what opportunities he gets.

The Dozier signing allows the Nationals to keep top infield prospect Carter Kieboom in the minors to begin the season. The only question now is when the 21-year-old will be ready to make the leap. A natural shortstop, he's expected to get significant playing time at second base for the first time in his career as the organization prepares for his eventual arrival and partnership up the middle with Turner.

If anything else goes awry, the Nationals also have Adrian Sanchez in the minors and ready for promotion. The 28-year-old longtime member of the organization has filled in capably when asked each of the last two seasons. He won't dazzle you, but he won't embarrass you when he's out there.