Nats' infield intentions take shape during first workout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' first full-squad workout of 2020 began with an extra-long "Circle of Trust" meeting that at one point featured team massage therapist Patrick Panico's cannonball into the adjacent pool but most importantly featured a hammering home of the overriding message Davey Martinez wants to convey to a club seeking to repeat as World Series champions.

"Process. Process. Process," the manager said. "For us, the word 'repeat' doesn't mean anything, except to repeat the process. What made us good in 2019 and who we are? That never goes away. That's our focus."

The process that allowed the Nationals to escape the depths of a 19-31 start and still emerge as champions included a focus on the here and now - "Go 1-0 today" - and attention to detail. The latter was on display once the team took the field as one unit for the first time this year.

Air-tight defense was preached today. And for a sense of how Martinez plans to arrange his infield this season, it's worth noting that the top group saw Carter Kieboom and Asdrúbal Cabrera at third base, with Trea Turner at shortstop, Starlin Castro and Howie Kendrick at second base and Eric Thames and Ryan Zimmerman at first base.

The insinuation is clear: The Nationals are giving Kieboom every opportunity win the starting job at third base, but if the organization's top prospect is deemed not ready at the end of camp, it'll be Cabrera over there instead.

"Whatever they want to do with me," said Cabrera, who played 93 games at third base for the Rangers last season but mostly played second base after the Nationals acquired him in August. "I'm just here to help the team to win. If you give me the choice, I prefer to play one position. But if not, I'm open to whatever they want me to do."

One reason the Nationals are willing to hand over third base to a pair of guys with more experience at other positions is that they intend to move them to the other side of the diamond when they use a full infield shift.

In the past, if the Nats shifted around for a left-handed batter, the second baseman would move into shallow right field, with Turner moving to the second baseman's typical spot on the diamond and third baseman Anthony Rendon moving to the shortstop's typical spot.

During today's workout, though, Turner remained at shortstop while the third baseman (Kieboom or Cabrera) shifted all the way around him and to the traditional second base position.

That location feels more natural to both Kieboom and Cabrera. It also leaves Turner with the most ground to cover (the entire left side of the infield), which Martinez believes makes the most sense.

"I want to keep Trea on the left side of the field, strictly because of the popups," Martinez said. "A lot of times last year, we had those little flaring popups. Sometimes I thought Trea might get to them; he's the fastest guy on the field. So we want to leave Trea right there. He can cover a little more ground over there."

Sure enough, they worked on those kinds of popups today, with Turner and the pitcher left to try to race over toward third base to make the play.

"I think Trea is fast enough that we're trying to see how far we can move him toward the middle before we get beat," Martinez said. "That being said, we've really got to talk to the pitchers about covering the third base line. And so far, so good."