Ever since Max Scherzer turned down a $144 million offer from the Detroit Tigers last March, speculation has been rampant about whom he would sign with and for how much. Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported in early December that Scherzer’s asking price was around $200 million, but throughout the free agent process, he stayed in the shadows.

Scherzer's agent, Scott Boras, came through again in a big way late Sunday night as Scherzer inked a 7-year, $210 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

That he signed with the Nats is a bit surprising due to their already-loaded starting rotation. Last year, they led the MLB with a 3.03 staff ERA. The prevailing philosophy is that a team cannot have too much pitching, but if anyone is tip-toeing that line, it’s the Nationals. With Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez, Washington has one of the best five-man rotations in recent memory.   

The rotation is so good that Tanner Roark, who had a terrific season last year with a 15-10 and a 2.85 ERA, will likely be moved to the bullpen. 

However, the Nationals have made it known that they are willing to deal Zimmermann or Strasburg if the price is right. While they would undoubtedly be able to receive a talented prospect package in return, it would be best to keep this quintet intact.

Nationals’ owner Ted Lerner is 89 years old, and he has made it known that he wants to win a championship while he is still alive. It is for this reason that he opened the checkbook for Scherzer. Scott Boras prefers to negotiate with ownership as opposed to management, and he must have convinced Lerner that Scherzer gives the team the best chance for a ring.

It is hard to argue with Boras’s logic. Even before the Scherzer signing, the Nationals’ roster was loaded. Now with Scherzer toeing the rubber every fifth day, they are the best team in professional baseball. 

The offense, led by Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond, will score plenty of runs, and the dominant pitching staff will be nearly impossible to score on. It’s a recipe for success, but having the best team on paper does not mean a championship is on the horizon.

Health is supremely important in all sports, but especially baseball. It is very rare that a team will go the entire 162-game season without losing a significant piece, and Harper, Werth, Desmond, and Ryan Zimmerman have all battled injuries in the past.

Unfortunately for the Nats, World Series are not won on paper. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels have drastically increased their payrolls and substantially improved their rosters in recent years, yet neither has won a championship in that time.

But while there might not be a way to secure a playoff spot or deep playoff run before Spring Training has even started, Washington is doing its best.  There are still some questions looming, most notably if they can keep all five dominant starting pitchers. They also need to improve their bullpen. They are not expected to re-sign last year’s closer, Rafael Soriano, and they traded setup specialist Tyler Clippard for Yunel Escobar.

Drew Storen is expected to be the closer after he finished 2014 with a flurry, not allowing a single earned run in his final 20 innings pitched. A deep, talented bullpen is almost a necessity to continue playing deep into October, and adding a few relievers should be on top of general manager Mike Rizzo’s to-do list.

So while the Nationals are the favorite to win it all this year, 6 to 1 odds according to Bovada, it is impossible to crown a champ in January. However, the Nationals have done enough to be serious contenders, and if they find a way to keep their starting rotation together while also adding a few consistent relief pitchers, they are this writer's choice to win the 2015 World Series.