With all the hoopla surrounding the Nationals' decision to option John Lannan to Triple-A Syracuse and slide Ross Detwiler into the starting rotation, a couple other roster decisions might have gotten overlooked.
The Lannan move opened up a roster spot that allowed the Nationals to keep right-hander Craig Stammen, who would have been ticketed for Syracuse's rotation had Lannan broken camp with the major league club.
Stammen put together a very strong spring, posting a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings, with 14 strikeouts and just two walks.
Manager Davey Johnson has talked about how he likes having both a right- and left-handed long man in his bullpen, and with Stammen and Tom Gorzelanny, he now has that.
Johnson also got to keep reliever Ryan Mattheus on the roster, a guy who the Nats' skipper is fond of. Mattheus beat out Chad Durbin for a spot in the Nats' 'pen after allowing six earned runs in 14 innings (3.86 ERA) this spring.
So after those two moves, the Nats now have their opening day 25-man roster all set.
Here's how it will shape up:
Rotation: RHP Stephen Strasburg, LHP Gio Gonzalez, RHP Jordan Zimmermann, RHP Edwin Jackson, LHP Ross Detwiler
Bullpen: RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Henry Rodriguez, RHP Tyler Clippard, RHP Ryan Mattheus, LHP Sean Burnett, RHP Craig Stammen, LHP Tom Gorzelanny
Catchers: Wilson Ramos, Jesus Flores
Infielders: Adam LaRoche (L), Danny Espinosa (S), Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark DeRosa, Steve Lombardozzi (S), Chad Tracy (L)
Outfielders: Jayson Werth, Roger Bernadina (L), Xavier Nady, Brett Carroll
15-Day Disabled List: LF Michael Morse, CF Rick Ankiel, RHP Drew Storen, RHP Chien-Ming Wang
60-Day Disabled List: 1B Chris Marrero, RHP Cole Kimball
How's that 25-man squad look in your eyes?
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