Rozner: The National League team no one is talking about

Since the 2018 World Series ended, there has been much discussion about just who should be favored to win the National League this season.

In a wide open race, rarely do you hear mentioned the Washington Nationals with the departure of Bryce Harper on the minds of baseball fans and pundits - not to mention punters.

But the lack of attention is of little consequence to Chicago native and longtime Nats GM Mike Rizzo.

"We're extremely optimistic about the guys we have here," Rizzo said Monday morning by phone from spring training in Florida. "We think we're capable of doing great things in 2019."

No team has received more ink than the Phillies, having signed one of the biggest free agents ever in Harper, and traded for J.T. Realmuto, one of the best catchers in the game.

The Mets were also very busy this winter and boast an extraordinary pitching staff - if they can ever stay healthy.

The young Braves won the East and 90 games in 2018, expected only to improve this season.

There are the Dodgers, naturally, having been to three straight NLCS and consecutive World Series.

The Rockies extended Nolan Arenado, are coming off back-to-back playoff berths and have averaged 89 victories the last two years.

The Central had perhaps the most interesting offseason, with the Cubs criticized for their inactivity, the Reds congratulated for so much activity, the Cardinals acquiring Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Miller, and the Brewers riding high off their extraordinary finish to 2018 and deep run in the postseason.

The team so many seem to have forgotten is Washington, which had won four division titles in six years and averaged 93 wins before injuries limited the Nats to 82 victories in 2018.

Bovada lists Washington as only the seventh choice (10-1) to capture the National League pennant behind the Dodgers (3-1), Phillies (5-1), Cubs (6-1), Cards (7-1), Brewers (7-1) and Braves (8-1).

But this remains a top-notch operation even without Harper, and one quite capable of winning its division and going deep in the postseason.

"It's all good in Washington," said Rizzo, the fifth-longest tenured GM in the game. "We love where we're at."

Rizzo signed free agent lefty Patrick Corbin to slot between Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, the bullpen is formidable and if Adam Eaton can stay healthy in right field, the outfield could be dynamic with 20-year-old MVP candidate Juan Soto in left and 21-year-old Rookie of the Year candidate Victor Robles in center.

An infield of Ryan Zimmerman, Brian Dozier, Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon - also an MVP candidate in a contract year - is strong, and the Nationals have more kids on the way.

So while no one wished for Harper to leave, sometimes decisions made for you have a way of working out for the best, leaving playing time for others and money to spend elsewhere.

"We have to make plans well in advance for all sorts of roster constructions," Rizzo said. "Players work very hard to get six years in the big leagues and become free agents, so you have to have a succession plan in place to make sure you have a competitive team if it doesn't work out and you lose a player.

"We're always looking a year out, three years out and five years out so that we're not taken by surprise when something happens. We prepared for this possibility by trading for Adam Eaton in case Bryce left, just as we traded for Trea Turner before Ian Desmond left.

"There has to be a blueprint for remaining a good team regardless of what occurs."

A big part of it has been the scouting of Rizzo and his staff, which has consistently produced over Rizzo's decade in Washington.

"I never bought into this window thing," said Rizzo, who began in Washington with a complete teardown and rebuild. "I don't believe windows open and close.

"We want to compete every year and you have to have a farm system that produces players you can bring to the big leagues or can be used in trades to fill needs.

"Our scouts and player development staff deserve a lot credit for finding the right players and getting them to the big leagues.

"We've added rookies pretty much every year for the last six or seven years, and we've won as many games as just about anyone the last seven years. In order to do that, you have to be successful developing players and you have to have a fertile farm system."

While garnering little attention this spring, the Nationals have quietly gone about the business of trying to win the East for the fifth time in eight years.

"There's been a really good vibe this spring," Rizzo said. "Nice balance of young, exciting players and a mix of seasoned veterans who have played on the biggest stage with strong resumes.

"I really like the group we have in place. Hopefully, when the bell rings we'll be ready to go.

"It's a great division this year. We respect all, but fear none."

So much conversation, so little time left before the real games begin.

It might not be smart to sleep on the Nats in 2019.