LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland remains confident the club has an internal candidate that can fill the club’s fifth-starter vacancy.

But that hasn’t prevented the team from reportedly looking outside the organization — particularly at Washington Nationals left-hander John Lannan, according to multiple reports.

Lannan, a 10-game winner last season, is a back-of-the-rotation starter that isn’t expected to make the rotation out of camp after Washington added depth to its rotation this offseason.

A five-year veteran, Lannan went 10-13 last year with a 3.70 ERA in 33 starts. He is due to make $5 million this season.

Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila confirmed in late February that the team would scout pitchers at other spring training facilities throughout spring, but a source told CBSSports.com that the club has yet to discuss a trade for Lannan.

The Tigers currently have six internal candidates competing for the final spot in the rotation. Leyland confirmed early Wednesday that right-hander Jacob Turner would be shut down for the next week, but said that the 20-year-old remains in running.

Left-handers Andy Oliver, Drew Smyly, Casey Crosby, Adam Wilk and Duane Below are also being considered.

Despite Washington’s overabundance of starting pitching, general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post early Wednesday that the club is not actively shopping Lannan and hasn’t received “a lot of interest” in the 27-year-old.

“I haven’t made any calls. I’ve fielded several calls,” Rizzo told The Post. “But, again, this is way too early to say we have too much starting pitching.”

Washington acquired former Tigers target Gio Gonzalez and ex-Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson this offseason. They are expected to join Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Chien-Ming Wang in the five-man rotation.

“It’s getting now where I don’t even think about it,” LaRoche said. “Which is great.”

Last year, his shoulder was all he could think about. LaRoche has recovered from the torn labrum that reduced him to a husk of himself for 43 games last season and sidelined him for the rest of the year. He does not expect the full strength of his throwing arm to return for two years. But he is confident it will no longer ruin him at the plate, that he can redeem his first season in Washington.

“I haven’t felt it swinging,” LaRoche said. “Not only have I not felt it, it’s felt stronger, way stronger, than it did in spring training or during the year last year. That feels great. Throwing will be, I feel it a little bit. But if I make a throw, it’s not going to set me back at the plate.”

If not for the ankle he sprained last week, LaRoche would have already made his spring training debut. Instead, after hoping to play Wednesday, the Nationals are holding him out until Saturday’s split-squad game against the New York Mets.

“We’re just going to stay cautious with him,” Manager Davey Johnson said.

LaRoche settled for the chance to hit off minor league pitchers, his first at-bats in a game setting since last May. LaRoche hit four groundouts and walked twice against hard-throwing minor league pitchers Paul Demny, Rob Gilliam and Kylin Turnbull.

“That was the thing I wanted to see, is live pitching,” LaRoche said.

Last year, LaRoche developed a small tear in his labrum during spring training. After receiving tests, he decided to play through the injury. “It only hurt to throw,” LaRoche said. “So I’m like, okay, it’s not affecting my swing. Work through it, rehab it. Oh well if it hurts to play.”

Even if LaRoche felt no pain when he swung, he realizes now the tear kept growing and it weakened his stroke. The lack of strength cultivated bad habits. LaRoche started guessing at pitches because he had to start his swing earlier than usual.

LaRoche still wanted to play through the injury, insisting to the Nationals he didn’t feel any pain while hitting. But in the first year of his two-year, $16 million deal, his performance stagnated. He hit .172 with a .288 on-base percentage and a .258 slugging percentage.

In early May, LaRoche finally admitted to himself that he could no longer keep going. Everything felt perfect, but he could not physically swing the bat like he wanted.

This winter, LaRoche began hitting in January and had to relearn his swing without the bad habits. Working with his father Dave, a former major league reliever, LaRoche felt himself trying to start his swing early, like his ailing shoulder had forced him to. Before he reported to spring training, he had corrected the flaw.

LaRoche now needs to perform exercises with small weights, rubber bands and other resistance every day as maintenance on his shoulder.

Had LaRoche had surgery earlier, he may have had a quicker recovery and would have had more time to prepare for this year. He would not have had to slog through the most miserable stretch of his career. But he wanted to play, and he would not change how he or the Nationals approached the injury.

