The Nationals signed 31 year old switch hitting catcher Johnny Estrada to a 1 year, $1.2 million dollar contract. The Nationals needed to sign a player like Estrada in case Paul LoDuca isn’t ready to go for the season after having knee surgery recently. Estrada played in 120 games last season for the Brewers and he was 123 for 442 (.278 avg, .699 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 10 homers and 54 RBIs. Estrada has now played in 589 games in his major league career and he is 567 for 2,026 (.280 avg, .726 OPS) with 198 runs scored, 42 homers and 281 RBIs.

First baseman Nick Johnson missed all of the 2007 while recovering from a broken leg. While Johnson was out, Dmitri Young won the Comeback Player of the Year as the Nationals starting first baseman. Young played in 136 games for the Nationals last season and he was 147 for 460 (.320 avg, .869 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 13 homers and 74 RBIs. The Nationals rewarded Young with a nice new contract. Nick Johnson is still only 29 years old so he should make a complete comeback. Johnson played in 147 games in 2006 and he was 145 for 500 (.290 avg, .948 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 23 homers, 77 RBIs and 110 walks. Johnson has now played in 599 games in his major league career and he is 536 for 1,973 (.272 avg, .853 OPS) with 323 runs scored, 76 homers and 297 RBIs. Johnson also is an elite defender at first base.