The Nationals have signed 35-year old righty reliever Brad Lidge to a 1-year deal. Lidge pitched in 25 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-2 with 1 save, a 1.40 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 592 games (1 start) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 26-31 with 223 saves, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Lidge has whiffed 789 batters while only giving up 480 hits in his first 594 innings in the majors, as he is nasty when he is throwing strikes. Lidge has also walked 276 batters, so his control is a big issue at times. That being said, he has made 2 All-Star teams in his career so far. He will make the Nationals’ bullpen very deep as he will work before Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen.

The Nationals have improved over the winter, but they still might have a big move or two left before spring training begins. They are after B.J. Upton and Prince Fielder….and if they get both of them….they are going to compete for a playoff spot in 2012. Here is a look at the players the Nationals have brought in so far this winter:

In the field: The Nationals have focused on improving the bench over the winter and they have certainly done that. Mike Cameron and Mark DeRosa are virtual locks to make the Nationals’ opening day roster if they can stay healthy. Xavier Paul, Jason Michaels and Brett Carroll will be duking it out for a backup outfield spot on the Nationals this spring. 2B/SS Andres Blanco stands a decent shot of earning a job on the Nationals’ bench this spring.

On the mound: The Nationals not only dealt for lefty starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez, but they quickly locked him up to a 5-year contract extension. He will be at the top of the Nationals’ rotation in 2012 and beyond. Righty relievers Ryan Perry, Wladis Joaquin, Jeff Fulchino and Dan Cortes will battle for bullpen jobs this spring.

Overall: The Nationals have improved the roster so far this winter, but they still have work to be done before spring training begins next month.

The Nationals have re-signed 28-year old righty reliever Jimmy Barthmaier to a minor league deal. Barthmaier pitched in 39 games (2 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 5-3 with 1 save, a 5.05 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Barthmaier’s only major league experience came back in 2008 with the Pirates. He pitched in 3 games (all starts) for the Pirates in 2008 and he was 0-2 with a 10.45 ERA and a 2.32 WHIP. He will be a longshot to pitch for the Nationals in 2012 as they will likely stash him in AAA.

The Nationals have signed 26-year old lefty swinging catcher James Skelton to a minor league deal.  He played in 54 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 30 for 136 (.221 avg, .706 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 2 homers, 17 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  Skelton has now played in 517 games in his first 8 years in the minors and he is 420 for 1,596 (.263 avg, .759 OPS) with 258 runs scored, 22 homers, 205 RBIs  and 60 stolen bases.  He will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Nationals.

Major League Baseball has suspended 26-year old righty reliever Zech Zinicola for 50 games for his second violation of the minor league drug prevention and treatment program. He tested positive for a drug of abuse. Zinicola pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-0 with 5 saves, a 2.01 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has now pitched in 228 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 18-15 with 49 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. This is a bad break for Zinicola, as he pitched really well last year. It’s hard to feel too sorry for him though as he did this to himself.