WASHINGTON -- This offseason, the Nationals have tried their best to improve their offense, which finished near the bottom of almost every category last year.

Washington made efforts to sign free agents Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson, but Teixeira ended up signing an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees, while Dunn and Hudson, who are still unsigned, exceeded the Nationals' price range.

The Nationals could wait until Spring Training to sign a significant free agent at a reasonable price -- something they have done in the past. On Feb. 18, 2007, Washington signed second baseman Ronnie Belliard for $750,000. The deal came four months after he became a World Series hero with the Cardinals. Belliard turned out to be an excellent acquisition for Washington, as he hit .287 or better the past two years and played all four infield position.

But if they don't sign any major free agents, the Nationals may opt to look in-house to solve their problems at first and second base and the leadoff position. For example, Anderson Hernandez as the everyday second baseman makes sense.

After Hernandez was acquired last August in a trade that sent reliever Luis Ayala to the Mets, manager Manny Acta said all Hernandez needed was a chance to play. Acta was proven right. The switch-hitting Hernandez hit .333 with 17 RBIs in 28 games and played spectacular defense.

During the Winter Meetings, Acta said he would prefer that Hernandez hits near the bottom of the order, but the Nationals may have no choice but to use Hernandez at the leadoff spot. With the exception of Willie Harris, who is considered a reserve, there's nobody else in the organization who is considered a fit for the job. Hernandez was 18-for-50 (.360) with a .429 on-base percentage while batting leadoff.

"I have seen that before," Acta said about Hernandez last year. "This guy can play. It was a good acquisition made by [general manager] Jim [Bowden]. This guy is a good player. I've seen him enough with the Mets and winter ball. He's very valuable, because he can play anywhere in the infield. He knows how to play the game."

The Nationals also know what Nick Johnson can do on the field. He always has a high on-base percentage and is an excellent defensive first baseman. But in the past two years, Johnson has played just 38 games -- all of them in 2008. Johnson suffered a serious wrist injury in '08, but he said he will be ready for Spring Training. He is expected to swing a bat this month.

If the Nats can't sign a free-agent first baseman like Dunn or make a trade, they will have no choice but to take their chances on Johnson. There is no other first baseman in the organization who can give them the on-base percentage and defense he provides. Washington simply has to cross its fingers and hope that Johnson doesn't get hurt.

If Johnson has to miss a long period of time because of injuries this season, the Nationals most likely will turn to Belliard or Josh Willingham, who was acquired from the Marlins in a trade in November.