Washington Nationals: Previewing the Spring Training position battles

With Spring Training finally upon us, we look ahead to some of the competitions for positions that the Washington Nationals will have over the next month.

It’s about damn time. Ever since the New England Patriots won their billionth Superbowl, the countdown to pitchers and catcher officially reporting really began. The Washington Nationals group reports today, signaling the start of their 2019 quest for glory.

There are several new faces around this spring including marquee signing Patrick Corbin, veteran presence Brian Dozier, a pair of new catchers and many more. Right now, there is no Bryce Harper to be seen as he continues to await his fate on the free agent market.

But let’s take a look at the guys who are either currently at, or are due to arrive at West Palm Beach in the near future and break down some of the positional battles that are looming.

There are plenty of positions that are near-locks such as third base with Anthony Rendon, at shortstop with Trea Turner or in left field with Juan Soto. But there are only so many roles on the roster that will be up for grabs over the next few weeks in Florida.

In this article, we’re going to look at four of the main competitions that will be taking place and make a prediction for the role. First up is the fifth starter job that has become even more important this year after the Nats couldn’t find a reliable player to fill that spot last year.