The Nationals have signed Jason Dubois and Tommy Murphy to minor league contracts. Dubois last played in the majors in 2005 and he has a nice power stroke. Dubois has played in 86 games in the majors in his career and he’s 49 for 210 (.233 avg, .729 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 10 homers and 29 RBIs. Tommy Murphy played in 20 games last season for the Angels and he was 7 for 38 (.184 avg, .416 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Murphy has now played in 68 games in his major league career and he is 23 for 108 (.213 avg, .558 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Both of these guys have a decent shot of making the Nationals next season.

The Nationals have signed Antonio Perez, William Bergolla and Ed Rogers to minor league contracts. Perez probably has the best chance of this group of sticking in the majors. Perez last played in the majors in 2006 with Oakland. He has played in 216 games in his major league career and he is 121 of 495 (.244 avg, .667 OPS) with 125 runs scored, 26 homers and 113 RBIs. William Bergolla hasn’t played in the majors since 2005 with the Reds. He has played in 17 games in his major league career and he is 5 for 38 (.132 avg, .264 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. Ed Rogers last played in the majors in 2006 with the Orioles. He has played in 30 games in his major league career and he is 6 for 29 (.207 avg, .510 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs.

The Nationals have brought in two veteran catchers on minor league contracts. Humberto Cota played in 5 games for the Pirates last season and he was 4 for 14 (.286 avg, .746 OPS) with 1 run scored and 3 RBIs. Cota has now played in 196 games in his major league career and he’s 121 for 519 (.233 avg, .638 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 12 homers and 61 RBIs. The Nationals also have signed Chad Moeller who has a reputation of being a good gloveman that can’t hit. He played in 37 games last season with the Reds and Dodgers and he was 9 for 56 (.161 avg) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Moeller has now played in 421 games in his major league career and he is 268 for 1,198 (.224 avg, .630 OPS) with 125 runs scored, 26 homers and 113 RBIs. Neither Moeller or Cota is starting material so they likely will be in a battle to be the backup.

The Nationals have re-signed Mike Bacsik and Arnie Munoz as well as Dennis Tankersley and Jason Stanford to minor league contracts. Bacsik pitched in 29 games last season for the Nationals (20 starts) and he was 5-8 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He will likely have a solid chance to make the Nationals out of Spring Training. He has now pitched in 51 games (35 starts) in his major league career and he is 10-13 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Arnie Munoz pitched in 13 games last season (0 starts) for the Nationals and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.44 WHIP. Munoz will have a hard time making the Nationals next season. He has now pitched in 24 games (1 start) in his major league career and he’s 0-1 with a 9.15 ERA and a 2.29 WHIP. Lefty Jason Stanford will likely have a decent shot of making the Nationals starting rotation. He’s a 30-year old lefty who has had success at the major league level. He has pitched in 23 games (12 starts) in his major league career and he’s 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has tossed 87.1 innings in his career and he’s allowed 92 hits, walked 28 batters and whiffed 51. Dennis Tankersley was once a highly thought of prospect but he never quite made it in the majors. He has pitched in 27 games (16 starts) in his major league career and he’s 1-10 with a 7.61 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. He has pitched 86.1 innings in his career and he’s allowed 97 hits, walked 61 batters and whiffed 68.