The Nationals still want a veteran starting pitcher, but don't expect general manager Mike Rizzo to look hard for one on the free-agent market. In fact, the club is waiting for free-agent pitchers to come to them at the right price. 

So don't look for the Nationals to break the bank for pitchers such as right-hander John Smoltz or left-hander Jarrod Washburn.   

"During the early part of the winter, we made sure we got things done," Rizzo said. "I made sure we had a Major League veteran starter [Jason Marquis], Major League catcher [Ivan Rodriguez] and improved the bullpen [Matt Capps, Brian Bruney and Eddie Guardado]. We took care of that.
 
"I think during the second half of the offseason we are going to let a little bit of that come to us. We do think there is a surplus of people out there ... that we are talking about. There is nobody ... out there on the pitching market that is a difference maker."      

* Center fielder Nyjer Morgan acknowledged that he needs to improve his batting average against left-handed pitching. Last season, for example, the left-handed hitting Morgan hit .175 with a homer and 12 RBIs against southpaws. 

"I'll try to figure something out -- if it's a little adjustment," Morgan said. "I'll make something happen. Last year was probably my worst year of hitting lefties. Like I said, you got to take your lumps but you learn off your mistakes and you try to get better off your mistakes."

* Right-hander Craig Stammen said he is willing to be a starter or reliever in 2010, but he is going into Spring Training believing that he will be a starter. Stammen said his right elbow is 100 percent after having bone spurs removed toward the end of the season.

* The Nationals displayed Ryan Zimmerman's first Gold Glove at NatsFest. It was obvious that he was pleased to get the award.

"Defense is an important part of the game. It's a part of the game that is overlooked," he said. Everyone loves offense, home runs and everything. You have to be able to play defense and work hard for that, too. I take a lot of pride in that."

* With Matt Capps signed to a one-year deal, the Nationals have to take someone off their 40-man roster. General manager Mike Rizzo said the team will make a decision in the next couple of days after Capps' contract is approved by Major League Baseball.

* Rizzo said he is not finished when it comes to improving the Nationals. Rizzo is looking for starting pitching and to get better on defense. The Nationals finished 16th in the National League in ERA [5.00], while leading the Majors in errors with 143.

"We are never finished," Rizzo said. "We feel the club still has a lot of deficiencies. We never forget the fact that we won only 59 games last year. I don't want to go through that again -- ever.

"We can never get enough talented players and you can never get enough pitching. We are still going to remain busy up until Spring Training, through Spring Training and through the season to improve the club for 2010 and beyond."

* Unlike his years with the Pirates, Capps will be able to go to his hometown, Atlanta, more often to see his mother and brother. Seeing his family is important than ever since his father, Mike, passed away in October.

At his informal press conference, Capps talked about not having his father during the free agency process.

"I can't tell you how much I missed him during this whole process," Capps said. "It was tough for me. I talked to Dad two or three times a day for the last eight years since I left home. Dad would read everything online and would read every newspaper. He would call me and say, 'They are saying this and you are doing this.' I would say, 'Hey, dad, it's great. I don't know anything.' I can't tell you how many times I wanted to pick up the phone and call him."             

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman will have a pregame segment on WFED Federal News Radio  starting April 5, when his team faces the Phillies at Nationals Park. Riggleman is the first Nationals manager to have such a segment.

Riggleman's segment will be part of  "Nationals On-Deck," a 30 minute pre-game show which is hosted by Nationals play-by-play announcers Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler.   

"We are really excited because in the last five years, we were not able to come to any agreement with Frank Robinson or Manny Acta," said Jeff Wolinsky, who is the director of nationals sales and sports sales manager at WTOP Radio Network  and WFED. "The reason this was able to happen with Jim is because he wanted to have an opportunity to reach out to the fans. This gives Jim a great opportunity to speak as clearly as possible to the fans on a daily basis."

Slowes was ecstatic when he learned Riggleman will have a segment on a regular basis. 

"We've wanted  something like this since we began in 2005 and when I talked to Jim about it last season, he was very interested in the idea," Slowes said. "We're thrilled it's coming to fruition, and fans will get to hear Jim whether it's on the road or, of course, at Nationals Park."

Riggleman wasn't available for comment, but his agent, Burton Rocks, said his client wanted to connect to the fans.

"This was something Jim was quite passionate about," Rocks said. "He wanted the fans to feel connected to the team on a daily basis."  

This statement is from Stan Kasten on behalf of the Nationals organization:

With the recent restructuring of the Washington Times in mind, I would like to--on behalf of the Nationals--thank the entire Times sports department for their fantastic coverage of the Nationals and baseball as a whole.

