Frandsen on second base: "If opportunity arises, I'm going to take it"

Let's not mince words. The Nationals are looking for an everyday second baseman. Kevin Frandsen wants the gig. "I mean, doesn't everyone?" Frandsen told reporters Saturday at NatsFest. "Do you want to write every day? You want to write every day. That's part of your job. I want to play every day. But is that like me saying, 'I demand?' No, it's the mentality you have to have." It's certainly the mentality Frandsen has heading into 2015. The Nationals utility infielder is entering his second season in Washington and is looking, like every player, for more opportunities, more chances to show what he can do. After spending time at first, second and third base, as well as time in the outfield last season, Frandsen became the team's Swiss Army knife, a versatile, jack-of-all-trades player. That meant showing manager Matt Williams and the organization his many talents, but it also meant taking a familiar spot on the bench in lieu of a starting role with the club. "I love my job. I love being a utility guy and love being able to play everywhere and give Matty options," Frandsen said. "Like I said, it's fun being out there and that's exactly what I want to do." Fortunately for the eight-year veteran, he'll have his opportunity this offseason to show Williams he's the man for the job. Currently, the Nationals' infield status is up in the air. Adam LaRoche's departure to Chicago has forced the Nationals to reshuffle an already mobile unit. With LaRoche enjoying deep dish pizza and battling windy conditions, first base duties may fall to the oft-injured Ryan Zimmerman. Moving Zimmerman across the diamond could land Anthony Rendon at the hot corner and leave Frandsen with a legitimate shot at earning the starting job at second base. Of course, this is just one of many options the Nats will have to sort out over the next several months. For Frandsen, however, his chances of playing every day are the best they've been in a long time. And while he got off to a slow start in 2014 with just a .239 batting average in the first half, Frandsen's numbers picked up toward the latter half of the campaign. Frandsen hit .293 in his final 54 games, including a red-hot .375 in August. That successful end to the season, combined with his determination to become a mainstay in the Nationals lineup, could be enough to push Frandsen into an everyday role and turn the team's one-man band into a star. "I feel like I had a great year doing what I did," Frandsen said of 2014. "But you can always get better. Obviously there's a second base job open and I want to win that, too. That's the way I go with it. ... No one's saying no, so if that opportunity arises, I'm going to take it."