Josh Willingham News

Besides potential replacements at first base and closer, the Braves want to improve their offense this offseason, preferably with a power hitter.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

Cards say Bay is not priority If they can't get Holliday, then it's more likely they will pursue pitching.

In Ken Rosenthalsa TM Latest Buzz From The MLB Offseason piece on FOXSports.com , he mentions that the Washington Nationals are receiving strong interest in OF Josh Willingham.

According to SI.coma TMs Jon Heyman via Twitter, the Washington Nationals are expected to name Jim Riggleman as manager.

In 2008, the Washington Nationals had the worst record in all of baseball because they had the worst players in all of baseball.

Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner will be the first to tell you the Lerner Group was not happy that the team finished with the worst record in baseball for the second consecutive season.

Ryan Church had been a top prospect in the Montreal Expos' farm system for four years before arriving in Mesa, Ariz., in October 2003 for the next chapter in his professional baseball life.

Do you see the Nationals bringing in another bat this offseason? And who might be the fit at the position? -- Justin L., Washington Yes, I think they will get another bat in the outfield.

It could be the busiest offseason in Nationals history, and if the Nyjer Morgan/Sean Burnett trade was any indication, look for general manager Mike Rizzo to improve the team in a big way.

Before the 2009 season started, the Nationals believed they would be better than last year's team, which lost 102 games.

After a second consecutive 100-loss season that featured plenty of missteps, and not just in terms of Ws and Ls - remember the "Natinals" jersey fiasco? remember Jim Bowden? - the Washington Nationals are ready to put a timetable on a turnaround.

Why should the Nats consider Jim Riggleman for the permanent job as manager? -- Billy T., Washington The Nationals played much better baseball in the second half, and it's the first time in a long time a manager has made the players accountable for their actions on the field.

Adam Dunn : 3-for-22. Josh Willingham: 4-for-19. Ryan Zimmerman: 8-for-32. After years of flailing away unsuccessfully at Lowe, though, it appears the Nationals are beginning to figure him out.

Quick, who has been the Washington Nationals ' MVP in 2009? ? Adam Dunn ? John Lannan? While there are certainly arguments to be made for any of those guys, there might actually be a stronger case for a position player who was with the team for only 51 games this season.

After the Braves' Javier Vazquez stifled the Washington Nationals with a three-hitter in Atlanta 's 4-1 victory Friday, the Nats' interim manager Jim Riggleman stated the obvious.

The Washington Nationals had hoped to take some steps forward this year. Instead, they have now lost more games in 2009 than they did last season.

The Braves still have an outside shot at earning the National League Wild Card berth.

Whether he's frustrated or not, the Washington Nationals ' left-hander isn't about to show it publicly.

New York Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy, right, is frustrated by the dugout railing as he can't get to a foul pop fly hit by the Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham during the seventh inning of the baseball game at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, Sept.