New teammates believe Wieters will blend right in with Nats

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have seen plenty of Matt Wieters over the years, but from a distance. The veteran catcher has played 30 games against Washington in his career, by far his highest total versus any National League club.

And so when Wieters formally entered the Nationals clubhouse this morning as the newest member of their roster, teammates felt like they already knew him, both as a player and a person.

And they felt like no matter what, his presence would be a boost to this team.

"Catching is the most important part of being a catcher in the big leagues," first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "But if you can find a guy who can catch but can also provide a presence at the plate, those guys are few and far between at this level. So to have a guy like that, it definitely makes our team better."

"It's a unique thing to find someone who can be a switch-hitter at such a premium position, and someone who can be so consistent on both sides of the ball," second baseman Daniel Murphy said. "Defensively, he's got one of the best caught stealing percentages over the last couple years. And hopefully he'll continue to get better back there as he gets farther away from the Tommy John surgery. To have somebody who is a switch-hitter to lengthen out our lineup, it's a really tough matchup problem for the opposing ballclub. You can't really match up with him. So I think it gives us some real length to our lineup. I'm just looking forward to playing with him."

The Nationals see Wieters making a significant different to a lineup that already was deep. If he hits eighth, though, they'll potentially have as deep a lineup as there is in the NL, one that could pose a real problem for the competition.

"Not give away a pitch," Murphy said when asked what the best trait of this lineup could be. "And sustain pressure on the opposing team."

"I think it's a good, long, steady, capable lineup," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "I think we were eighth in all of baseball last year in runs scored. I think we've improved ourselves and upgraded throughout the years with the moves we've made. I think we're going to be a more efficient team, a more dangerous team and a team that's going to be harder to prepare for and pitch to."

There is admittedly the potential for an awkward situation, with Derek Norris (who was acquired in early December presumably to be the Nationals' starting catcher) still on the roster and housed in a locker right alongside the big-name starters on this club.

Norris, though, has said all the right things since word of the Wieters signing broke Tuesday morning, and teammates continue to support the 28-year-old, who is expected to be dealt at some point before opening day.

"Derek's had some great years in the big leagues and can obviously handle a staff," Zimmerman said. "So it's a tough spot for him. And being a teammate and knowing him for a long time, it puts you in an interesting position. But it's part of the game. Business-wise, that's the part that's always tricky. But both of those guys, him and Matt, are great catchers. Wherever Derek ends up, whatever happens, both of them are going to help whatever team they're on."

"I don't necessarily think the addition of Matt is a slight against Derek," Murphy said. "It seems like the organization felt like there was an opportunity to add a quality player. I don't think that diminishes the fact that Derek is also a quality player at a premium position."

Wieters jumped right into the fray this morning, participating in the Nationals' final spring workout before Grapefruit League play begins Saturday. He worked out with the rest of the catchers in position drills, then joined the rest of the infield for fundamental drills and appeared to blend right in.

Teammates who know him say he should be a natural fit with this veteran-laden group.

"It's always nice to be able to add someone who has been through the grind of a long season as long as Matt has," Murphy said. "He's been in the postseason. He knows what it looks like to get through a long season and to compete at a high level in October, as well."

"I don't think it's too hard to fit into this clubhouse, as long as you're a guy who comes in and plays hard every day," Zimmerman said. "We're pretty easy to get along with. I think that's pretty much 99 percent of the guys."