I would single out the individual and collective efforts of Mark Zuckerman, Ben Goessling and Thom Loverro, the Times's primary baseball team. Their day-to-day professionalism and devoted coverage chronicled the Nationals's early years in DC and set a foundation of journalistic excellence that Nationals fans have come to expect.

We wish Mark, Ben, Thom and everyone from the Times the very best going forward.

Left-hander Eddie Guardado said Tuesday he signed a Minor League deal with the Nationals because they showed the most interest in acquiring his services.
 
The Nationals have been interested in Guardado, 39, since the Winter Meetings. According to a baseball source, team scouts told general manager Mike Rizzo that Guardado would be a big help to the club.

Nicknamed "Everyday Eddie," Guardado is considered a workhorse out of the bullpen. During his 17 seasons in the big leagues, he has played in 908 games and saved 187 of them. He is best known for his years as the Twins' closer. His best season was in 2002, when he saved 45 games and posted a 2.93 ERA.

If he makes the team out of Spring Training, Guardado knows what his main role will be with the club: become a mentor to the young relievers. 

"I have to try to teach these kids to be strong mentally. If they are strong mentally, they are going to last in the Major Leagues a long time," he said.  

Guardado would like to close games like he did with the Twins and Mariners, but he will most likely become a setup man. Brian Bruney and Matt Caps are expected to battle for the closer role.

"The Nationals came at me like they really wanted me," Guardado said. "They respect what I've done in the game and they respect me as a person. They are giving me a chance to get in there late in the game, getting my inning that I like -- either pitch the seventh through the ninth.

"The Nationals came to me with open arms and I really respect that. I said, "You know what: I kind of like that idea. They are giving me a chance to close again. I still have the heart to play. That's the biggest thing." 

After the 2009 season ended, Guardado suspected is career was over. While he enjoyed his time with the Rangers, Guardado didn't pitch in the late innings and the younger relievers such as Frank Francisco and C.J. Wilson were pitching better.

"The Rangers gave me an opportunity. I loved helping those young guys, but I really didn't have a role last year," Guardado said. "In your mind, you are thinking, 'Maybe this is it. This is the last straw.'"

While sitting at home in California, his wife, Lisa, asked Eddie if he was sure he was finished with baseball. Guardado wasn't sure. Later in the offseason, he decided to give baseball another shot, thanks to the Nationals.

"I'm always competitive no matter what. I pitch with my heart. That's what I go by," Guardado said. "I believe in myself. I have something left. I think I have a big heart. I'm not trying to brag, but I can spread it all over that clubhouse and have some fun with it -- teach these guys how to accept the game and play the game the right way."  

Left-hander John Lannan is one person who is pleased the Nationals signed right-hander Jason Marquis to a two-year, $15 million contract last week. Lannan is expected to learn a lot from the 10-year veteran.

Last year, there wasn't a veteran in the rotation to learn from until late August, when Livan Hernandez joined the team. Lannan, 25, was Washington's No. 1 starter, and he wasn't bad in that role, going 9-13 with a 3.88 ERA and two complete games.

Now Marquis will take over the top spot in the rotation, while Lannan drops down to No. 2. Marquis will help a pitching staff that finished 16th in the National League in ERA [5.00]. 

"Having Jason helps a lot because he had a great season in 2009," Lannan said. "He has been on winning teams. He also knows how to win. I guess it's kind of contagious on the teams he was on. Hopefully he keeps on going with that. He has learned from great pitchers.

"I actually talked to him in the middle of the season. He is from Staten Island and he stayed in Staten Island. It shows a lot of dedication. He is very grounded. It's something we need. When Jason comes in, I'm sure I'm going to learn from him."

Lannan said he never felt pressured being the No. 1 starter  in Washington's rotation this past season. He knew he had a lot to learn in that role.

"I knew my role and we didn't have the big-name guys [in the rotation]," Lannan said. "It was definitely a learning experience. I wouldn't  have it any other way. I'm glad I was given opportunities to be in that that position. Every year I'm trying to learn. When Jason comes I'm going to learn from him."     

The Nationals have tendered contracts to outfielder Josh Willingham, catchers Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves and pitchers Jason Bergmann, Brian Bruney and Sean Burnett on Saturday night.

The Nationals  had an 11:59 p.m. ET deadline Saturday to make a decision on all six players, who are arbitration eligible. 

Earlier in the day, Washington decided it would not be tendering 2010 contracts to pitchers Mike MacDougal and Scott Olsen.

