Nationals still looking for lefty bat, help up the middle (Shawn Kelley update)

NASHVILLE - Multiple trips to the disabled list for Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman forced former Nationals manager Matt Williams to shuffle players around his infield throughout last season. Besides playing both middle infield positions, defensive wizard Danny Espinosa even appeared at first base and third base for the first time in his life.

"I look at their infield defense, they had everybody on the infield out of position, and that's tough to do," new manager Dusty Baker said during the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

After missing 82 games in 2015, the Nationals hope Rendon remains healthy next year, and they plan to move him back to third base where he won a Silver Slugger in 2014. For the first time in seven years, the Nationals have a hole at shortstop with Ian Desmond's departure via free agency.

"I have a comfort level that if today were opening day, we have a shortstop on the roster," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "There are several of them. 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."

Veterans Yunel Escobar and Danny Espinosa and rookie Trea Turner are the current roster options at shortstop and second base. Escobar, coming off arguably his best season at the plate, could shift to shortstop where he played primarily for his first eight years in the majors before arriving in D.C. But Rizzo said Escobar has been receiving interest from other teams at the Winter Meetings and the Nationals could try to sell high in an attempt to gain some much-needed bullpen help in return.

Turner is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, not just the Nationals organization. But there is some question of whether to ease Turner in with more seasoning in the minors or include him in the opening day plans. He slashed .276/.344/.414 with one homer over the last 11 games of the year.

Espinosa was the Nationals comeback player in 2016, batting .240/.311/.409 with 13 homers, one triple, 21 doubles and 37 RBIs while playing stellar defense. Espinosa had .753 OPS from the right side of the plate and .709 from the left.

Despite the depth up the middle, the Nationals have made a run at a few infielders with left-handed bats this week. They offered a competitive contract to free agent Ben Zobrist before the versatile infielder/outfielder inked with the Cubs for four-years, $56 million on Tuesday night. Zobrist, a switch-hitter was targeted a void at second base for the Nationals.

And the Nats reportedly kicked the tires on a trade with the Pirates for second baseman Neil Walker before the Buccos shipped him to the Mets on Wednesday afternoon.

Walker's arrival in New York means Daniel Murphy, the National League Championship Series MVP for the Mets, is out. Murphy hit .281 with 14 homers and 73 RBIs in the regular season and then exploded in the playoffs, batting .328 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games. Muprhy would also bring a left-handed bat, but the price tag might be too high and his defense his average.

The Nationals could also go the outfield route to locate a lefty bat with free agents Alex Gordon and Gerrardo Parra two of the possibilities.

"In a perfect world, the lefty bat is important," Rizzo said. "But we want to improve our club. The balance in the lineup is an aspect but it's not something that's the end-all and be-all. We'd like to be more balanced but if we have a quality player that improves our lineup and improves our play and improves the club, then we're certainly gonna look at all avenues of it."

Update: The Nationals did agree to terms with right-hander Shawn Kelley, according to MLB.com.