The Nationals are set to move young phenom Trea Turner back into the infield next season, leaving a gaping hole in center field. The team has been linked to a number of MLB's top players to fill the void.
Names such as Andrew McCutchen and Lorenzo Cain have been on seemingly every team's shortlist, but Washington has the farm system to complete a deal.
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Now there are even more names on the Nationals' radar as they try to secure a star player after missing out on Chris Sale.
Here are the top candidates Washington could bring in to play center field:
Adam Eaton (White Sox) — It appeared the Nationals were going to pry Sale away from the Windy City before Boston snatched him out of their clutches. Now, Washington reportedly has inquired about the availability of Eaton, who carried a .284/.362/.428 slash line with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases last season.
Eaton is a great outfielder who covers a lot of ground in Chicago's large stadium. He would bring the Nationals stability at the position with his bat and glove. Eaton finished last season with a career-best 6.2 WAR, which was 10th in the American League.
Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) — Last week it appeared this was a done deal. Then, all of the sudden, the Nats claimed Pittsburgh's asking price was too high. By all accounts, the Pirates want Victor Robles (No. 10 ranked prospect by MLB.com) and a starting-quality pitcher (Joe Ross) for McCutchen.
Washington has every right to be wary giving up Robles for McCutchen, who hit just .256 with 79 RBIs last season. Though McCutchen is still just 30 years old, his average, one-base percentage and slugging percentage have all dropped drastically during the past two seasons. He is a risk-reward guy at this stage in his career.
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Lorenzo Cain (Royals) — Though Cain has never played more than 140 games in a season, never hit more than 16 home runs, and is coming off a season-ending injury, he's viewed as a premier center fielder because of his range and speed.
Cain is a good hitter — he's hit at least .287 each of the past three seasons — who combines speed and some power. Cain is basically a higher-upside version of Denard Span, who roamed Washington's outfield for three seasons.
Charlie Blackmon (Rockies) — It remains to be seen whether the Rockies will trade Blackmon or try to get rid of Carlos Gonzalez, but the recent signing of Ian Desmond has provided them with options. Blackmon seems more likely to be traded because of his smaller contract, though the Nationals would have plenty of competition for his services.
Blackmon, 30, hit .324 with 29 home runs and 82 RBIs and stole 17 bases last season. He may not be the flashiest in the field, but he may be the best hitter out of this group.