Could there be a future home for Yoenis Cespedes in the nation’s capital?

The market for elite free-agent outfielders stalled after Jason Heyward agreed to an eight-year, $184 million deal with the Cubs a few weeks ago, but that may be changing. ESPN's Jim Bowden hears the market has picked up for Cespedes, who reportedly is seeking a six-year deal in the $150 million range.

But the offseason is past the halfway mark, and executives will soon be looking for prices to drop. That brings us to the Nationals, who made a serious play for Heyward earlier this month. “Why couldn’t they do the same with Cespedes and try to unseat the Mets in the NL East by adopting their postseason Nos. 3-4 hitters – Daniel Murphy and Cespedes?” writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. “There is pressure to flush 2015 from the memory bank.”

Recent history suggests the Nationals are not afraid to make a bold move late in the offseason. They signed Max Scherzer to a $210 million deal last January and remain a team that is built to win now.

The Nats, however, have yet to be linked as a serious suitor for Cespedes. In fact, the Orioles and White Sox have emerged as the favorites to sign the Cuban outfielder, while the Angels, Giants and Rangers are monitoring the situation, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

The timing of any deal for Cespedes or Justin Upton also could hinge on what happens in Baltimore. Bowden hears the agents for both players “are still dragging out the process” because the Orioles are a likely landing spot for one of the two outfielders if Chris Davis signs elsewhere. Meanwhile, Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun reports the Orioles have budgeted a big deal only for Davis. If Davis fails to sign, the Orioles would not necessarily spend it on someone like Cespedes.

Our rumors roundup continues with more buzz coming out of the Beltway: