The Nationals Are Still Trying to Make a Splash

In an attempt to buy some credibility after a 102-loss season, the Nationals made a very serious run at Mark Teixeira, becoming one of the final three bidders for the slugger before ultimately losing out on him because they couldn't offer a chance to win right away.

That doesn't mean they're through trying to improve though, as MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes. Not only are the Nationals in serious pursuit of Milton Bradley -- who seems destined to sign with the Cubs sooner or later -- but they're in on second baseman Orlando Hudson and first baseman/outfielder Adam Dunn.

It seems unlikely that the Nats will be able to secure all three players, and the interest in Bradley doesn't seem to make a ton of sense since their outfield is already pretty full, but it doesn't seem all that crazy that they'd come away with two of the three.

It's clear that Washington has money to spend, and in a cautious market like this, that makes them awfully powerful. Put Hudson and Dunn on the right side of the Nationals' infield and suddenly there's a semblance of respectable offense in the nation's capital. It wouldn't be enough to take them seriously as a contender -- not with such a lousy pitching staff -- but at least they wouldn't be a laughingstock.