“All the team can go off of is what I was telling them,” LaRoche said. “They don’t know how I’m feeling. So looking back, no, I’m glad I tried. If it would have been hurting to swing the bat, then I think it’s pretty selfish to go out there. Because it didn’t hurt to swing, I felt like it was worth a shot.

“I don’t have any regrets. It’s disappointing that they brought me here to do a job, and I couldn’t do it. That was the frustrating part. I know I needed to be on the field, and it didn’t happen.”

Nationals notes: In his first start, Jordan Zimmermann allowed no runs in three innings during a 3-3 tie against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed three singles and one walk while hitting a batter and striking out three, all swinging at sliders. .?.?. The teams agreed to end the game in a tie because the Nationals ran out of pitchers.

Read more: State, Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals, St Louis Cardinals, St Louis Cards, Preseason Baseball, Cards and Nationals Tie, Cards and Nationals Preseason Baseball, Daniel Descalso, Cards Spring Training, Pro, MLB
VIERA, FLA. (AP) — Jordan Zimmermann struck out three in three scoreless innings Wednesday as the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals played to a 3-all tie.
     
Cardinals reliever Lance Lynn gave up a tying, two-run homer to Carlos Maldonado in the ninth. The game was called after nine innings.
     
Zimmermann allowed three hits and walked one in his exhibition debut.
     
St. Louis prospect Shelby Miller made the first spring training start of his career. He gave up a leadoff double to Ian Desmond and an RBI single to Jason Michaels, then retired the side in order in the second inning.
     
Daniel Descalso homered for St. Louis.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Gio Gonzalez said he wanted to “jump out of the chute” in his spring debut for the Washington Nationals.

And he wasn’t kidding.

Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, allowed only one hit and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.

Gonzalez said he was fired up for his first game as a National after being traded by the Oakland Athletics after last season.

“I wanted to get started right off the bat,” he said. “I was throwing hard and may have been a little overanxious, but I had a lot of fun out there.”

Gonzalez’s pitches were registering in the high-90s, a lot more than most pitchers want for their first spring outing. Gonzalez said the numbers might have been exaggerated, but he wasn’t sure.

“I had my adrenaline pumping,” Gonzalez said. “If that is what the radar gun says, then my arm is lying to me. Maybe the radar guns were more juiced than I was, but I’m not sure.”

Kris Medlen started for the Braves and went two innings. He gave up three hits, including the Werth homer, and gave up three hits.

Medlen is a candidate for one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation. He is coming off a surgically repaired elbow. Medlen pitched only 2 1/3 innings last season after starting 14 games in 2010.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman also made his spring debut. He was 0-for-2, but made seven putouts. He injured his right kneecap during fielding drills on Feb. 28.

But the day really belonged to Gonzalez.

He was 16-12 last season with the Athletics and was acquired for three pitching prospects. He struggled with his control last season, but walked only one in his two innings against the Braves.

“I thought he looked great,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “He didn’t look rusty at all. I had a pitch count on him and he reached it in the second inning, but he looked strong so I let him go.”

Gonzalez was the subject of trade rumors after last season, but said Washington is a perfect fit for him and he’s looking forward to being in Washington for a long time.

“Washington is where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. “I still feel like I am fighting for a job in this rotation.”

Since John Lannan led the Nationals with 10 wins as a starter last season, Gonzalez probably doesn’t have to worry about having a spot in the rotation.

Gonzalez, 26, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, traded to Philadelphia, and then swapped back to the White Sox before being dealt to Oakland. He feels like he has found a permanent home in Washington.

“I liked the trade,” Gonzalez said. For the first time in my life, I was the main man in the trade.”

Jayson Werth, coming off a disappointing 2011 season, homered to right to put the Nationals ahead, and went 1-for-2. Chad Tracy doubled in two runs in the third to put Washington ahead, 3-0.

Brett Carroll had two hits for the Nationals.

