One of the perceived strengths the Washington Nationals have

shaped hole in the Nationals’ clubhouse

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moncler sale outlet WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. One of the perceived strengths the Washington Nationals have stressed since reporting to spring training last week has been their roster continuity. Most faces Cheap Moncler in the clubhouse are familiar. It’s like the Nationals are running it back with their 97 win moncler outlet store team from last season with a new coaching staff. The entire projected Opening Day starting lineup was on the club in 2017. https://www.moncleroutletmall.com The team’s core has won hundreds of games and suffered at least two early October exits together. The cohesion is valued. moncler sale outlet

cheap moncler outlet But there’s a void. A shaggy, bearded 6 foot 5 presence is missing. The Nationals will begin their Grapefruit League schedule on Friday and Jayson Werth hasn’t appeared at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The clubhouse is without its organic moncler outlet online farmer, gluten free beer drinker and gourmet jerky connoisseur. And it just doesn’t seem right. It’s weird. cheap moncler outlet

moncler jacket sale “Just looking around,” reliever Shawn Kelley said, “and knowing the big hairy gorilla is not sitting around here is weird.” moncler jacket sale

“It’s weird that I haven’t seen him yet,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “I’ve been expecting him to show up one of these days.”

moncler jackets outlet “It’s weird not having him around,” said moncler sale first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the longest tenured player in Nationals history. “It’s crazy. It’s also crazy that seven years went by that fast.” moncler jackets outlet

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moncler outlet Jayson Werth was a valuable clubhouse presence for the Nationals over seven buy moncler jackets seasons. (Lynne Sladky/AP) moncler outlet

cheap moncler Seven years was the length of the contract worth $126 million a clean shaven Werth signed in December 2010, a pact that drew wrath from all corners of the baseball world. Most naysayers wondered why the Nationals would give a soon to be 32 year old one time all star that much money over that many years. Another segment wondered why Werth would defect from the Philadelphia Phillies coming off a 97 win season for the last place Nationals. cheap moncler

Seven years, four playoff appearances, a few unforgettable moments and a lot more hair later, the move is considered franchise altering, a necessary step in the organization’s quest for legitimacy.

moncler sale “I think it was worth every penny,” Zimmerman said. “Looking back at it, some people might disagree. You look at his performance or injuries or things like that, but for all the other just things fans can’t see or didn’t see what happened in here. I hope people kind of realize what he meant to the cheap moncler coats organization.” moncler sale

moncler outlet online Zimmerman, the only Nationals player around before and after Werth’s tenure, was given Werth’s corner locker for the spring. moncler outlet Adam Eaton will take Werth’s place monlcer down jackets in left field. cheap moncler sale Turner is expected to slide into Werth’s spot in two hole in the batting order. moncler outlet online

But Werth’s role off the field as the preeminent clubhouse leader will not shift to just one person. Players have said it will be a group effort. Veterans including Max Scherzer, Daniel Murphy, Kelley and Zimmerman are among those expected to assume leadership duties as rookie Manager Dave Martinez and his coaching staff ease into their jobs.

“It matters. Anytime you lose somebody of his stature and experience, that’s obviously a loss,” Scherzer said. “The thing is that we’re bringing the whole team back. No one guy has to step up and be somebody that they’re not.”

cheap moncler jackets sale The Nationals moved on from Werth because, after a disappointing, injury plagued 2017 season, he’ll turn 39 in May and they boast an outfielder surplus for the future. In addition to Eaton returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Michael A. Taylor enjoyed a breakout 2017, Brian Goodwin convinced club executives he’s qualified to serve as the fourth outfielder, and Victor Robles, Washington’s moncler mens jackets top prospect, is on the majors’ doorstep. cheap moncler jackets sale

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moncler outlet uk Yet Werth still maintains a presence on the franchise he helped morph into a perennial contender. The team owes him $10 million plus interest, an amount deferred to this season a couple years ago, and he stays in contact with teammates. Kelley and Ryan Madson, whowon a World Series with Werth in Philadelphia, are among the former teammates who regularly moncler outlet sale text Werth. The messages aren’t baseball related. One of the subjects broached is Kelley’s attempt to replace Werth asthe team’s hair and beard titleholder. moncler outlet uk

“He’s like: ‘Good try. It cheap moncler won’t be on my level,’ ” said Kelley, who arrived at camp basically ready to be cast for the final season of “Game of Thrones.” “We mess with eachother.”

Werth wants to continue his career but remains a free agent in a market that would’ve been unkind to him when he was a cheap moncler jackets free agent seven years ago. On Monday, Bryce Harper vouched for his mentor and groomsman. He wondered why teams would want to tank for a higher draft pick instead of adding a leader who he believes still has some left in the tank like Werth.

cheap moncler coats “He’s somebody I looked up to,” Harper said. “Every single day I came into this clubhouse I wanted to talk to him and see what he had for me One of the best teammates I’ve ever had throughout my whole life, moncler sale outlet so I’m going to miss him.” cheap moncler coats

moncler factory outlet This will be the first season of Harper’s career without Werth around. The team is confident his contributions on and off the field will be replaced, but it’ll be an adjustment. His absence is noticeable. It’s already weird moncler factory outlet.