The Washington Nationals impressive organizational depth will provide them with a significant amount of flexibility this winter when it comes to a decision on whether or not they retain first baseman Adam LaRoche and if they decide to target free agent outfielder Michael Bourn, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

Consider first baseman Adam LaRoche. Sure, the Nationals would like to re-sign him, but LaRoche, 32, could decline his end of a $10 million mutual option. As a free agent coming off a 30-homer, 100-RBI season, or something very close to it, he likely would command a three-year deal in the $33 million to $36 million range.

At one point, the Nats were viewed as the favorites to sign Bourn as a free agent; they might not view such a move as necessary now.

Rosenthal notes that the club could stick with current center fielder Bryce Harper for another year or two until projected long-term solution Brian Goodwin reaches the majors. The 34^th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, Goodwin has hit .280/.384/.469 with twenty-six doubles, fourteen home runs and eighteen stolen bases in twenty-five attempts between low- and Double-A this season.

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Should the Nationals keep LaRoche/pursue Bourn this winter?

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