Notes: Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro arrived in camp and will work as an adviser until March 10.Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones missed his third straight game with an injured left heel. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was nothing to worry about. .. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann will start on Tuesday against St. Louis in Viera. Shelby Miller will start for the Cardinals. … Washington 1B Adam LaRoche was expected to play, but is slowly working his way back following surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage in his left shoulder. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against St. Louis as well.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Gio Gonzalez said he wanted to ”jump out of the chute” in his spring debut for the Washington Nationals.

And he wasn’t kidding.

Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, allowed only one hit and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.

Gonzalez said he was fired up for his first game as a National after being traded by the Oakland Athletics after last season.

”I wanted to get started right off the bat,” he said. ”I was throwing hard and may have been a little overanxious, but I had a lot of fun out there.”

Gonzalez’s pitches were registering in the high-90s, a lot more than most pitchers want for their first spring outing. Gonzalez said the numbers might have been exaggerated, but he wasn’t sure.

”I had my adrenaline pumping,” Gonzalez said. ”If that is what the radar gun says, then my arm is lying to me. Maybe the radar guns were more juiced than I was, but I’m not sure.”

Kris Medlen started for the Braves and went two innings. He gave up three hits, including the Werth homer, and gave up three hits.

Medlen is a candidate for one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation. He is coming off a surgically repaired elbow. Medlen pitched only 2 1/3 innings last season after starting 14 games in 2010.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman also made his spring debut. He was 0-for-2, but made seven putouts. He injured his right kneecap during fielding drills on Feb. 28.

But the day really belonged to Gonzalez.

He was 16-12 last season with the Athletics and was acquired for three pitching prospects. He struggled with his control last season, but walked only one in his two innings against the Braves.

”I thought he looked great,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. ”He didn’t look rusty at all. I had a pitch count on him and he reached it in the second inning, but he looked strong so I let him go.”

Gonzalez was the subject of trade rumors after last season, but said Washington is a perfect fit for him and he’s looking forward to being in Washington for a long time.

”Washington is where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. ”I still feel like I am fighting for a job in this rotation.”

Since John Lannan led the Nationals with 10 wins as a starter last season, Gonzalez probably doesn’t have to worry about having a spot in the rotation.

Gonzalez, 26, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, traded to Philadelphia, and then swapped back to the White Sox before being dealt to Oakland. He feels like he has found a permanent home in Washington.

”I liked the trade,” Gonzalez said. For the first time in my life, I was the main man in the trade.”

Jayson Werth, coming off a disappointing 2011 season, homered to right to put the Nationals ahead, and went 1-for-2. Chad Tracy doubled in two runs in the third to put Washington ahead, 3-0.

Brett Carroll had two hits for the Nationals.

Notes: Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro arrived in camp and will work as an adviser until March 10.Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones missed his third straight game with an injured left heel. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was nothing to worry about. .. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann will start on Tuesday against St. Louis in Viera. Shelby Miller will start for the Cardinals. … Washington 1B Adam LaRoche was expected to play, but is slowly working his way back following surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage in his left shoulder. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against St. Louis as well.

Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis requires surgery on his left elbow and will miss the entire 2012 season. The Nationals top pitching prospect felt pain during a throwing session last Friday and requires a ligament-replacement surgery. The procedure will be done by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who did the same procedure on Washington pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman. Solis complained of elbow soreness after his final start in the Arizona Fall League this past past November. The 23-year-old finished 2011 with an 8-3 record and a 3.26 ERA with Class A teams in Hagerstown and Potomac.

(Jonathan Newton – THE WASHINGTON POST)
Steve McCatty will start his annual journey to spring training tomorrow, the 18-hour haul in his Ford F-150 he makes with his wife in the passenger seat and, for as long as she allows it, the MLB channel on satellite radio. The drive from Michigan to Viera, Fla., takes two days. McCatty figures they can make it to Knoxville or Chattanooga on Friday, but his wife will decide how far they get. “I know I don’t run this ship,” McCatty said, laughing. “I’m way smarter than that.”

