New-look infield must answer plenty of questions this spring

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ...

So much of the Nationals' World Series-winning roster returns intact this spring, but one aspect of the roster has undergone some serious change since we last saw this team take the field. An infield that was among the most productive in the majors is going to look quite different this time around, thanks to one huge departure and several calculated additions designed to try to offset that big loss.

With Anthony Rendon now making spectacular plays at third base around the block from Disneyland, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo opted not to fill the void with one big name but rather with a host of versatile veterans who can play multiple positions, plus a top prospect who is going to get a chance to win a spot in the opening day lineup.

Third base is legitimately up for grabs this spring, the first time that's ever happened since the franchise arrived in D.C. Each year the Nationals have gone into camp with their starting third baseman locked in: Vinny Castilla (2005), Ryan Zimmerman (2006-14) and Rendon (2015-19). Twice they were forced to use someone else on opening day (Yunel Escobar in 2015, Stephen Drew in 2017) but that's only because Rendon was injured at the time.

So, who's on third this opening day? I don't know. Seriously.

Here's what we do know: Carter Kieboom is going to get an opportunity to prove he's ready for the job. He's got a lot to prove. The 22-year-old has been touted as the Nats' top infield prospect for several years now, but he wasn't up to the task last May when the struggling club threw him to the wolves at shortstop for 11 days.

Kieboom went back to Triple-A Fresno, where he continued to hit (.303/.409/.493 in 109 games) and continued to learn three different infield positions. The front office knew his services could ultimately be needed at second base, shortstop or third base, so they had him work at all three for the time.

Now, with Rendon gone and Starlin Castro and Howie Kendrick more comfortable at second, the need is at the hot corner. Kieboom will be under the microscope this spring, perhaps more in the field than at the plate.

What's the backup plan if the kid isn't ready? It's probably Asdrúbal Cabrera, the 34-year-old who was so clutch for the Nationals as a second baseman after his acquisition in August but who did play 93 games at third base for the Rangers earlier last season. Cabrera didn't rate well there (seven errors in 246 chances, a Defensive Runs Saved rating of minus-4) but he'll be asked to hold his own in the field and continue to produce at the plate.

Castro and Kendrick also have played some third base during their careers, and either could see time there this year, but the plan going in has both veterans focusing their efforts on second base.

Castro might wind up the sneakiest, under-the-radar acquisition of the winter. A four-time All-Star with the Cubs and Yankees, the 29-year-old is a career .280 hitter who has averaged 147 games played per season. And he discovered a long-sought-after power stroke late last season with the Marlins. With an adjusted stance and a new emphasis on pulling the ball in the air, Castro hit 11 homers and produced a .993 OPS over his final 36 games.

Kendrick returns as an October hero who will never have to buy his own drink in this town as long as he lives. Now the 36-year-old attempts to prove his remarkable 2019 season (.344/.395/.572) was no fluke. Manager Davey Martinez will again do everything he can to manage Kendrick's workload, so his starts may not come as frequently as some would like. But he'll get his at-bats, whether at second base, first base, third base or off the bench in key spots.

Kendrick's opportunities at first base will be predicated on how much and how well the other two slated for that position play, especially Zimmerman. The longtime "Face of the Franchise" returns for his 16th season, this time at a significantly reduced price ($2 million salary, plus up to $3 million more in incentives). Zimmerman acknowledges he doesn't expect to be in the lineup every day; he's targeting 250 to 300 at-bats. But he needs to keep himself healthy and available for whatever ends up being needed of him.

The Nationals have made sure they've had a left-handed complement to Zimmerman for the last five seasons, and the guy they picked up this winter might be the best of the bunch. Eric Thames doesn't hit for a high average (.241 over the last three seasons with the Brewers) but he works the count well (.343 on-base percentage) and hits the ball with authority (.504 slugging percentage). He'll probably get the bulk of the at-bats against right-handers, at least from the get-go, then serve as a top left-handed bat off the bench on the nights when he's not in the lineup.

The only absolute sure thing in the Nationals' infield entering this season is Trea Turner. As long as he's healthy, he's at shortstop. The club will hope he comes closer to his 162-game total from 2018 than the 122-game total he reached last season after breaking his right index finger in early April. Even though that finger was never 100 percent healed, Turner still managed to hit .298/.353/.497 with 19 homers and 37 doubles, impressive totals given his long stint on the injured list.

The only question about Turner in 2020 is where he'll bat in the lineup. With Rendon gone and somebody needing to fill that massive void in the heart of the order, Martinez has said he might consider moving Turner out of the leadoff spot and into the critical No. 3 hole. It sounds unconventional, but Turner has kind of always been a slugger who happens to have a leadoff man's speed. He could prove quite potent as a middle-of-the-order hitter.

The Nationals employed either Wilmer Difo or Adrián Sanchez as a backup infielder throughout their championship season, and both players remain on the 40-man roster for now. But there may not be a spot for either come opening day, especially if Kieboom makes the club, and that leaves both players in a precarious position.

Difo and Sanchez each are out of options and would need to pass through waivers before being demoted to the minors. Given that Difo signed a non-guaranteed, $1 million contract this winter, he could become a spring roster casualty, with the club only responsible for one-sixth of his salary if he's released within the first 16 days of camp.

Other infielders who will be around this spring include veteran utility man Emilio Bonifacio (who signed a minor league deal), corner infielder and surprise 2019 opening day roster member Jake Noll and 19-year-old prospect Luis Garcia.