On Kintzler's return, pitchers batting eighth and Long's hiring

The Nationals' first major league signing of the offseason still isn't official because Brandon Kintzler still needs to pass his physical. But that didn't stop those who were at Nats Winterfest on Saturday from raving about the re-signing of the veteran reliever, which preserves the three-man unit that so effectively locked down games late this season.

"That was awesome to see," said Sean Doolittle, who along with Ryan Madson joined Kintzler to form the so-called "Law Firm" bullpen over the season's final two months. "Really excited to have him back. What he did last year, I think having me, him and Madson, the experience we got working the seventh, eighth and ninth last year, it kind of helped solidify things, helped things fall into place. And for him to come back, I think it's awesome. I know he's really excited about it."

Kintzler and the Nationals agreed to terms late Wednesday night on a complicated contract that establishes a $5 million salary for 2018, then either a $10 million club option or a $5 million player option for 2019, with the remote possibility neither side picks its option up and makes the right-hander a free agent again next winter.

The 33-year-old, who initially was acquired July 31 from the Twins for minor league left-hander Tyler Watson, was expected to get offers from other clubs to compete for a closer's job (he saved 29 games this season, all but one while with Minnesota). But he chose to return to Washington to pitch primarily in the seventh inning ahead of Madson and Doolittle.

That doesn't mean Kintzler won't still get opportunities to pitch later in games.

"Doolittle, Madson, those guys are going to need days off," new manager Dave Martinez said. "We explain that to them. I said (to Kintzler): 'Yeah, you'll pitch the seventh, you'll pitch the eighth, you'll pitch the ninth sometimes. It depends on the need.' But he's excited."

Though Kintzler doesn't have classic power stuff for a reliever, Martinez has been awfully impressed watching him pitch out of late-inning jams from the opposite dugout over the last few years.

"He's a competitor," the manager said. "Give him the ball. He wants the ball, and he gets outs. When you've got a guy that comes in, throws strikes and gets outs like that, it's really good for not only the team but the bullpen, too."

* Martinez continues to be careful not to tip his hand too much when it comes to his lineup construction, but the rookie skipper did reveal one more interesting nugget on Saturday: He might bat the pitcher eighth on occasion.

That unconventional strategy has been deployed more in recent years by forward-thinking managers like Tony La Russa and Joe Maddon, who see value in moving their best hitters up to a higher slot in the batting order and then sticking a second leadoff man of sorts in the No. 9 spot behind the pitcher.

Jim Riggleman is the only Nationals manager who has ever tried it - he did it for a short while in 2011, with Jayson Werth leading off - but Martinez suggested he might take a page from his former boss Maddon and give it strong consideration.

"We're going to be creative," Martinez said. "We're looking at different options. You might see it. I'm not gonna sit here and lie to you. You might see it."

* Though Kevin Long isn't among the members of the new coaching staff who are attending Winterfest, the hitting coach already is being praised by those who know him.

Daniel Murphy used to play for Long with the Mets and fully credits him for the swing overhaul that transformed the second baseman from a solid hitter to one of the most feared sluggers in the National League.

Murphy's reaction last month when he found out Long (who interviewed for the managerial job before it went to Martinez) had been hired?

"I was very excited," he said. "My boy's coming back. I talk to Kevin quite a bit, so we had kind of been talking about it leading up to it. He interviewed for the managing job, and then my hat's off to (general manager Mike) Rizzo. He transitioned really quickly to that hitting coach position. And I was over the moon. I think everybody knows how I feel about Kevin, kind of what he's been able to do in helping me with my career."

Long was instrumental in helping Murphy tweak his swing to create a higher launch angle, thus turning more line drives into home runs, but he doesn't try to espouse a one-size-fits-all approach to hitting.

"One thing I think Kevin does such a great job is being able to relate to everyone in such a great way," Murphy said. "So he's more having to deal with 13 different personalities to try to get them ready to play well that night, get their swing ready. What may work for me won't necessarily work for another one of our position players, but he does a great job of finding what makes each guy tick."