Nationals biggest spring training roster questions are all on the margins
Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post
Feb. 17, 2021
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This week, Dave Martinez begins his fourth spring training leading the Washington Nationals.Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton
Spring training is here at last, but baseball can t yet shake its uncertainties. In that way, the sport is just like the rest of the world. There s uncertainty about whether a fresh set of health and safety protocols will work. There s uncertainty about the coming season. Then there s uncertainty about what, exactly, to be uncertain about.
But in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the Washington Nationals facility, roster uncertainty - a blip amid MLB s second attempt to play through the coronavirus pandemic - only touches the fringes of a ready-made club. That s not to say there aren t pressing on-field questions heading into camp. There certainly are. It s important, though, to distinguish between roster que
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Nationals bullpen doesn t need a makeover. But it could use another arm or two.
Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post
Jan. 8, 2021
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WASHINGTON - So far this offseason, the Washington Nationals have signed one free agent to a major league contract. Welcome Sam Clay, a left-handed reliever who has pitched seven years in the minors and has yet to debut. But don t mistake the deal for their familiar, annual need to remake the bullpen over the winter. For once, the Nationals can point their energy elsewhere.
They do, however, have to still seek another reliever or two. If they don t, they d need to lean on some mix of Clay, Kyle McGowin and Ryne Harper - or spring training invites such as Javy Guerra or Luis Avilán - to fill out an eight-man bullpen in 2021. Daniel Hudson, Will Harris and Tanner Rainey are the locks. Kyle Finnegan and Wander Suero should be, too. Then one of Joe Ross, Erick Fedde or Austin Voth will likely serve as a long man, depending on who g
Nationals bring back Javy Guerra, Welington Castillo on minor league deals
Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post
Dec. 21, 2020
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Javy Guerra joined the Nationals in May of 2019.Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton
In a repeat of moves from last winter, the Washington Nationals signed reliever Javy Guerra and catcher Welington Castillo to minor league deals Monday, according to people with knowledge of the agreements. Each contract included an invite to spring training.
Guerra, 35, joined the Nationals in May of 2019. He made 40 appearances that season, pitched in the World Series and, after making an expanded roster in 2020, had his year cut short by a groin injury. Now he returns to a club in need of veteran bullpen depth.