--OF Josh Willingham could be an option at first base if Nick Johnson isn't ready for spring training, but in his introductory press conference, Willingham said he plans to be in left field, and general manager Jim Bowden agreed. "We acquired him as a corner outfielder, not as a first baseman," Bowden said.
--LHP Scott Olsen said the dip in his velocity at the beginning of last year might have been because of a change in his spring training conditioning program. At any rate, he isn't worried about it long-term and pointed to the rebound in his fastball (it was back up to 92-93 mph) in September as a sign that he's ready to go for 2009. "Over the course of the year, my arm strength was there and the velocity came back," he said. "Presuming I stay healthy, I don't think that will be an issue."
--2B Emilio Bonifacio hadn't fallen out of favor in the 3 1/2 months he was a member of the Nationals organization, assistant general manager Mike Rizzo said. Bonifacio had struggled at the plate, particularly from the right side, but Rizzo -- who signed Bonifacio when he was with the Diamondbacks -- said the team wasn't ready to give up on him when it traded him to the Marlins.
"We thought he was coming along and he is an exciting player," Rizzo said. "But you have to give to get, and to get a 24-year-old left-handed starting pitcher and an established power corner player, you have to give up some things to get them."
--LHP Josh Smoker underwent surgery Nov. 11 to remove a bone spur from his throwing shoulder. The Nationals believe Smoker -- who struggled in his first full professional season and was demoted to the team's rookie league affiliate in Viera, Fla. -- will be ready in time for spring training.
--3B Leonard Davis, the Nationals' organizational player of the year in 2008, was added to the team's 40-man roster. The Nationals selected his contract, along with that of RHP Luis Atilano and SS Ian Desmond. Davis, 24, played at three levels in the farm system this year, hitting a combined .308 with 25 homers, 76 RBIs and 10 steals. Atilano, 23, also played at three levels, going 5-3 with one save and a 2.51 ERA in 24 games (15 starts). Desmond, 23, spent most of the season with Class AA Harrisburg, hitting .318 with 12 homers, 44 RBIs and 12 steals in 93 games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Home runs OF Josh Willingham hit in 351 at-bats last season for the Marlins. The total would have led the Nationals.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I knew that something had to change. It started off slow, and you just try to keep yourself out of situations where there might be a problem. That's the biggest thing with all this maturing that everybody claims I have done." -- Nationals LHP Scott Olsen, on what he did to avoid trouble in 2008 after two tumultuous season with the Florida Marlins.
