Nationals still debating signing Jake Arrieta

The Washington Nationals, one of the top teams in the National League, are debating adding starting pitcher Jake Arrieta.

If the Washington Nationals weren’t dangerous before, think of how they could be as eye Jake Arrieta.

The club has boosted its bullpen and is now honing in on sharpening the rotation as it tries to get past the first round of the playoffs. As front office tries to put the Nationals over the hump and deeper into October, it needs to make the most of the Bryce Harper window, as he might be headed elsewhere after the 2018 season.

Here is what insider Jon Heyman wrote on the matter:

"Some Nationals people believe they are already potentially the best team on paper. However, they are getting a reputation for coming up just short after yet another heartbreaking October. If they were to add Arrieta, their playoff rotation would be the best in the game, without question, and all three — Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Arrieta — have very good postseason records, which is really the key for a team that’s seen as a virtual lock to win its division.The Nationals do have a potential $70 million coming off the books next year, with Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Gio Gonzalez and several relievers potential free agents. And with Gonzalez likely going, they will have a need going forward."

Heyman is right on all fronts.

The Nats are easily the best team in the NL East. And with Arrieta, the club would have a great rotation to boot. As always this offseason, the luxury tax threshold has been a huge factor in for signing free agents. But Washington needs to take advantage of this Harper window no matter the cost. The Nationals should trade for Chris Archer if they miss on Arrieta. They’re going to need more  good players on the team if Harper wants to stay. Being in a position to win a World Series every year is a perk.

To Heyman’s other point that the Nationals have a lot of money coming off the books heading into 2019, adding Arrieta now shouldn’t hinder them much in the long run. Ownership has shown that it will pay to keep premium talent such as Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer.

With that said, the Nats should be the top suitor for Jake Arrieta. They are a top team with elite talent and have a chance to win the World Series. Something that may be holding a deal up is the length of the contract, as well as staying under the luxury tax threshold.

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Overall, Washington should be wise and sign Jake Arrieta to a four-year deal or something in that ballpark. As with some of the other free agents, the club could provide opt outs or options for future seasons. That would go a long way in making a deal happen.

That Nationals would easily have the best rotation in the MLB with this deal and would be favorites for their first World Series title in 2018.