It’s time for baseball’s annual evaluation period, a favorite of rebuilding teams everywhere, as 40-man rosters expand this week. The Nationals have used it productively in recent seasons to get a better handle on shortstop Ian Desmond (2009) and second baseman Danny Espinosa (2010). This year will be no different. Chris Marrero » The first baseman already has been added to the active roster and started Saturday against the Reds. He hit .300 with an .825 OPS at Triple-A Syracuse this season. Unfortunately, the former first-round pick (2006) also quickly confirmed one aspect of his reputation: He’s not the best with a glove on his hand. Marrero, 23, made two errors in his debut. With both Adam LaRoche — if healthy — and Michael Morse ahead of him at first base, Marrero doesn’t project as the organization’s future at that spot. But he could be used as a trade chip.
Brad Peacock and Tom Milone » Both pitchers have posted superb numbers in the upper minors. Peacock is just 23 and was recently named Eastern League pitcher of the year. Milone, 24, throws in the mid-80s, yet batters at Triple-A struck out 149 times against him. Will that velocity play in the majors? We’ll find out. Both pitched during a doubleheader Monday in Syracuse, and the Nats need a pitcher for this Saturday’s game against the Mets now that Jordan Zimmermann has been shut down for the season. Peacock has the higher ceiling. With next year’s rotation in flux — Livan Hernandez and Chien-Ming Wang are free agents, and Ross Detwiler is still trying to prove himself — Peacock can see an opening. Will he take advantage, or is he a future reliever?
Steve Lombardozzi » He may not get a shot given the 40-man roster crunch. The Nats already will add pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 60-day disabled list. They always could transfer pitcher Cole Kimball (shoulder surgery) over to it. But then either Peacock or Milone likely would force someone to be cut. If they clean house, maybe Lombardozzi gets promoted, too, after a fine Triple-A season. But he may have to wait until spring training to push for a job.
– Brian McNally
