By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Jayson Werth has spent the past 11 seasons playing in the National League East. It appears that if his career is going to continue, it may have to do so outside the division that he's spent the bulk of his career in.
According to Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post, the Nationals don't plan to re-sign Werth, who is a free-agent:
That was over five weeks ago, before the offseason machine began churning, before what seemed like the inevitable conclusion to Werth’s seven-year tenure in Washington was official. The conclusion isn’t official yet, but the Nationals don’t envision fitting Werth into their plans for 2018, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. His days as a National, barring an unexpected development, are over.
It doesn't come as a shock that the Nationals don't plan to retain Werth. They have a pretty capable group of starters, with Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper. Brian Goodwin was a productive fourth outfielder in 2017, so the team likely feels comfortable with him filling that role in 2018. And No. 1 prospect Victor Robles made his major league debut in 2017.
2017 was his seventh season in Washington, after he signed a seven-year/$126 million free-agent contract after the 2010 season. His time in the nation's capital was a mixed bag, though he was worth 9.7 fWAR between 2013 and 2014. He also seemed to bring a sense of legitimacy to the Nationals, who made the playoffs four times in his seven seasons with the club. Werth even provided one of the most memorable moments in franchise history with a walkoff home run in Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS. It's been well-noted, however, that the Nationals never advanced past the NLDS during his tenure with the team.
Werth, 38, slashed .226/.322/.393 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 252 at-bats this season. He appeared in just 70 games in 2017 due to a foot injury.
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It's unclear exactly what the market will be for Werth. If healthy, he still can probably help a team with his bat. He has declined rapidly as a fielder, though, as he posted a -8.3 dWAR, a -5.2 UZR and -5 defensive runs saved (per FanGraphs). Though he can play right and left field, at this point in his career he may be best suited to play for an American League team where he can serve as a designated hitter.
Prior to his seven years with the Nationals, Werth spent four productive seasons with the Phillies. After missing the entire 2006 season with a wrist injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers released Werth. Then Phillies general manager Pat Gillick signed Werth for less than a million dollars, in one of the best moves of his Hall of Fame career.
In four seasons with the Phillies, Werth hit 95 home runs and was worth 18.1 fWAR. The Phillies, who hadn't made the playoffs since 1993 when they signed Werth, won the National League East title every season that he played for the team. They also made three NLCS appearances, won two National League pennants and the 2008 World Series. And in an organization that has seen Mike Schmidt and Ryan Howard play an extended amount of playoff games, it is Werth who is the franchise leader in playoff home runs.
Given his extended postseason success between the Phillies and the Nationals, it feels likely that a contender will bring Werth aboard for 2018 in some role. That contender won't, however, be the Nationals, which may push him out of the comfort of the National League East.