McCatty’s decisions will start to get harder once he arrives. The Nationals’ pitching coach will start sorting out the Nationals’ crowded starting rotation, which has as many as eight candidates to fill five spots. From the time pitchers and catchers officially report Sunday, the Nationals’ staff will have a transformed feel compared to years past.

“Sure, it’s different,” McCatty said in a phone conversation. “We used to be looking for a fourth or a fifth starter around this time. Now we have quality guys to fill those slots, and then some. It’s absolutely different. The attitude of everyone I’ve talked to, everyone is excited to get started. Everybody knows how good this team has a chance to be. That’s coming from other guys who are on other teams that look at us. It’s really a pretty cool thing.”

Each year I’ve covered Nationals spring training, no one is more excited than McCatty to start baseball back up again (except maybe Boz). On the eve of his trip south, McCatty shared some thoughts on a number of key issues pertaining to the Nationals’ rotation.

>>> McCatty has been in contact with all of his pitchers, many of whom have already begun firing bullpen sessions, including Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, the two rotation cornerstones who endured Tommy John surgeries about one year apart. Strasburg will be on a limit of roughly 160 innings this year, the same restriction Zimmermann had last season. During the spring, though, they’ll have the same regimen as any other starter.

Over the phone this morning, McCatty was talking about his No. 1 priority for the spring, saying he wanted everyone to finish healthy. And then he paused.

(Jonathan Newton)
“And I don’t just mean Strasburg and Zimmermann,” McCatty said. “Everyone asks me about those two. I have no qualms about those guys. They’re going to be fine.”

Having spoken with coaches in Viera monitoring the work of pitchers who showed up early, McCatty reported that Zimmermann is throwing the ball “exceptionally well.”

McCatty chatted with Strasburg, who was throwing at home in San Diego, after a recent bullpen session. “He said, ‘I’m feel great, and I’m thinking about joining the PGA Tour,’ ” McCatty said. (Strasburg has been playing a lot of golf this offseason.)

>>> Chien-Ming Wang, who returned from major shoulder surgery last July, will be ready to start spring training at full speed.

>>>
Edwin Jackson signed just two weeks ago, but the Nationals have already devised a couple theories on how he could take a step forward. Upon his signing, General Manager Mike Rizzo talked about how he could change his motion to hide the ball from batters in his wind-up.

McCatty offered another today. After watching video, McCatty believes Jackson may have tipped his pitches out of the wind-up without ever realizing it.

(David J. Phillip – AP)
“These guys are so good, they look at every single thing,” McCatty said. “Hitting coaches are looking at every guy on video. You pick up on stuff. It’s simple as not laying your hands down on a slider or fastball or changeup. Once these guys see it, it makes a big difference.”

Over the past three seasons, the league has hit .283/.344/.438 with no runners on base against Jackson, when he is pitching with a wind-up. The league has hit .246/.308/.385 with men on, when he’s pitching from the stretch. If the Nationals really can make him more effective from the wind-up, the $11 million they spent to acquire Jackson could look like a bargain.

>>> With the Nationals taking at least six starters to camp, John Lannan suddenly became a likely odd man out after four years of solid performance. McCatty last spoke with Lannan just before the Nationals signed Jackson, a move that muddled Lannan’s immediate future. McCatty said he’d speak with Lannan again if the lefty wants to address his situation, but McCatty isn’t concerned about how Lannan will approach this spring.

“I love John,” McCatty said. “I’ve got tremendous respect for him as a person and as a pitcher. Him being the professional that he is, he’s going to give you 100 percent on everything. There’s been no decision. Whether he’s competing for a spot, I’m not going to say that, because he’s done a tremendous job for us.

“I’m sure he’s aware of the situation. He’s going to go out there and be a professional about it. He’s going to handle it the way he’s always handled things. He goes out and competes that day. He’ll let the chips fall.”

>>> The Nationals have yet to determine whether Ross Detwiler and Tom Gorzelanny will work as starters or relievers to start the spring. It seems more likely Detwiler will at least receive a starter or two, but Gorzelanny will probably serve exclusively as a reliever.