Nationals signed first baseman Jorge Toca to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Toca, a Cuban defector and former Mets prospect, spent part of last season in Mexico. He hit .329/.354/.548 in 22 games while playing for the Cardinals' Triple-A club. The 32-year-old shouldn't be a candidate to make the Nationals.
Nationals signed outfielder Abraham Nunez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Nunez hit .279/.368/.495 with 12 homers in 283 at-bats for Triple-A Fresno last season. He’s going to have a tough time getting another chance to make it as a fifth outfield, but the Nationals offer as good of an opportunity as any team.
Nationals signed LHP Arnie Munoz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Munoz looked like a very good relief prospect at times while in the White Sox system, but he hasn’t made any progress at all the last two years. He’s still just 24, but he now seems like a long shot to make it.
Nationals signed LHP Luis Martinez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Martinez had a 3.82 ERA and a 163/69 K/BB ratio in 221 1/3 innings while starting games in Japan the last two years. The former Brewers prospect could be a sleeper candidate to act as the Nationals’ fifth starter.
Nationals signed RHP Jesus Colome to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Colome’s stuff isn’t as electric as it once was, but he can still throw pretty hard and he might be an adequate middle reliever in the NL even if he continues to walk a batter every other inning. He’d have to show better command in order to be truly helpful.
Nationals re-signed outfielder George Lombard, RHP Anastacio Martinez and infielder Melvin Dorta to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.
Lombard appeared in 20 games for the Nationals last season, but he got just 21 at-bats and collected three hits. The veteran hit .302/.392/.524 for Triple-A New Orleans.
Nationals sent outfielder Tony Blanco outright to Triple-A Columbus.
Spending much of 2005 on the Nationals’ bench after being taken in the Rule 5 draft did absolutely nothing for Blanco’s chances. He was sent all the way back to Single-A Potomac last year, got hurt and did little when he was in the lineup. He shouldn’t have lasted as long on the Nationals’ 40-man roster as he did.
Nationals manager Manny Acta said he doesn't see Mike O'Connor (elbow) being ready to compete for a rotation spot this spring.
O'Connor had surgery on his left elbow in early November to repair a small cartilage defect. He's not going to resume throwing before early February, so it appears likely that he'll open the season on the DL. "We're going to take our time with him. I mean, he pitched well enough for this ballclub last year that he doesn't need to come out there and rush and try to impress me," Acta said.
Agent Diego Bentz said Monday that the Pirates are one of "several" teams talking to him about Tony Armas Jr.
The Mets have also displayed some interest in Armas. The Blue Jays lost interest in the 28-year-old after signing John Thomson.
Nationals agreed to terms with outfielder Alex Escobar on a one-year, $530,000 contract.
Escobar asked for $590,000 in arbitration, while the Nationals offered $500,000. Since he's still recovering from shoulder surgery, Escobar is not going to be ready to play the outfield at the beginning of the spring, something that could prevent him from moving up the depth chart. He'll likely be the Nationals' fourth or fifth outfielder.
Agent Fernando Cuza said Tony Armas Jr. is close to choosing his new team.
Cuza indicated that it wouldn't be the Mets. The Pirates are the only team known to have much interest, but they may be focusing on Jeff Weaver at the moment. The Mariners, Reds, Devil Rays, Rangers, Astros and Diamondbacks are some other teams that could be looking at Armas.