What are Nats looking for in a fourth outfielder?

TAMPA – Davey Martinez has another four weeks before he has to decide who he wants to keep as his fourth outfielder to begin the season, but the evaluation process is already underway. And this afternoon, the Nationals manager has the opportunity to watch all three candidates for that job at the same time.

Alex Call, Derek Hill and Stone Garrett are all in the lineup for today’s game against the Yankees, manning the three outfield positions from left to right. All have some, but not extensive, big league experience. All bring a specific skill or two to the table. In all likelihood, only one will make the Opening Day roster.

If anyone has a leg up from the outset, it might be Call, strictly because he already played for the Nationals last season. The 28-year-old became a semi-regular in left field down the stretch, producing a .772 OPS with five homers in 115 plate appearances and playing the outfield with energy.

Garrett was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks, for whom he delivered an .848 OPS and four homers in 84 plate appearances. A physical specimen at 6-foot-2, 224 pounds, he’s got an all-or-nothing swing that led to 27 strikeouts and only three walks in Arizona.

“I’ve seen Alex play last year,” Martinez said. “This is our first year of Stone. I know he’s got a lot of power. I hope that comes out this spring and we see some of that. But they’re very different. They both can do things really well.”

Martinez then went out of his way to add Hill to the equation, citing the 27-year-old’s speed and ability to play a strong center field. A 2014 first-round pick of the Tigers, Hill has 95 games of major league experience but has produced only a .291 on-base percentage and .630 OPS.

“I really like so far what he’s done,” Martinez said. “He understands the game. He understands himself really well. He works good at-bats. He works walks. He gets on base and wants to steal bases. He’s been pretty good. We’re looking at those three guys to fill that void.”

The decision may boil down to what the Nationals value most in a backup outfielder. Is it defense? Is it positional versatility? Is it the ability to be an impact hitter?

Reading the tea leaves, Martinez seemed to indicate positional versatility is high on his list.

“I think for me that’s going to be a big key, whether those guys can play center field,” the manager said, adding that he intends to get a look at all three guys in center field this spring.