Mar 11, 2012; Jupiter, FL. USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Brett Carroll (15) dives back to first base safely against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The game was postponed due to rain after 4 innings. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE

Both saw limited time for the Nationals in 2012. Carroll saw so little time he will not be featured in our season review series. Maldonado will be featured tomorrow. Minor leaguers have the right to file for free agency after seven seasons if they are not on the 40-man roster at the time of expiry. Despite the fact that both of them saw time on the 40-man roster during the season, they are not currently on the 40-man roster.

Other players expected to use their minor league free agent rights include Atahualpa Severino, Mark Teahen, Zechry Zinicola, Mike MacDougal and Seth Bynum according to Bill Ladson.

Six players were placed on the disabled list. Outfielders Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel both hit the 15-day DL, though Morse was expected. Right-handers Chien-Ming Wang and Drew Storen joined them. Right-hander Cole Kimball and first baseman Chris Marrero were placed on the 60-day DL, as expected. Both could return by July if all goes as planned with their rehab.

First baseman Chad Tracy and outfielders Xavier Nady and Brett Carroll had their contracts purchased. All three were signed to minor league deals. Tracy may be the first one out once either Morse or Ankiel returns.

Right-handers Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus both made the bullpen. Stammen will serve as the second long reliever alongside Tom Gorzelanny. Mattheus took advantage of the opportunity created by Storen’s injury. He was in competition with Chad Durbin for the last spot in the bullpen. Durbin opted out of his minor league contract with the team earlier this morning and subsequently signed with the Braves by early afternoon.

April 3, 2012; Washington, D.C., USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler (48) throws in the sixth inning during an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park. The Red Sox defeated Nationals 8 - 7. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

The team also optioned left-hander John Lannan to Triple-A, a surprising move in itself. Lannan had been expected to be the team’s 5th starter since Wang first hurt himself earlier this Spring. Davey Johnson even said as much just over a week ago. Lannan did have an option remaining, however considering his tenure with the team at the Major League level it was widely expected that such a move was not going to happen. He’s also slated to make $5 Million this season, making him one of the highest paid players ever to be optioned to the minor leagues at the end of Spring Training, according to The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore.

Lannan posted a 10-13 record last season, with a 3.70 ERA in 184.2 innings over 33 starts.

In his place will be left-hander Ross Detwiler. Detwiler had been expected for most of the winter to end up in the bullpen. He’s out of options and couldn’t be sent to the minor leagues without the team risking another organization claiming him on waivers. But considering the team’s offseason acquisitions, there didn’t appear to be a place for him in the starting rotation.

Last season Detwiler was 4-5 with a 3.00 ERA over 66.0 innings. He made 15 appearances, including 10 starts.

The organization has always thought highly of Detwiler, but he’s never proven himself over a long stretch of time to date in his career. He’ll likely be given every opportunity to succeed until Wang returns from injury, at which point the team will make a decision likely based on performance.

March 21, 2012; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa (8) at bat during the spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Space Coast Stadium. Atlanta won 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

For fans who really want a clue about how the Nationals will look this year, spring training starts today.

Manager Davey Johnson tells Comcast SportsNet’s Mark Zuckerman and other reporters that beginning with this afternoon’s game against the New York Mets, he’ll start playing his regulars for longer stretches. Up until now, he’s been taking a closer look at players who are competing for the last few spots on his bench or will likely start the season in the minors.

While it’s been good to see Brett Carroll, Steve Lombardozzi and some of the other part-time and platoon players, Johnson and the team’s followers need to get a look at the guys who’ll be playing every day. It’s time to get some serious at-bats for players like Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, and Wilson Ramos. Zuckerman also reports that first baseman Adam LaRoche will also likely get his first action of the spring with the big league club as well.

Their performances will also tell us whether the team’s recent lack of run production is cause for concern. In their current 0-10-1 skid, the Nats have scored just 30 runs and have been shut out twice. Both of the shutouts have come in the past five games, a span which the team has totaled just six runs.

Those numbers sound troubling, but they would be truly alarming if they were coming from the regulars. True, Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa have been at the top of the order, as they would be in the regular season, they’ve had the likes of Rick Ankiel and Chad Tracy hitting behind them. So while Desmond’s .286 OBP and Esponosa’s .220 average are worrisome, let’s see how they can hit with the big boys behind them every day.

As for the pitching in recent games, when Gio Gonzalez (10 hits and eight runs in 3.2 innings in a 9-0 loss to St. Louis) and Edwin Jackson (11 hits and 10 runs in 3.2  innings in a 12-3 loss to Baltimore)  have both been pounded. Johnson tells Zuckerman he doesn’t mind the results, as long as the pitchers get their work in and have enough arm strength.