Rizzo on who will play shortstop, inquiries on Escobar, interest in Rollins and more (with video)

NASHVILLE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo isn't averse to trading for a shortstop, but if tomorrow was April 4, he's sure there's someone on the current roster who would be trotting out to the space between third and second bases in the bottom of the first inning on the final opening day at Atlanta's Turner Field.

"I have a comfort level that if today were opening day, we have a shortstop on the roster. ... There are several of them," Rizzo said this afternoon in his suite at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center as he provided media with a recap of the first day of the Winter Meetings. "Several have opportunities and that's why we have spring training, to figure out where each player fits. But we are strong and deep up the middle."

So deep that the Nationals have, as expected, been fielding inquiries on infielder Yunel Escobar, who is coming off a year in which he slashed .314/.375/.415 in 139 games. But Escobar spent the season manning third base, the position that Anthony Rendon will return to after an injury-marred 2015. It's not known whether Escobar will play shortstop in the place of departed free agent Ian Desmond, man second base as he was supposed to last season before Rendon's injuries shifted him to the hot corner , fill a utility role - or even be on the 25-man roster at all.

"There's been several teams that have inquired about Escobar," Rizzo said. "He's a versatile player that's a good hitter."

With the middle infield alignment unsettled, the Nationals have been linked to veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who hit .224 in 144 games with the Dodgers last season after spending the first 15 years of his career with the Phillies. Signing Rollins could provide additional time for prospect Trea Turner to develop and give the Nats sufficient depth to deal Escobar.

"He's a switch-hitter, he's a good defensive player and he's been through the playoff wars before with a good presence," Rizzo said when asked directly about Rollins.

Here are some more quick hits from Rizzo's first media session of the Winter Meetings:

On the significant dollars teams are spending for relief pitchers: "It's market value. The market is what the market bears. Those are talented pitchers coming off of good seasons last year. Supply and demand. The supply was short and the demand was high and that's when you make your best deals."

On left-hander Oliver Perez, who has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal with the Nationals: "He's a veteran presence, a guy that's got tons of experience. ... He knows several of our players and will fit into our clubhouse. Really good left-on-left guy, and if he falls back to where he was two years ago, he was good against both sides of the plate. He's just a good veteran arm to go wit h some of our young electric arms and we feel that he'll be a good fit for us."

On veteran right-hander Craig Stammen, who was non-tendered by the club last week: "Craig has been a great competitor for us for years, but the fact that the price tag is what is was and knowing that he's just starting to throw, unsure about where his health is going to be in spring training - (that) is the reason that we non-tendered him. Tried to re-sign him as we non-tendered him and it just didn't work out."

On the Nationals' interest in free agent Ben Zobrist: "Zobrist is a good fit for about 30 teams in the big leagues. He's first of all a really good player. He's good on both sides of the ball. He can really do everything on the baseball field. Good baserunner, can hit for a little power, he's a good defensive player at several positions. We have interest in him. He fits for us in several positions, but second base is a position that I think he likes best and he fits best for us at second base."

On who will lead off the for the Nationals in 2016: "The prototypical leadoff hitter, I don't see on our current roster. We have guys that can handle that role. We have guys who have done that role before. Lineup construction is a question for when you talk to Dusty (Baker). You can ask him then."