The Washington Nationals are currently ranked in the bottom of the National League Eats with a record of 38-62, 16 games behind the top ranked Philadelphia Phillies. Say what you will about the team, they've at least been consistent in their mediocrity. They haven't had any particularly down or up months - they've just been losing more than they've been winning on a regular basis. They had a four game winning streak in April and early May, but that's the closest that they've gotten to a significant rally.
Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman agreed to extend his contract for two more years for $16 million. He was recently selected for the All-Star game for the first time since 2001. The 30 year old shortstop has spent most of his career for the Nationals on the disabled list due to a string of injuries, but he has since largely recovered and is now playing a critical role in essentially keeping the team from sliding even further in the rankings. He's currently leading the National League with 129 hits. If he hadn't been re-signed, he might have become a free agent.
Outfielder Willy Mo Pena also had surgery in order to repair a tear on his shoulder, and will likely be absent for up to six months as he recovers. He joins Chad Cordero, Nick Johnson and Ryan Wagner on the disabled list. Otherwise, it's a largely healthy team, but they'll need a lot more if they expect to achieve any sort of standing in the next few years.
