“I’m excited about this group,” Nationals Manager Dave Martinez mentioned. “They’re getting along, starting to build that chemistry. Now, it’s honing down on the 28 guys we got for and getting them to D.C. and getting them to rock and roll right away.”
At the entrance to the clubhouse on Tuesday, pitcher Paolo Espino had two black suitcases marked with Nationals tags proper subsequent to his locker. A couple of seats down, reliever Patrick Murphy additionally had two suitcases together with a bag stuffed with gloves. First baseman Josh Bell rolled his suitcase into one other nook, passing by a Louis Vuitton bag sitting between middle fielder Victor Robles and third baseman Carter Kieboom’s lockers. Opening Day starter Patrick Corbin had two of his personal sitting at his locker by the pitchers’ part of the clubhouse.
Meanwhile, Nationals tools managers have been busy at work. On Monday, one was placing garments and different gadgets right into a field that claims “SOTO LOCKER.”
By Tuesday, most of the crew’s bat bags have been zipped in the center of the clubhouse and able to be shipped to Washington. Even with the additional litter, the room nonetheless felt comparatively empty in contrast to some weeks, or perhaps a few days in the past. With gamers having been despatched down, there have been fewer strolling round the clubhouse, which resulted in a quiet lull interrupted solely by the occasional sound of packing tape.
The Nationals are all however set when it comes to their bodily departure, however there are nonetheless a couple of questions left to be answered on the roster. One was answered on Tuesday when the Nationals chosen Aníbal Sánchez’s contract for the 40-man roster whereas optioning Hunter Harvey to Class AAA Rochester.
“(Want to) try to be healthy and competitive through the whole season, that’s what I want,” Sánchez mentioned. “I want to get good numbers and show that I can still pitch for a while.”
With Sánchez primarily locked into the rotation, he’ll be a part of Opening Day starter Patrick Corbin, Josiah Gray and Erick Fedde, who went 4⅔ innings Tuesday in his last tuneup, permitting two hits and a stroll to go along with 5 strikeouts.
Those 4 spots depart one open for both right-handed pitcher Joan Adon or left-handed pitcher Josh Rogers. Adon began for the Nationals Monday, and Martinez mentioned he pitched nicely regardless of management points stemming from a failure to complete his movement.
“If I had to make a decision myself, I think (Adon would) start with us,” Martinez mentioned. “But I’m gonna go back and talk to (General Manager Mike) Rizzo.”
Rogers can be the different possibility, though he may be in the bullpen, one other spot the place Martinez and his workers nonetheless have some questions. The Nationals plan to start out the season with 10 relievers and 4 bench gamers.
Martinez additionally mentioned Tuesday that utility man Ehire Adrianza, who was anticipated to be on the roster, will begin the season on the 10-day IL with a quad damage. The backup place gamers are prone to be utilitymen Dee Strange-Gordon and Lucius Fox, who was known as again as much as main league camp yesterday, as nicely as outfielder Yadiel Hernández and catcher Riley Adams.
Will Harris, who the crew signed to a three-year, $24 million deal in 2020, received’t be certainly one of the relievers on the roster when the season opens. Martinez mentioned Harris had a surgical procedure on March 31 to clear up some scar tissue constructed up in his arm. He received’t have the ability to pitch for three to 4 weeks, making him a possible candidate for the 60-day IL so as to clear house for one other pitcher. Harris had surgical procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome in May of final 12 months and admitted earlier this spring that he was nonetheless experiencing some lingering points.
Steve Cishek, Sean Doolittle, Paolo Espino, Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey all look to have the inside monitor to roster spots. Of the remaining pitchers, Sam Clay, Mason Thompson, Andrés Machado all have minor league choices left. Victor Arano would wish a 40-man roster spot have been he to make it. Murphy, Austin Voth and Mason Thompson are the remaining relievers.
With the shortened spring coaching, Cishek mentioned pitchers have needed to be significantly cautious about managing their well being. But Cishek mentioned his arm feels good as he and his teammates as they gear up for one other season.
“You anticipate this day all offseason, just to get started, get settled in your new home,” Cishek mentioned. “Opening Day, they announce you in the lineup and everything, it’s showtime… it’s a special moment.”