The Nationals have released lefty reliever Eddie Guardado and Shawn Estes. With all of the pitchers the Nationals have in spring training non-roster guys like Guardado and Estes don’t have a chance to make a 2nd impression. Both of them looked like glorified batting practice pitchers so far this spring so the Nationals will be better off without either of them in 2010.

The Washington Nationals have re-signed 35-year old righty starting pitcher Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal. Hernandez pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Nationals & Mets last season and he was 9-12 with a 5.44 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He has pitched his best baseball for the Expos/Nationals in his career. He has pitched in 135 games (all starts) for the Nationals/Expos and he is 52-47 with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 413 games (412 starts) in his major league career and he is 156-151 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Nationals didn’t promise Hernandez anything so he will have to win a job this spring.

The Nationals have re-signed 40-year old lefty reliever Ron Villone to a minor league deal. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 5-6 with 1 save, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Villone has now pitched in 717 games (93 starts) in his major league career and he is 61-65 with 8 saves, a 4.73 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This was a good move for the Nationals as it never hurts to bring in a lefty with Villone’s experience to battle for a job in the pen.

The Nationals have signed 29-year old righty starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a 1-year deal. Wang will likely miss the first month or two of the 2010 season as he continues to rehab from a shoulder injury. Wang pitched in 12 games (9 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. He has now pitched in 109 games (104 starts) in his major league career and he is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I love this move for the Nationals as Wang is a darn good starting pitcher when he is healthy.

The Nationals have signed 28-year old righty swinging Willy Taveras to a minor league deal. The Nationals are only on the hook for $400,000 bucks if Taveras makes the team and the A’s are responsible for the other $3.6 million bucks that he will make in 2010. Taveras played in 102 games for the Reds last season and he was 97 for 404 (.240 avg, .559 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 1 homer, 15 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Taveras has now played in 643 games in his major league career and he is 655 for 2,377 (.276 avg, .649 OPS) with 351 runs scored, 8 homers, 124 RBIs and 194 stolen bases. Taveras led the majors in steals in 2008 with the Rockies (68). The Nationals likely will value Taveras’ speed and defense off the bench. I love this signing for them as they continue to improve the roster.