Nats Sign Dan Haren Giving them Best Rotation in the MLB

The Washington Nationals had arguably the best starting rotation in the bigs last year which helped them to a league best 98-64 regular season. We all know it starts up top with the young phenom Stephen Strasburg who was shut down in controversial style with over a month left in the regular season. But, one of the main reasons’s for the great overall starting pitching had to do with depth. #2 starter Gio Gonzalez had a SUB 3 ERA and was Cy Young candidate, along with Jordan Zimmerman’s 2.97 ERA. Ross Detwiller was serviceable in the back end of the rotation with a 3.28 ERA pitching a career high 164 IP not just coming out of the pen and being a spot starter.So what else could this organization do to possibly get better with it’s starting rotation considering those 4 pitchers are all in the prime of their careers at the age of 27 and younger; that was still a blown save away without Strasburg in the playoffs from reaching the NLCS? Add a key veteran starter into the rotation which is what Daren Haren will bring to the table after signing a one year $13 million deal. Edwin Jackson served that role but was extremely inconsistent especially down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs which resulted in him being the only starter with an ERA over 4.But, this is a big upgrade for the Nats making them immediate World Series contenders once again. Something Haren clearly understands as he only signed a one year with nothing guaranteed long term and did leave an organization full of tons talent in Anaheim. Sure, Haren didn’t have the greatest season last year with a 4.33 ERA but those numbers are somewhat inflated due to a brutal start to the year, down the stretch in his final 9 starts he went at least 5.1 IP never surrendering more then 3 ER. He had shown signs of the more dominating pitcher he was in the previous years having posted a sub 3.33 ERA in 6 of the past 7 seasons.At the age of 32 he’s not the kind of pitcher you want a build a rotation around but can be very serviceable accepting a role being the #3 or #4 starter and serving as a mentor to these young arms. I believe Haren should bounce back being in the NL where he had more success with the DBacks in previous years. Also when looking at his career he’s shown a great ability to bounce back after bad seasons. The two previous season’s he’s had an ERA over 4 the next year he’s bounced back with quality seasons with an ERA of under 3.33 those years.It’s going to be very difficult for any team to beat these team during regular season and playoff series’s due to this outstanding rotation that can shut down anyone. In particular the back end of their rotation will provide them a huge advantage over most teams. We all know the pitching is going to be there.In order to win the World Series it will require the hitting to be more clutch and not have as much inconsistency as it did at points last year. Harper needs to continue improving, Zimmerman need’s to remain healthy and get back on track with his usual all star calibre seasons at the plate, Werth needs to somewhat play up to his $18 mil per year contract; Morse, Espinosa, Desmond and Moore all have upside but are the true wild cards really needing to continue developing to give them enough overall depth in the line up.Should be interesting to see what else comes out of the winter meetings where many big free agent splashes and trades get orchestrated. It has already been a fascinating off season with the Blue Jays big trade, Upton going to Atlanta, Victorino to the Red Sox, the Phillies rumours with Lee and of course the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes. What’s next?