After -- or even before -- their 2008 season ended with an 8-3 loss to the Phillies, the Nationals were headed for an offseason full of questions.

The team announced in the eighth inning of the Sept. 28 finale that it would not retain seven staff members, including five of the six coaches on manager Manny Acta's staff. That added a coaching search to the list of tasks awaiting general manager Jim Bowden as he seeks to improve the team with the majors' worst record.

"There are a lot of changes that we need to make to get to where we want to get to," Bowden said. "We're going to start on 2009 tomorrow morning."

Besides hiring new coaches, Bowden's top task is to improve a lineup that lacked punch even before it was riddled with injuries. Lastings Milledge led the team with 61 RBIs, the lowest figure to lead a team in the last 20 years, and the Nationals were second to last in the NL with 117 homers.

Acta has stated repeatedly the team's first need is a proven hitter in the middle of the lineup, preferably a left-hander who would be able to take pressure off still-developing hitters such as Ryan Zimmerman, Elijah Dukes and Milledge.

It's unclear how much money Bowden will have to work with; the team hasn't traditionally made forays into the free agent market and would prefer to add younger hitters. But the need to upgrade the Nationals' lineup seems to be too great for Bowden not to make some moves.

If something does change, first base might be the most likely spot. Nick Johnson (whose season ended in May because of a wrist injury) and Dmitri Young (who was limited by diabetes and injuries resulting from poor conditioning all season) look increasingly like high-risk options at the position.

Washington has $10.5 million committed to the two players next season, but Bowden has admitted the Nationals can't go into next season without another option.

The other big question mark is the bullpen, where longtime closer Chad Cordero doesn't figure to return after Bowden angered him by announcing the injured right-hander would be non-tendered following the season. Washington might have found a replacement in Joel Hanrahan, but its relief corps, once the strength of its team, is now one of its biggest questions.

But for a team that began its maneuvering before the final out, questions are the norm right now.

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