The Nationals announced that lefty reliever Ray King has refused his outright assignment to AAA, thus becoming a free agent. King pitched in 12 games for the Nationals this season and he was 0-0 with a 5.68 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. Despite not pitching too well this season King will likely be able to find a new job in the majors due to the fact that he’s left handed.

The Washington Nationals have placed catcher Paul LoDuca on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right hand. He has played in 12 games for the Nationals so far this season and he is 7 for 35 (.200 avg, .603 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Jesus Flores has been recalled from the minors and he will share the catching duties with Johnny Estrada. Flores has played in 4 games this season for the Nationals and he is 4 for 11 (.364 avg, 1.235 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Estrada has played in 10 games this season for the Nationals and he is 3 for 19 (.158 avg, .396 OPS) with 2 RBIs. The Nationals will be in good hands while LoDuca is out as Estrada and Flores are both pretty good catchers.

The Nationals have placed 1B Dmitri Young on the 15-day disabled list with a bad back. Young had only played in 2 games for the Nationals so far this season and he was 1 for 2 (.500 avg) with a double and a RBI. The Comeback Player of the Year in the National League last season came into camp out of shape and he lost his starting job to Nick Johnson. The Nationals will activate catcher Johnny Estrada off the D.L. to replace Young on the roster.

The Nationals have signed 37-year old righty swinging Olmedo Saenz to a minor league contract and they will stash him in AAA until they need help at the major league level. He played in 92 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 21 for 110 (.191 avg, .640 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 4 homers and 18 RBIs. Saenz has now played in 733 games in his major league career and he is 438 for 1,663 (.263 avg, .805 OPS) with 226 runs scored, 73 homers and 275 RBIs. This was a nice low risk signing for the Nationals.

Not many teams in the majors can match the depth and quality that the Nationals have in their bullpen. It all starts with 26-year old righty Chad Cordero who is a very underrated closer. He pitched in 76 games (0 starts) last season for the Nationals and he was 3-3 with 37 saves, a 3.36 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. If the Nationals ever wanted to trade Cordero teams would line up to make offers.

29-year old righty Jon Rauch is a workhorse. He pitched in 88 games (#1 in N.L.) for the Nationals last season and he was 8-4 with 4 saves, a 3.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He also had 33 holds which was among the league leaders last season.

30-year old righty Luis Ayala is downright nasty also. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.19 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

30-year old righty Jesus Colome had a breakout season for himself in 2007. He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 5-1 with 1 save, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.

30-year old righty Saul Rivera also pitched a ton last season. Rivera pitched in 85 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-6 with 3 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

29-year old righty Chris Schroder also proved himself last year. He pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

34-year old lefty Ray King gives the bullpen a little bit of balance. He pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Nationals & Brewers last season and he was 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: A-