The Post Sports Live crew looks toward 2015 for the Nationals and debates whether they will be World Series favorites again. (Post Sports Live/The Washington Post)

The Post Sports Live crew looks toward 2015 for the Nationals and debates whether they will be World Series favorites again. (Post Sports Live/The Washington Post)

For contenders such as the Washington Nationals, the majority of baseball offseasons are spent adding pieces and replacing parts, like touching up the hull of a boat. This winter will not be like the majority of offseasons. The Nationals, even after a 96-win, division-title season, will be moving ships in the harbor.

They begin the winter with no large holes to fill or stars to replace. But the Nationals will undergo negotiations and make crucial decisions that could set the franchise’s on-field course deep into the future.

All-star right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, bedrock shortstop Ian Desmond and right-hander Doug Fister are all scheduled to be eligible for free agency after the 2015 season. The Nationals engaged with all three in the hopes of reaching long-term contract extensions last winter, and they are expected to do so again this offseason.

General Manager Mike Rizzo called the trio of potential contract extensions “one of our priorities. I don’t know if it’s the priority.” But the three contract situations will define Nationals’ winter, and the outcomes could steer the organization’s on-field fate.

“We think it’s an important offseason,” Rizzo said. “We’ve got a lot of decisions to make. How we move forward is going to be important for the viability of the franchise, not only in ’15, but the long-term.”

1 of 48 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Top moments of the Nationals’ 2014 season View Photos From their opening day win to their no-hitter finale, these are some highlights of the regular season. Caption From their opening day win to their no-hitter finale, these are some highlights of the regular season. March 31, 2014 Matt Williams, the Washington Nationals' new manager, stands with his team during introductions before the season opener against the Mets in New York. John McDonnell/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Depending on the success of negotiations and payroll restraints set forth by ownership, the Nationals may have to choose between which stars they keep for the long term — and perhaps even the short term. They are prepared to consider trading any of their three stars if they cannot secure them to extensions, guarding against watching one of their best players leave in a year with only a compensatory draft pick to show for it.

“That’s Mike’s biggest job this offseason,” one industry insider said. “It’s not figuring out who he can bring in. It’s figuring out who he can keep.”

Asked about the possibility of trading Fister, Zimmermann or Desmond, Rizzo demurred. “I think we’re a long way from that conversation,” he said.

Before the annual general manager meetings in early November, Rizzo will meet with his entire staff — scouts, special assistants, player development staff, coaches — and evaluate the Nationals from top to bottom, what Rizzo calls “our 60-man roster.” Those meetings could determine the Nationals’ approach to Fister, Zimmermann and Desmond.

“It will kind of dovetail off of this big-picture evaluation of what we have,” Rizzo said. “That will answer a lot of questions. What we think we have. What’s our depth at those positions? How ready is that depth? What type of depth is it? That will go far to answer those specific roster questions of those specific roster parts. You’re much more able to be in a position of strength if you have depth at a certain position.”

The process was made more difficult when trusted assistant general manager Bryan Minniti left the organization days after the Nationals’ playoff ouster. Minniti was heavily involved in contract negotiations. The Nationals expect to replace him soon, with former Cincinnati Reds executive Bob Miller the likely choice.

Each player brings different circumstances. Zimmermann’s negotiations grew murkier last spring training when the Reds signed Homer Bailey to a five-year, $105 million contract extension. The deal exploded the market for starting pitchers and stunted progress the sides had made, a person familiar with the situation said.

1 of 16 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Nationals’ Jordan Zimmermann throws no-hitter View Photos In the final game of the regular season, Jordan Zimmermann throws the first no-hitter in Nationals history, aided by Steven Souza Jr.’s diving catch for the final out of the game. Caption In the final game of the regular season, Jordan Zimmermann throws the first no-hitter in Nationals history. Sept. 28, 2014 Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann pitches during the team's final regular season game. The Nationals won, 1-0, as Zimmermann pitched a no-hitter, the first in Nationals history. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Zimmermann had established himself as a pitcher similar to Bailey, only better, as each climbed levels in arbitration. Zimmermann has only further solidified himself as a superior pitcher. If Zimmermann signs a long-term deal with the Nationals this winter, it will likely be the richest contract the Nationals have ever handed out, trumping the seven-year, $126-million deal signed by outfielder Jayson Werth in 2011.

After a second all-star season, which Zimmermann capped with a no-hitter and a near-shutout in Game 2 of the NLDS, Zimmermann’s contract as a free agent would likely fall closer to those of Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels, who will make $147 million and $144 million over six years, respectively. Zimmermann will make $16.5 million in 2015 to finish a two-year contract, which would be the most the Nationals ever paid a pitcher in a single season.

The Nationals and Desmond exchanged proposals last winter and into the spring. Desmond turned down one offer believed to be worth more than $90 million over seven years. He is set to make $11 million in the final year of a two-year extension.

After the Nationals traded for Fister last season, they engaged in brief contract talks in an effort to extend him, as they did after they acquired Gio Gonzalez in December 2011. The details of those discussions are not known.

Trading any player would serve a blow not only to the Nationals’ changes in 2015, but also to their fan base. Desmond was drafted by the Montreal Expos and has emerged as a talented, slugging shortstop as well as the soul of the organization. The Nationals drafted and developed Zimmermann, the man many fans wanted on the mound in Game 1 of the playoffs. Fister added distinct toughness the Nationals’ pitching staff.

Center fielder Denard Span, one of the Nationals’ best players this season, will also be eligible for free agency after 2015, presuming the Nationals exercise his $9 million team option. But Despite his value, Span fits into a different category. The Nationals have not engaged in contract extension talks with him, and they have a potential replacement lined up in prospect Michael Taylor.

The fate of all three may be decided by how much Nationals ownership is willing to spend. Principal Owner Mark Lerner said on opening day last year that the Nationals were “beyond topped out” with a payroll of roughly $140 million, which ranked ninth in baseball on Opening Day. Lerner declined comment through a team spokesman when asked about the club’s payroll.