Of all the players coming back, the biggest surprise is Nieves. It was believed that he would be non-tendered after the Nationals signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year $6 million, but they decided to keep Nieves because they feel he has been a valuable player -- offensively and defensively -- off the bench the last two years and can be insurance in case Jesus Flores is not ready for Spring Training.

Flores had surgery on his right shoulder and right elbow, and the team announced as recently as Friday that Flores would be ready for Spring Training.

"I can only go by what the medical people tell me. They say Jesus should be 100 percent ready to participate in Spring Training," Rizzo said on Friday. "We take them at their word, but we all know that shoulders are very difficult to predict."

As for Willingham, he is coming off a productive season in 2009. He started the year on the bench, but became a regular in June and hit .260 with 24 home runs and 61 RBIs. Willingham has been mentioned in trade rumors recently. Teams such as the Mets and Braves have interest in acquiring his services.

Bergmann showed improvement after the All-Star break, going 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA as a reliever. Rizzo and manager Jim Riggleman often talked about wanting Bergmann back for the 2010 season.

"In my heart of hearts, I've been in this organization a long time. I love people that I play with and play for. I would like to stick around for a long time," Bergmann said on Wednesday.

Bruney, who was acquired from the Yankees this past week, will compete for the closer's role durinmg Spring Training.   

Burnett was a quality reliever for the Nationals, who acquired him and center fielder Nyjer Morgan in a trade that sent outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-hander Joel Hanrahan to the Pirates in late June. In 33 games for Washington, Burnett went 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA.

Looking to add depth in their bullpen, the Nationals signed right-hander Ryan Speier to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

Speier, 30, has spent his entire career in the Rockies organization, going 7-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 90 games.

A Virginia native,  Speier attended West Springfield [Va.] High School and Radford University before signing with the Rockies as a non-drafted free agent in 2001.

The Nationals decided on Saturday that they will not be tendering 2010 contracts to pitchers Mike MacDougal and Scott Olsen, who were eligible for arbitration.

Both players are coming off injuries. Olsen missed most of the season because of a small tear in his left labrum, going 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA in 11 games, while MacDougal, who ended the season as the Nationals' closer, saved 20 games with a 3.60 ERA but needed offseason surgery on his right hip.

General manager Mike Rizzo said the Nationals were not willing to tender contracts to MacDougal and Olsen because they weren't sure if they were going to be 100 percent healthy. Rizzo also did not rule out both players returning to the team. 

"These are very difficult decisions because these are guys that we really, really like," Rizzo said. "They were great teammates this past season. These are business decisions. We have to do what is best for the franchise.

"With Scotty having the arm surgery at the end of the season, we are not sure where he is physically. We couldn't take a chance offering him a contract and going to arbitration with him.

"Mike was the same type of situation. He did a nice job for us. He is a guy we really counted on this year. He performed well for us. With the little bit of inconsistency toward the end of the season and then the hip surgery, it was too big of a risk for us."

Olsen, who made $2.8 million in 2009, said he was not surprised that he was non-tendered. He said the shoulder is 100 percent and hopes to return  to the Nationals because he feels the team is going in the right direction under Rizzo and manager Jim Riggleman.

"It's not an unexpected move by the organization. We have to see how this plays out," Olsen said. "I don't have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington  is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."

MacDougal expressed disappointment that he was non-tendered, in part,  because of his hip injury. He said that the hip is 100 percent and he will start working out at the end of this month.

"I'm disappointed," MacDougal said. "I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it's a little disappointing. What can you do? I'm a free agent and go from there."

MacDougal's agent, Rex Gary, said that Rizzo never told him that the hip played a role in MacDougal getting non-tendered.

"Michael was at the doctor and had a great report and everything is fantastic," Gary said.  "The hip was never brought up as an issue and it really isn't an issue."

The Nationals have until midnight Saturday to tender a contract to outfielder Josh Willingham, catchers Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves and pitchers Jason Bergmann and Sean Burnett.

The Nationals decided on Saturday that they will not be tendering 2010 contracts to pitchers Mike MacDougal and Scott Olsen, who were eligible for arbitration. 

Both players are coming off injuries. Olsen missed most of the season because of a small tear in his left labrum. He went 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA in 11 games.

MacDougal ended the season as the Nationals closer, saving 20 games with a 3.60 ERA, but needed offseason surgery on his right hip.

The Nationals have until midnight Saturday to tender contracts to outfielder Josh Willingham, catchers Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves and pitchers Jason Bergmann and Sean Burnett.