Washington Nationals search for answers in center field The Nationals have stationed plenty of bodies in center field, but they have never really had a center fielder. For the better part of the past two years, General Manager Mike Rizzo has searched for a center fielder who could solve their problem. He could not find the right player this winter, so the Nationals, for now, are prepared to again piece it together, with some combination of Roger Bernadina, Jayson Werth and Rick Ankiel, the leading candidate for the opening day job. Even as the countdown to opening day nears one month, though, the Nationals have not ceased their search. Rizzo believes the Nationals can contend with their current center field situation - "We have internal candidates that allow us to compete this year," he said - but they may still swing a trade that can land a player they believe can settle their ragged history in center. "I think if we can answer our long-term question now, we'll do so," Rizzo said. We won't make the change for a short-term answer. The Nationals will have ample options in the future. Next winter's free agent market figures to be packed with eligible center fielders, such as Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton and Michael Bourn. Last season, the Nationals had at least preliminary conversations with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros about Upton and Bourn, respectively. This winter, the Nationals did not force a trade, even after discussing internally making a push for Peter Bourjos of the Los Angeles Angels or Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. They could afford patience owing to their growing stockpile of minor league center fielders. In Michael Taylor, Brian Goodwin and Eury Perez, the Nationals have a trio of potential future major league center fielders. Nationals evaluators drool over Taylor, a lanky, athletic 20-year-old. The Nationals gave Goodwin a $3 million signing bonus last summer; scouts call him a Bourn clone. Perez, one of the fastest players in the Nationals" system, has slipped down prospect rankings, but the Nationals put him on the 40-man roster this winter. One of those three, the Nationals believe, could turn into a homegrown stalwart in center, like Ian Desmond at shortstop or Danny Espinosa at second base. But none has played above Class A, and none may reach the majors in 2014. The timing offers the Nationals a quandary. They want to acquire a center fielder who can help them contend immediately, but only if the player in question adds so much it becomes worth blocking Taylor, Goodwin and Perez.