Joe Ross, Tanner Roark set to fill up Nationals starting rotation in 2016

Despite knowing the Nationals were losing right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister from their rotation, there was still plenty attractive about coming to D.C. for new pitching coach Mike Maddux.

"What an inventory of arms over here, man," said an excited Maddux when asked about the opportunity. "I look at a rotation that features Max Scherzer up top ... Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Joe Ross, Tanner Roark. Everybody's got their own little shtick going on there. One guy is pitching with two (different) colored eyes. Another guy is pitching with his ears out there. You got the one lefty in there and then you got the younger brother of another guy out there. And then you got old Tanner that just come out of nowhere a couple years ago and wins 15 ballgames and then goes and sits on his thumb last year out in the bullpen. It's a very interesting mix of what we have."

While Maddux's presentation of the Nationals rotation seems mighty formidable, there remains some questions. Few deal with the top three starters: Scherzer, Strasburg and Gonzalez. Though, there will be doubts about Strasburg's heath and mental fortitude pitching in a contract year along with whether Gonzalez can regain some of the consistency that has escaped him the past few years.

But the main focus will be on Ross and Roark, the two guys likely to fill the shoes of Zimmermann and Fister as the back end of the Nationals rotation.

Ross dazzled at times last year after making the jump from Double-A Harrisburg for his major league debut on June 6. He went 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA while striking out 65 and walking just 11 in his first 11 starts. The 22-year-old right-hander showed fatigue over his final two starts, walking nine over just seven innings, and finished the season with limited action in the bullpen to preserve his arm.

Ross ended up throwing 152 2/3 innings combined in the minors and majors last season. The Nationals will look to reach and potentially exceed 180 innings in what they hope is a solid sophomore campaign.

"Joe is just incredible, seems like he's just going to get better and better," Gonzalez said. "His personality fits us all. He just seems like he's been doing it quite a while. When he's on the mound, we just feel confident that he's going to get us a win. His slider is incredible, his fastball's electric."

Meanwhile, after losing his spot in the rotation before the season, Roark ended up starting the Nationals' final game last year. He made it clear he was aiming to return to the starting five in 2016.

"Why not? It's his job to lose," Maddux said, sounding like a definite supporter back in December. "He's come out of nowhere (in 2014) and won 15 ballgames. You gotta admire a guy like him. I mean, holy cow! Talk about the typical blue-collar layman that goes out and wins 15 ballgames and makes a little notch in his belt for him. That's pretty good, man. Easy to root for and I'm rooting for him big time."

The Nationals are bringing Bronson Arroyo to spring training after signing the veteran right-hander to a minor league deal. Arroyo, who turns 39 on Feb. 24, hasn't pitched professionally since undergoing Tommy John surgery while with the Diamondbacks in July 2014.

If Arroyo regains his form, he could create an interesting dilemma for manager Dusty Baker. The two know each other well from Baker's days as the Reds manager from 2008-2013 when Arroyo was featured in his rotation. Since making his major league debut with the Pirates in 2000, Arroyo has gone 145-131 with a 4.19 ERA over 369 starts.

Beyond Arroyo, the Nationals have right-handers Taylor Jordan and A.J. Cole set to compete and hopefully impress when they report with the other pitchers in less than two weeks.

Jordan, 27, has started 15 games for the Nationals over the past three seasons, posting a 4.48 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 25 walks over 94 1/3 innings.

The 6-foot-5 Cole was shelled when he was called up for a spot start in his major league debut last April and then made two other relief appearances later in the season. The Nationals are looking for the 24-year-old to make big strides this spring.