Reunited and it feels so good

VIERA, Fla. - Last offseason, Doug Fister was the Nationals' prize offseason acquisition when he arrived in D.C. via a trade with Detroit. This time around, it's his former Tigers teammate Max Scherzer who is the talk of NatsTown.

Fister landed in Detroit from Seattle at the trade deadline in 2011. Over the next two-plus seasons, Scherzer and Fister were a combined 84-39 while helping to lead the Tigers to three straight American League Central titles and a World Series runner-up appearance in 2012. The two started 16 playoff games for the Tigers as teammates.

You could sense Fister's excitement as he settled in to his locker on Thursday, as Nationals pitchers and catchers reported to Space Coast Stadium for spring training.

"Having Max come back, being a teammate of his, knowing not only what he is on the field but what he is off the field, it's going to be a huge honor for us," said Fister. "It's great to have him back. It's going to be a great addition for us and it's going to bring a lot."

Fister had a front row seat for Scherzer's incredible 2013 season, when the right-hander went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts en route to the AL Cy Young Award. He's looking forward to building off that experience this time around in Washington.

"He's an incredible guy. It's a huge honor for me to be a teammate of his again," Fister said. "To be able to sit back and watch him and continue to learn from him. He's got a wealth of knowledge, and the ability to execute and go out there and play ball. He's a guy who battles for you. That's what you want as a teammate."

According to Fister, the Nats can expect Scherzer's influence to extend beyond the playing field and into the clubhouse.

"He's got a good personality," Fister said. "He's a guy who kind of has the ability to kind of glue people together. And that's something that as a camaraderie factor, as a team chemistry factor, I think is going to be a good addition to what we have here."

"I think it's kind of all-around. He's an all-around type of guy. He has some vocals. He's a jokester at times. He's a guy that's going to be focused and serious at other times, so he's got a good, well-balanced personality that's going to add to what we have here, the guys who are serious and the guys who are jokesters. We have a certain feeling in the locker room, and I think he's just going to add to that feeling of comfort and a tight-knit family group."

Fister admitted he was surprised upon hearing his old teammate had signed a long-term megadeal with the Nationals. Heading into 2015, Fister finds himself in the same spot as Scherzer was this time last year in Detroit. He'll pitch this season uncertain of his future as his contract with the Nats expires at the end of this season. In 2014, Fister was dazzling at times, finishing 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA and beating Giants ace Madison Bumgarner to gain the Nats' only playoff win in the National League Division Series.

On Thursday, the 31-year-old Fister deflected questions about going into a season unsure of his long term status.

"I'm wearing this jersey right now, and that's the most important thing," he said. "I'm a National through and through right now. If it looks in the future that I can stay here, great. If not, I've got to make sure I get my job done and be a part of the team that I'm a part of."

"It's an experience I've had before, facing trade deadlines before. I've learned how to block it out, forget anything else. More I know I'm a part of this team, and that's all that matters. I don't mess around with any rumors, I don't mess around with any outside influences. I just go into each day knowing I'm a part of the team, and that's what I want to be. I want to be one of 25 guys here and add what I can."

Despite that, Fister's name - along with Jordan Zimmermann's - was immediately mentioned in trade rumors once new of Scherzer's deal was leaked. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has stated he plans to keep this rotation intact throughout the season to make a run at a World Series title. Scherzer voiced his opinions on the day he was formally announced at Nats Park last month.

"For me, personally, of course you want to see guys like that," said Scherzer. "You always want good players on your team. When you speak of Fister and Zimmermann, those are highly talented pitchers. Of course you want to see them on your ballclub, but at the end of the day, Mike's the architect here. He understands what pitchers he has coming on the way and what's best for the team, so that's where he's going to make this type of decision."

Pushing the business matters to the side, add Fister to those who's hyped to be part of what many are calling the best starting rotation in decades.

"Last year was a great rotation, (but) this one is even better, I think," said Fister. "The additions we have, and now, again, having that relationship after a year with the other guys is for me a huge plus. It's an honor to be a part of this staff, and I think it's going to be a good thing for us."

It promises to be quite a ride for Fister in 2015. He started it off with a bit of a journey of his own. He made it to Viera, Fla., after driving a motorhome from central California with his wife, two cats, and two Great Danes.

"We split it up into four days," he said. "Everybody gets along well. Kind of have to in a motorhome."