Rizzo on Werth, Harper positional moves (plus update on grievance hearing)

SAN DIEGO - Probably the biggest Nationals-related news that's come out at the Winter Meetings involves two players who are already on the roster.

General manager Mike Rizzo today expanded on comments made by Matt Williams yesterday, saying that the Nationals plan to move Jayson Werth to left field next season, with Bryce Harper becoming their right fielder.

Williams indicated that Werth could continue to see some time in right field, but Rizzo implied today that the switch will be on more of an everyday basis.

"We've discussed it. We think it's time for Jayson to take to left field and put Harp in right field," Rizzo said. "Think it's a good time to do it this season. I know Matt's discussed it with both players.

"I think it gives a younger set of legs in right field, cover a lot of ground. He throws extremely well. And Jayson, who always has taken good routes and good angles on baseballs, can maybe have less ground to cover, save his legs a little bit and be more prepared to play throughout the whole season."

Rizzo said Williams had conversations with both Werth and Harper about it this offseason, and that both players were "very positive" about the decision.

Werth is going into his age-36 season, and hasn't played left field since 2009, when he appeared there in three games for the Phillies. Since then, Werth has predominantly played right, with a handful of starts mixed in at center field. In both 2013 and 2014, all of Werth's starts in the field came in right.

But the Nats feel that this move won't only improve them on the field because of how athletic Harper is, but because it will take some of the physical toll off of Werth.

"That's part of the plan," Rizzo said. "I think it will allow (Werth) to save his legs to play more games, to extend his career longer and to be fresher throughout the season. ...

"I think he's aged extremely well. He takes great care of his body and he's still very athletic. Defensively, he plays extremely well. When his legs are fresh, he's that five-tool player that we signed."

Meanwhile, Harper's agent, Scott Boras, met with reporters in the lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, and offered a "no comment" on the possibility of going to a grievance hearing with the Nationals over whether Harper will be eligible for arbitration this winter.

Harper has put in enough service time to qualify for arbitration as a Super Two - a player who ranks in the top 22 percent of players who have between two and three years of service time - but there is a dispute as to whether he is able to opt out of the major league contract he signed after being drafted in 2010 and become eligible for arbitration.

Most players who signed major league contracts immediately after being drafted have been able to opt out of that deal once eligible for arbitration. But the Nationals contend that an opt-out clause was not included in Harper's contract, which was struck less than a minute before the midnight deadline for teams to reach terms with drafted players.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association came together to determine that if Harper did qualify for arbitration before the end of his deal, a grievance hearing would determine whether he could opt out of the contract and be eligible for arbitration. That hearing is scheduled for sometime in the middle of December, Rizzo says.

"We'd like to stay out of the hearing, if possible, but this is a business decision," Rizzo said, when asked about the status of the negotiations with Harper's representatives. "And we feel that we have basis for it."

Rizzo realizes that if the Nats and Harper are forced to go to the grievance hearing, it could potentially create some discord between the two sides.

"It's like when you go to arbitration," Rizzo said. "No one likes to go to arbitration with somebody, and certainly no one wants to go to a grievance hearing with somebody."