Rizzo on shortstop: "We love competition"

This is the last day of the last month without baseball for a long time. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18 and then it's on. Barring injury, the Nationals appear set at every position around the diamond. But what about shortstop?

With Ian Desmond - though still unsigned - departing in free agency, Danny Espinosa is expected to get his first full-time shot at shortstop. But just a year ago, the Nationals were so down on Espinosa's offense that they tried to make him drop switch-hitting and bat exclusively from the right side during spring training.

That plan was scrapped and Espinosa actually rebounded after two tough seasons with a respectable year at the plate, slashing .240/.311/.409 with 13 homers, 21 doubles, one triple and 37 RBIs in 412 plate appearances. But from 2013-2014, Espinosa batted just .200/.255/.326. What if those struggles return?

"We love competition," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said earlier this month when discussing a potential battle at shortstop.

So Rizzo went out and signed veteran infielder Stephen Drew to a one-year deal. Their history dates to 2004 when Rizzo, the Diamondbacks' former scouting director, selected Drew in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft.

But like Espinosa, Drew has also had recent difficulties at the plate. After slashing a solid .264/.329/.435 during his first eight seasons in the majors, Drew hit a combined .185 in 2014-2015. He did still whack 17 homers last year.

"Stephen Drew is capable of playing every day at both shortstop and second base," Rizzo said. "He's capable of playing third base. He's a great veteran player that's very versatile. He swings the bat from the left side. I've got a track record and history with him. He's a great kid. He's loved by his teammates and a guy that should get a lot of at-bats for us at a multiple array of positions."

And while Espinosa and Drew duke it out, Trea Turner is the wild card in the competition. The 22-year-old rookie is expected to start the year in the minors, but what if he impresses in Grapefruit League and forces the issue?

Turner, the highly regarded prospect, is the type of player whose progress fans fly south to check on during spring training. Add to that the fact that he'll be involved in the biggest position battle and you have a pretty good storyline.

Get your popcorn ready!