Nats appear to set roster after optioning Reynolds, Sanchez

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals will open the season with an eight-man bullpen and a four-man bench, a decision that may have as much to do with ensuring they didn't lose anyone from their organization who was out of options as it was about in-game strategy.

As the club's flight home to Washington was departing this evening, the Nats announced they had optioned infielders Matt Reynolds and Adrian Sanchez to Triple-A Syracuse. The domino effect of that: All the relievers remaining in big league camp are now set to make the opening day roster, including right-hander Trevor Gott and lefties Matt Grace, Enny Romero and Sammy Solís.

Grace and Romero were out of options, so they could not have been demoted without first passing through waivers. Both Reynolds and Sanchez, meanwhile, still had options and thus could be sent to Syracuse to begin the season and be available for a promotion whenever the need arises.

There are some risks opening the year with only a four-man bench, which at this point figures to include catcher Miguel Montero, first baseman/outfielder Matt Adams, infielder Wilmer Difo and outfielder Brian Goodwin. But with Howie Kendrick (the presumed starting second baseman while Daniel Murphy begins the season on the disabled list) able to play as many as five positions, manager Davey Martinez will have some flexibility should he need to make in-game moves.

The bullpen, meanwhile, now shapes up to feature four right-handers and four left-handers. The late-inning trio of Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and closer Sean Doolittle remains intact from last season. Gott joins veteran Shawn Kelley (who had a healthy spring after missing time with bone chips in his elbow last year) as the two other righties in the 'pen. Grace, Romero and Solís give Martinez three lefty options to use for matchups and (in the case of Grace and Solís) some length.

The 25-man roster, of course, is an ever-changing entity, and it most likely won't remain in this form for a long time. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who signed a minor league contract in late March and will remain in Florida to keep building up his arm, could be ready to join the rotation as the No. 5 starter within a week or two. That would probably bump A.J. Cole to the bullpen and require the demotion of one of the current eight relievers.

Murphy's anticipated return from October knee surgery - there is no formal timetable for that yet - also could bump Kendrick to a reserve role and leave the Nationals with a more traditional five-man bench.

And the club could decide to use the next few days to scour the free agent market in search of anyone else who might help more than the players who are already in-house.

For now, though, this is how the opening day 25-man roster appears to look ...

CATCHERS (2): Matt Wieters, Miguel Montero

INFIELDERS (6): Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Matt Adams, Wilmer DIfo

OUTFIELDERS (4): Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper, Brian Goodwin

STARTING PITCHERS (5): Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark, A.J. Cole

RELIEF PITCHERS (8): Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler, Shawn Kelley, Trevor Gott, Sammy Solís, Matt Grace, Enny Romero

DL (4): Daniel Murphy, Joaquin Benoit, Koda Glover, Joe Ross