More on Rendon's injury, Severino and Kieboom reassigned

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that catchers Pedro Severino and Spencer Kieboom have been reassigned to minor league camp. He said both weren't able to get enough at-bats and it was important to get them some work before their seasons began

Severino, 21, batted .247 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs at Single-A Potomac last season.

"He's a really good prospect," said Williams. "He's got a lot of tools. Certainly, the catching part of it, we saw a great deal of, but being so early into spring, we didn't get a chance to see a lot of at-bats from him. But he's well on his way and he just needs to continue to play and gain experience."

Kieboom hit .309 with nine home runs and 61 RBIs in 87 games last season at Single-A Hagerstown.

Williams doesn't expect making any additional cuts in the next few days. Left-handed pitcher Matt Purke was reassigned to minor league camp on Tuesday.

The Nationals are now dealing with having three starting field players injured early on in spring training. Of course, Denard Span's core muscle surgery is the most serious, but Yunel Escobar's oblique strain and now Anthony Rendon's sprained left MCL are cause for some concern.

"It's weird, some strange ones, but it is what it is," said Williams. "We see it all around baseball where the normal stuff that we do on an everyday basis, you can have things wrong. But we have to deal with it. Anthony will be good. It's just a question of a few days."

Williams chose to put a positive spin on the bad news.

"Because we've got so many outfielders that are slow getting started or will be out for a while, the others guys are getting are getting lots of at-bats, so we're getting a good look at them and, of course, the extra multi-position infielders, as well," said Williams. "That's great. It's good that they get at-bats and get going."

Rendon's absence gives Kevin Frandsen, Ian Stewart and Matt Skole more time at third base, while players like Tony Gwynn Jr. and Derrick Robinson are taking advantage of added outfield reps.

Jayson Werth, who is recovering from January shoulder surgery, threw light tosses from around 90 feet today. Williams said Werth will continue with his throwing program and said it's up to Werth's comfort level on when the left fielder will begin hitting.

Finally, the Nationals agreed to terms with all 1o of their players with zero to three years of service time on one-year contracts: catchers Dan Butler and Sandy Leon; infielder Wilmer Difo; infielder/outfielders Jeff Kobernus and Tyler Moore; outfielders Brian Goodwin and Michael A. Taylor; right-handers Aaron Barrett, A.J. Cole, Erik Davis, Taylor Hill, Taylor Jordan, Tanner Roark and Blake Treinen; and left-handers Xavier Cedeno, Matt Grace, Felipe Rivero and Sammy Solis.