Washington Nationals: 5 story lines for Spring Training

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For the Washington Nationals, Spring Training is finally here! Here are five things to keep an eye on over the next six weeks.

Send a sweetie to your valentine and get the sunscreen ready. The 2018 Washington Nationals are back! Pitchers and catchers report on February 14 with the full squad and first Grapefruit League games shortly to follow.

After an offseason which moved at a glacial pace, the fun and excitement of baseball season is here again and not a moment too soon.

Like a cliffhanger from an old 1980’s nighttime soap opera, we left our intrepid Nats under difficult circumstances. Another distressing Game 5 loss in the National League Divisional Series, the team cleaned house with the coaches. Only Bob Henley, and his generous supply of zinc, is back.

The long-term future of Bryce Harper remains unsettled. Daniel Murphy continues recovering from micro-fracture surgery on his knee. Although Brandon Kintzler and Howie Kendrick returned, we said goodbye to Dusty Baker and Matt Albers. The welcome matt remains drying on the stoop if Jayson Werth wants to return.

Washington, along with most of Major League Baseball, did not make a major move this winter. The big changes came in the dugout with Dave Martinez winning his first managerial job leaving the friendly confines of Chicago and his good friend Joe Maddon.

Now, the focus shifts to the long road ahead. Over the next six weeks, you will be sick of trips to Jupiter and endless games with the St. Louis Cardinals, the moribund Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros. At least with Houston, Washington shares the facility and hopefully a World Series trophy come October.

As we count Matt Wieters’ plate appearances and launch angles, here are five storylines as the Nats prepare in West Palm Beach.

MEET THE NEW BOSS

Although you hope new skipper Dave Martinez has met his new team, how they mesh together is worth watching the next few weeks.

As mentioned earlier, Bob Henley is the lone returning coach. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and the rest of the pitchers will learn from Derek Lilliquist. Kevin Long takes his immense talents helping Washington develop a speed game with Trea Turner and Adam Eaton while getting maximum production from Harper, Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon.

Outside of the usual in-game wind sprints and endless videos of bunt fielding, how much will the focus go on fundamentals? Will we see pitchers slotted eighth in the lineup early? Although Martinez and his staff are baseball lifers with a collective chip on their shoulder, they have yet to work together as a unit.

Considering how popular Baker was in the clubhouse, and revered in the sport, Martinez has his work cut out for him. There is legitimate pressure from the start. His early handling of the press has gone well. Now, it is time to pull everything together and prepare for the grueling marathon ahead.

Do not bet against him or the staff. They are ready. No matter what the standings say, this season will not be dull.

WIETERS BACKUP IS…

If there is a legitimate hole in the Nats lineup, it is at catcher.

Raudy Read’s suspension for using Bolderone cost him 80 games and a playoff spot. He will play this spring, but his actions cost the prospect a full year before his major-league value can be truly assessed.

With the Marlins after top prospects for J.T. Realmuto, the Nats passed, at least for the moment, and will audition Pedro Severino and Miguel Montero to assist Wieters behind the plate.

Severino is the favorite. At 24, he spent part of the last two years between Syracuse and Washington and has playoff experience. With the departed Jose Lobaton, it was Severino who filled in for Wilson Ramos in the 2016 NLDS when Ramos tore an ACL.

Aside from injuries last year, Severino did little either in Triple-A and his September call-up with Washington to give much confidence from the front office. This spring is huge for his major-league aspirations. With Read out of the picture, Severino has one hand on the job.

Montero is a known quantity to Martinez from their time together with the Cubs. But, Montero’s frustration at throwing out base stealers during Chicago’s regular season trip to DC earned him a release. He finished 2017 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Montero brings practical experience, but not much of a bat and an arm. Still, a strong Grapefruit League can earn him a big-league roster spot.

Let’s not forget Wieters. He is playing for a respectable free agent contract next fall and handles the staff well. The lack of a trade or free agent signing must have him breathing easier.

A.J. COLE’S WIN

In what we thought would be a healthy battle for fifth starter is apparently a non-starter. In front of season-ticket holders, Mike Rizzo said A.J. Cole has the job.

For Cole, you cannot get a stronger vote of confidence. Unless Erick Fedde, Edwin Jackson or Tommy Milone stun people in Florida, Cole knows there is no longer a Syracuse shuttle waiting for him. Now is the time to relax and ready for 30 decent starts and shoot for 180 innings.

Speculation shifted to a Fedde trade once Rizzo tipped his hand. If there is a deal coming for Realmuto, Fedde will be in it. Not an easy way for him to start his 2018. He needed an out pitch last year with the Nats and Washington hopes can work on one in West Palm Beach.

The surprising return of Jackson gives Martinez insurance in case of injury or if Cole implodes. Although Jackson is not a solid choice if things go south, he is a known quantity and can eat innings if needed.

Milone is this year’s reclamation project. A contact pitcher in an era of power hitting does not bode well. His road to Washington is long, and the leash is short.

Expect Fedde and Jackson to get their fair share of work. If the Nats experiment with a six-man rotation or need to fill an injury, they are capable of a shot.

Still, a strong spring and season from Cole plays well in the future. Gio Gonzalez is a free agent and Joe Ross will take his time recovering from Tommy John.

JIGGLING THE OFFENSE

Although you cannot take anything serious from spring numbers, it will be interesting to see how Martinez sets his starting lineups.

Forget the first couple weeks. Those trips to the plate are about seeing live pitching and getting timing back in order. But, as we creep past St. Patrick’s Day, watch where Rendon, Turner and Eaton are in the lineup.

Expect Eaton to leadoff on Opening Day. His ability to read pitches and take an extra base is further developed than Turner. But, will Rendon fill the two-hole and take Werth’s role of driving pitch counts higher in front of the heart of the order or will Turner and his speed work at two?

With Murphy still questionable for the season opener in Cincinnati, it is hard to get a true sense of what Martinez will do. As much as Wilmer Difo progressed as a regular player last year, his offensive skills are not in Murphy’s league. Unless Murphy plays in Florida, it might be May before we see a healthy lineup which Martinez is comfortable.

Again, the numbers are not important. What you want to see is potential. Can we see in mid-March the lineup used in October?

Keep an extra eye on how well Turner and Difo work together in the infield. In 2019, they could be Opening Day starters long term.

BULLPEN WATCHING

What worked for Dusty Baker down the stretch will get a hard look this spring.

More from District on Deck

Washington is thrilled Kintzler stayed with the Nats. Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle over a full season are a thrill to watch. Will we see them in the same roles? West Palm Beach is not the best environment for that. Yes, Doolittle might earn a few fourth-inning spots early as closer. But, spring for those three is getting work in.

Losing Matt Albers is big. Whatever role the Nats needed him last year, he filled. Including an occasional save. Just a remarkable year.

Albers’ replacement is already on the team. Watch to see what Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover and Enny Romero do. Kelley is coming off a serious arm injury and hopes to pitch his way on the roster. Glover and Romero light up radar guns and the strike zone. They are future closers.

How the pair handle added expectation says a bunch on how deep the Nats pen is. Every team can use an additional arm. No matter how strong you think you are, a careless loss exposes a weakness. Washington hopes Kelley can return to an old form while Glover learned from pitching through injury.

If Romero learns to mix his off-speed stuff with his electric fastball, the sky is the limit. A healthy Sammy Solis only adds to Washington’s depth.

Next: Nats keep eye on future

A strong spring gives Washington confidence. This pen has potential. How they get used is interesting.

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