Wire Taps: Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez on catchers; batting order; a former GM thinks Bryce Harper is close to signing + more

Davey Martinez talked about how he’ll use the Washington Nationals’ catchers, Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes, he discussed plans to keep the lineup more consistent if the players are mostly healthy, he praised what he’s seen from Patrick Corbin early in Spring Training, and discussed who will hit at the top of the Nats’ lineup this season.

Catch up on the latest news from Saturday in West Palm Beach, FL... and do it right now! Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Catching Corps:

Opportunity convinces Davey Martinez to throw aside an old baseball trope - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Aiding this epiphany is two viable options at catcher: Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki. In a Pedro Severino-Spencer Kieboom offensive situation, the options are not quite as enticing."

Yan Gomes, Kurt Suzuki to split time for Nats - (MLB.com)
"While no one on the Nats will commit to any specific number of games, Gomes will likely serve as the primary starter, with Suzuki considered more of a 1B instead of a true backup catcher."

Both catchers support timeshare plan, including pinch-hitting - (MASN)
"Nationals manager Davey Martinez intends to split playing time among his two new catchers, and those two new catchers are perfectly fine with that plan."

Spring Training Stories:

Martinez plans for more consistent batting order this season - (MASN)
"The benefit of a consistent lineup? Martinez believes it has to do with the confidence one batter has stepping to the plate behind the same batter every single night."

Former Nationals GM thinks the Bryce Harper sweepstakes are almost over - (NBC Sports Washington)
"It’s not a completely new team this time around, but former baseball executive and current analyst Jim Bowden feels pretty confident in the Philadelphia Phillies landing the services of the star outfielder."

Patrick Corbin sticks to routine in his first Washington Nationals spring training - (WaPost)
"Here is the routine the Washington Nationals are banking on: Corbin takes the ball, Corbin mows through opposing lineups, Corbin gives them a chance to win every start because his six-year deal was twice as lucrative as the next-biggest deal this offseason."

Observations from Saturday's workout - (MASN)
"Scherzer told Suzuki he was facing a left-handed batter and had the catcher start putting down signs as they ran through a full at-bat."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Can Cleveland Indians’ Jefry Rodriguez control big right arm? Prospect report - (cleveland.com)
"[Jefry] Rodriguez, who is on the 40-man roster, is hard to miss. Not only is he 6-6, but he weighs close to 240 pounds and throws hard."

Mickey Callaway is not the only NL East manager who'll be under the microscope - (New York Daily News)
"Nationals’ insiders say Martinez’s biggest problem was Bryce Harper, who they say was not a leader and too often beat to his own drum."

Even in bullpen age, several teams still built on starters - (Orlando Sentinel)
"Like the Red Sox, the Nationals have paid handsomely for their pricey rotation."