Rizzo quashes Scherzer speculation, says he's met with Zimmermann's reps

SAN DIEGO - The notion of free agent Max Scherzer reuniting with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, the man who drafted him in Arizona, was just too tantalizing a storyline to ignore at baseball's Winter Meetings.

And then, on the day that Scherzer's agent, Scott Boras, held court for reporters pressed five and six deep for the better part of an hour, Rizzo went and threw cold water on the idea.

In his daily briefing with reporters. Rizzo said the Nationals are not likely to get involved in the frenzy swirling around Scherzer, a 30-year-old right-hander who is seeking in excess of $200 million for his services.

"There would have to be a lot of moving parts for us to have interest in the free agent pitching market," Rizzo said.

Besides, Rizzo has his own fish to fry. He's trying to keep his rotation intact for the long term, and with right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister hitting free agency after the 2015 season, Rizzo is firmly focused on trying to secure extensions with one or both starting pitchers.

Rizzo set he met with Zimmermann's representatives yesterday, another step in the process of getting a deal done.

"It was a reacquaintance, if you will, to talk about philosophies and parameters and that type of thing," Rizzo said. "It was a good initial discussion we had. We had a good discussion."

While Rizzo isn't one to close the books on any option, he didn't sound like he was seriously entertaining trade offers for Zimmermann, Fister or shortstop Ian Desmond, all of whom are scheduled to hit free agency next winter. Rizzo went as far as to say he expected to have all three players in camp when the Nationals report in mid-February for spring training in Viera, Fla.

Here are some other comments from the GM after the third day of the Winter Meetings at the Manchester Grand Hyatt:

* Left-hander Ross Detwiler is drawing interest as both a starter and a reliever, Rizzo said. But it's likely the Nationals would prefer to talk to teams in need of a starting pitcher because Detwiler might fetch a higher price in those discussions.

* Center fielder Denard Span, who had successful sports hernia surgery last week, should be ready for spring training, Rizzo said.

"I think he's going to be ready, he's going to be 100 percent for spring training," Rizzo said. "It's a four-week rehab and he should be back to his old self soon."

Rizzo wasn't surprised that Span would need the surgery, even if a photograph on Twitter of Span in a hospital down caused a stir among Nationals fans. Span had dealt with some "lingering tightness down there throughout the final stages of the season," Rizzo said.

* Other teams in the National League East are making moves, but Rizzo said he pays little mind to what the competition is doing.

"We're cognizant of what they do, but it doesn't affect what we do," he said. "We can't react as a team if another team in our division or out league makes a move. We have to have our plan in place and carry it out, and that's what we're doing."