In a season when devastating injury has been such a central story line, is it possible the Nationals are about to get, of all things, too healthy?
Bryce Harper, who had late-April surgery for a torn thumb ligament, began a minor league rehab assignment Monday. Washington hopes he will return next Tuesday or Wednesday. Then the intrigue begins.
While Harper healed, Ryan Zimmerman returned from his own thumb injury, but as a left fielder. It had become clear to all involved, notably Zimmerman, his chronic shoulder problems simply made his throwing too erratic to stay at third. This allowed the emerging Anthony Rendon to move from second to third and Danny Espinosa to be inserted at second, providing better overall defense for a club that had struggled in that area.
But left field is Harper’s spot and Nats manager Matt Williams has said when Harper is activated, Zimmerman will go back to third. But Zimmerman has hardly sounded enthusiastic about that. He did begin taking grounders in batting practice on Monday again. If Zimmerman plays third, Rendon (11 homers, .810 OPS) goes back to second and Espinosa becomes a utility player.
However, what if Zimmerman cannot handle third? Keep in mind his six-year, $100 million extension began this season and carries through 2019. So, it is not as if the Nats can just sit him. Long-term, he probably becomes the first baseman. But Adam LaRoche provides lefty heft (.896 OPS) for a lineup that tilts righty, so the Nats will have to decide if they also want to pick up his $15 million 2015 option.
Harper has played center before and likes the position. In theory, Zimmerman could play left, Harper center and Denard Span could be benched. But Span has gotten hot of late, provides the best defensive option in center and has hit leadoff in 65 of Washington’s 75 games. He has a reasonable $9 million club option for next year, so it is possible the Nats could trade him to alleviate the logjam, but that would mean the injury-prone Harper must hold up and be capable of playing center, and Zimmerman must be fully capable in left.