The Washington Nationals have decided not to tender a contract to 30-year old righty starting pitcher Tim Redding. Redding pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has now pitched in 149 games (127 starts) in his major league career and he is 34-51 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Nationals probably should have tried to trade Redding as a lot of teams have interest in him as a new free agent.

The Nationals have signed 27-year old righty starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera to a 1-year contract. He pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 8-10 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He has now pitched in 147 games (146 starts) in his major league career and he is 48-59 with 1 save, a 5.05 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. If the Nationals’ coaching staff can get Cabrera to throw strikes he could wind up being a really good pitcher for them. That won’t be easy, however, as he has walked 478 batters in 841.1 innings in his major league career. The Nationals could switch gears and give him a chance to convert into a short reliever where his fastball would really be dominating.

The Nationals have selected 23-year old righty reliever Terrell Young in the Rule 5 Draft. Young pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 2-5 with 3 saves, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Nationals will give Young his big chance in spring training to show what he can do. Don’t be shocked to see him in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2009.

The Washington Nationals have released 31-year old righty reliever Jesus Colome. Colome pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has pitched in 308 games (0 starts) in his major league career now and he is 18-25 with 6 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Some team will take a chance on Colome but the Nationals were probably smart to let him go.

The Nationals have signed 25-year old righty starting pitcher J.D. Martin to a minor league deal. Martin pitched in 35 games (9 starts) in AA + AAA ball last season compiling a 12-3 record with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He was once one of the Indians’ more highly thought of prospects so he was worth taking a gamble on by the Nationals.