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Nationals Rumors: Nats' 2B search targets - Rougned Odor? Asdrubal Cabrera?

The first Winter Meetings rumor of the day comes from MASN's Pete Kerzel, who's hearing the Washington Nationals might be interested in the Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor. GM Mike Rizzo talked about the search on MLB Network Radio today.

By Patrick Reddington
Tom Pennington/Getty Images

The closest thing to a Washington Nationals-related rumor out of the first day of the 2014 Winter Meetings in San Diego, CA came from MASNSports.com's Pete Kerzel, who wrote early this morning that the Nationals "may have interest" in 20-year-old Texas Rangers' second baseman Rougned Odor.

Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2011, Odor made his MLB debut in 2014 after posting a combined .280/.336/.425 line over four seasons at A and Double-A ball in the Rangers' system.

"We've got a lot of different irons in the fire. There [are] a lot of different ways to upgrade that position." - Nats' Mike Rizzo on second base search

In 114 games and 417 plate appearances for Texas last season, Odor put up a .259/.297/.402 line with 14 doubles, seven triples and nine home runs on the year, which he finished at +0.5 fWAR.

Kerzel also mentions a long-standing interest in 21-year-old Rangers' infielder Jurickson Profar in the article, while noting that the SS/2B who missed the entire 2014 campaign with a shoulder injury, has some baggage that could "make the Nationals look elsewhere."

Nats' GM Mike Rizzo didn't talk about any particular infield targets out there other than Asdrubal Cabrera during an MLB Network Radio interview this afternoon, but he did discuss the Nationals' search for a second baseman.

"We've got a lot of different irons in the fire," Rizzo told "Inside Pitch" hosts Casey Stern and Jim Bowden.

"There [are] a lot of different ways to upgrade that position. We've got a terrific defender in Danny Espinosa, who has a lot of success hitting from the right side of the plate, so we've got that option out there. There [are] a lot of different ways to upgrade that position and be a better ballclub."

"He gave you a professional at bat every time up and really adjusted to second base better than I expected him to." -Rizzo on Asdrubal Cabrera's move to second base w/ Nats

The Nationals have reportedly talked to free agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera's representatives this winter after the 29-year-old spent the last two months of the 2014 campaign playing second base for the Nats.

Acquired from the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline, Cabrera returned to second base for the first time since 2009 and impressed Rizzo with his work at the plate and on the right side of the infield.

"Asdrubal played great for us," Rizzo said. "Offensively, defensively, he was wonderful in the clubhouse, and he gave you a professional at bat every time up and really adjusted to second base better than I expected him to. We knew he could play second base, had seen him in the past, but the way he took to that position so quickly in real high-pressure situations was amazing."

"He's a good fit for us if it was to work out," Rizzo continued when asked if he would want Cabrera back, "and he was a joy to have on the team and really improved us as a ballclub."

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