Last winter, the defending National League West Division champion Arizona Diamondbacks of Phoenix signed Designated Hitter Jason Kubel (formerly) of Minneapolis-St. Paul of Minnesota, which seemed odd mostly because the Phoenicians are allowed to deploy a Designated Hitter only a few times each Season.

Ah, but they had something else in mind. Jason Kubel, one of the worst left fielders known to our modern technology, will play left field.

Nope. Still odd. And also odd because the Diamondbacks already possessed Gerardo Parra, a perfectly good left fielder.

I wrote about this in December; in February, "sources" suggested that the Washington Nationals were interested in Parra. Well, now it's March and Opening Day is just around the corner and ... well, what do you think this means?

2 Nationals scouts at Diamondbacks game yesterday. Today? 4 Nationals scouts. And yes, Parra is in lineup for D-Backs.

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) March 21, 2012

It's well-known that the Nationals aren't thrilled with their current center fielders; with Bryce Harper heading back to the minors, the depth chart is headed by Roger Bernadina and a bunch of other guys who won't get drafted by any fantasy owners this weekend. And it's well-known that Parra's too good to sit on the bench most of the time.

So, two questions:

1. Why hasn't this trade happened, already?

and

2. What on earth will four scouts learn about Gerardo Parra in late March that everyone hasn't already learned over the last three seasons?

These are the things that vex me, after the last candle has been extinguished.