If Duke is willing to accept the long-man/spot-starter/loogy at times role, then yeah he’d be a great fit. Of course, its no lock that he comes back here. He’s a FA and he’s certainly seeing the same gold-rush of FA dollars that everyone else sees. More and more I’m thinking that despite reservations about the players, both Lannan and Gorzelanny need to be tendered just because of their southpaw-status.

More likely what the Nats face by standing pat is this: they suffer pitching injuries instead of positional injuries in 2013 (the reverse of what befell them in 2012). Except, we have practically no pitching depth in the system. If we had 2-month injuries to (say) Gonzalez and Detwiler in spring training, who would possibly take their place in the rotation? Perry? Maya? Lannan? That’s the bigger concern for me.

No; i think the team signed Duke late (beleive it was like the day before the season started) as a last chance shot for the player, he looked great (in AAA) and was rewarded with a 9/1 call up. I think Duke will be looking for another starter job, not to stay with this team and become a one-out guy. Same with Lannan; he’s a starter. The team needs both a 5th starter and loogy’s …

Btw, I’m also of the opinion that the whole “bullpen guy who can start” story is overplayed too. Reason? Because both Stammen and Gorzelanny in the bullpen are converted starters … but both never pitched much more than a couple innings and even when Gorzelanny got a spot start he only went 4 … once you’ve pitched out of the bullpen for a season you can’t just snap your fingers and throw 7 innings. You need to get stretched out, change your preparation, and get back onto the 5-day cycle.

If we let LaRoche walk, spent a ton on a FA 5th starter and had Moore/Bernadina in left, i’d say two things: we would still be very right handed, especially middle of the order. And, Morse/Moore better step up. Bernadina had a great 2012; is he a full time player? if he was, and could keep his high OBP at leadoff we’d be doing great. Moore was great in a short sample size; can he do that for a full season? Scouts really don’t think so, and have hated on Moore for years.

Derek, Swisher may not make much more per year than LaRoche if he makes more at all. LaRoche is coming off a silver slugger and a gold glove and there are zero other reliable first base options on the market. Swisher does provide versatility but I wouldn’t be shocked if he and LaRoche sign very similar contracts annual salary wise. I think Swisher is a better fit at this point than LaRoche from a baseball perspective. Swisher can play LF/RF/1B. He does all at a pretty average level and won’t hurt you at any of those positions. He is a switch hitter and he gets on base. The flexibility to move him around really keeps things fluid for the team where LaRoche creates a logjam at some point in his next contract if he resigns. The only think that makes me want to see LaRoche come back is the sentimental side of things.