Is Cole ready to contribute? (updated with promotion, signing notes)

If now-departed outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was the most popular name brought up by other teams at the Winter Meetings in San Diego earlier this month, right-handed pitching prospect A.J. Cole might have been a close second.

One scout told me in the lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt that his team had been trying to pry Cole away from the Nationals since general manager Mike Rizzo reacquired him from the A's in a three-team trade in January 2013.

"No dice," the scout told me. "They ain't letting him go. They're that high on him."

And with good reason. A fourth-round pick out of Oviedo (Fla.) High School in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, the 22-year-old Cole has made steady progress. The 2014 season was his breakthrough: He went 13-3 with a 3.61 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He saved his best for the bigger stage, going 7-0 in 11 starts with Syracuse.

While there are some in the organization who would like to see what Cole could accomplish in a full season at Triple-A, there's also sentiment that he wouldn't flounder if given a chance to pitch in the majors in 2015. His proponents cite a live arm and a rookie's eagerness, and think he could flourish as a power arm out of the bullpen.

Before you dismiss this as wishful thinking, consider that few people expected right-hander Aaron Barrett to break camp with the Nats in 2014. But Barrett opened eyes with 10 2/3 scoreless innings, over which he allowed five hits and worked to a WHIP of 0.47 with eight strikeouts and no walks in the spring. He basically pitched himself onto the club, no easy task considering the Nats had a rookie manager and postseason aspirations.

Cole has a long road ahead of him if he intends to go north with the Nats. There are plenty of right-handers in camp and Cole would basically be competing for one of the final bullpen spots with the likes of left-handers Xavier Cedeno and Matt Grace and right-handers Heath Bell and Blake Treinen. Keep an eye on Grace, whose stock is rising.

Barrett's spring training last year proved that the Nationals aren't so fixated on veterans for their bullpen, and that bodes well for Cole. And all it takes is one guy to have a bad spring or a pitcher to come up with an injury that costs him innings to create a logical opening.

Look for the Nats to stretch Cole out a little - after all, if he doesn't stick in camp, he'll start for Syracuse and has to be able to work deeper into games - and keep an eye on the situations he works in and the teams he pitches against.

There's no doubt Cole is considered one of the organization's top prospects. Baseball Prospectus ranked him No. 2 behind starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, while Baseball America reworked its top 10 after last week's Souza trade, slotting Cole at No. 7. His long-range future may be as a starting pitcher, but his first shot could come in a different role, perhaps as soon as next season.

Update: The Nationals this morning announced three front office promotions and an addition to the scouting and player development department.

Doug Harris has been promoted to assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting. Steve Arnieri was promoted to special assistant to the president of baseball operations and general manager. Bill Singer was promoted to director of international scouting and special assistant to the president of baseball operations and general manager.

Brian Cleary has joined the organization as an area supervisor in the scouting and player development department.

Update: According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Nats have signed third baseman Ian Stewart to a minor league contract. The 29-year-old Stewart slashed .176/.222/.382 in 24 games with the Angels in 2014. In 511 career games with the Rockies, Cubs and Angels, he's a .229 hitter with 61 homers and 211 RBIs.