Nationals Are Ready For Their Makeover

Team Weighing Moves Before Trade Deadline

"We're going to make the best decisions for the long-term health of this organization," said Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden, right. (By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)

The group of Washington Nationals who leave tonight for Pittsburgh and the post-all-star break portion of their season are little more than a ragtag bunch who have, by their manager's estimation, underachieved. The greatest possible shock, it would seem, would be if that group somehow overcame injuries and inconsistency to right itself and pull out of such a deep hole, currently 14 games under .500.

But the Nationals understand that an even more significant surprise would come if this roster remained intact over the remaining 72 games. Jim Bowden, the team's general manager, has spent the last six weeks preparing for the next two, when the current version of the Nationals could be blown up and, the front office hopes, the foundation for a long rebuilding process could be put in place.

"We're going to make the best decisions for the long-term health of this organization," Bowden said earlier this month. "Anytime we can make a move that will make us better in the long term, we'll do it."

But to truly do that will require something of a philosophical change by Bowden. Stan Kasten, the team's incoming president, has charted a course that is focused not on this season or next, but on the distant future, a plan that requires patience -- a quality Kasten wants not only from his front office, but from fans as well. Bowden, both intelligent and impulsive, had to buy into that plan in order for Kasten to retain him once the new ownership group -- led by Theodore N. Lerner -- officially takes over the team.

Kasten announced late last month that Bowden will stay, and that puts the rebuilding process squarely in the hands of a man who has been a GM for a dozen years but has rarely, if ever, been called patient. Is Bowden naturally inclined to follow Kasten's plans?

"I can say that professionally, he seems extremely inclined to do it," Kasten said. "He latched onto my thoughts quickly, which suggests to me they were his own thoughts before I started articulating how I felt."

Bowden's strategy in preparing for the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline -- after which players must pass through waivers if they are to be moved from club to club, thus making significant moves nearly impossible -- has been layered.

First, he dispatched the Nationals' meager collection of professional scouts to the bush leagues, trying to build files on the minor league systems of the teams Bowden believes are most likely to be buyers over the next 2 1/2 weeks. That group includes all the teams in New York and Los Angeles and the Boston Red Sox, all with front-line prospects who might be had if the pressure to win a division title depends on making a move for a more polished player.

Leading the effort is Bob Boone, the Nationals' senior director of player personnel, who has logged so many miles scouting players that he has platinum status on both American and Delta. The goal is to be able to give opinions to Bowden on players -- even those in Class A -- should their names come up in trade discussions. Bowden's question: Could that player help us in the future? "We have to have an answer," Boone said. Even so, Boone admits, "We just can't see everyone."

The second part of preparing for the deadline is evaluating the Nationals' own personnel. There are very few current Nationals who figure to be part of the team's long-term plan. Rookie third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, relievers Chad Cordero and Gary Majewski, first baseman Nick Johnson and catcher Brian Schneider (both are signed through 2009) are likely exceptions.

Several Nationals have contracts that expire this year, most notably left fielder Alfonso Soriano but also outfielder Jose Guillen and pitchers Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas Jr. People familiar with the thinking of the front office said that the hope is for some of the under-performing players -- such as Guillen and right-hander Livan Hernandez -- to start the second half well so that they become more marketable. The Nationals would then try to draw two or more teams into the bidding for their services in hopes of driving up the price.

"We have players that other teams are going to want," Bowden said. "They're just not performing right now. But they will."

Whether they do or not, and whether the Nationals are able to get talented prospects in return, could determine not only the outcome of this season, but -- much more importantly -- the success in seasons to come. Bowden will orchestrate the deals, with Kasten's plan as the backdrop.

"Obviously, we're here not just to see if we can keep the ship afloat," Kasten said. "We're here to build something successful, championship-caliber for the long term. It's a different job with different requirements."

UP NEXT at Pirates Tomorrow, 7:05: Ortiz (6-7, 4.85) vs. Duke (5-7, 5.01) WDCA-20, MASN, WTWP-FM-107.7, WTWP-1500 at Pirates Saturday, 7:05: Astacio (1-1, 5.19) vs. Snell (8-6, 4.74) MASN, WTWP-FM-107.7, WTWP-1500