Cabrera addition could help depleted bench (Nats up 3-0)

SAN FRANCISCO - Though they aren't publicly confirming it yet, the Nationals are making plans to add Asdrúbal Cabrera to their roster Tuesday in what they hope will be a nice boost to a suddenly depleted bench.

Cabrera, who was released by the Rangers over the weekend, agreed today to a contract with the Nationals for a prorated portion of the league minimum salary (less than $200,000), according to a source familiar with the deal. The 33-year-old infielder hit .235 with 12 homers, 51 RBIs and a .711 OPS in 93 games for Texas, and though the Nats won't be asking him to play every day they'll certainly welcome his bat and versatility off the bench.

"Nothing's official," manager Davey Martinez said when asked about Cabrera before tonight's series opener against the Giants. "So until he's here, my concern is the 25 guys we've got for today. When he arrives, then we can talk about that."

The Nationals found themselves in need of someone like Cabrera after watching Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fasciitis) and Howie Kendrick (hamstring strain) land on the injured list in the last two weeks. Those ailments have forced Matt Adams and Gerardo Parra into more regular roles at first base and also have left Martinez with fewer experienced options off his bench.

During Sunday's loss at Arizona, the Nats' four-man bench featured Andrew Stevenson, Adrián Sanchez, Victor Robles (who got a rare day off) and catcher Kurt Suzuki.

The domino effect of the Zimmerman and Kendrick injuries is significant.

"It's tough," Martinez said. "Even pinch-hitting fairly early, when you don't have those guys, it's tough. And I know Stevenson has done a good job. Sanchez has actually swung the bat a lot better off the bench. So we still have the guys. But when we have those other guys that are playing consistently - Parra and Matt Adams playing first base now almost every day - you don't have those guys that you can say: 'OK, here we go,' on the bench."

There are encouraging signs for both injured veterans. Kendrick, who will be eligible to come off the IL on Sunday, was jogging on the field at Oracle Park this afternoon, so he has not been shut down completely. Zimmerman ran the bases and took grounders for the second time in recent days, further evidence this IL stint may not be as long as his previous one.

Max Scherzer, meanwhile, played catch again on flat ground, making 40 throws from 70 feet, according to Martinez. The ace right-hander, who has made only one start in the last month due to an upper back strain, has not yet attempted to throw off a mound.

Update: The good news: The Nationals are making Jeff Samardzija work a ton tonight. He needed 82 pitches just to get through three innings. The bad news: They've only scored one run, via Anthony Rendon's two-out single in the third. They were poised for more in the bottom of the second, only to watch Giants center fielder Kevin Pillar make a spectacular catch of Suzuki's frozen rope to the gap. That looked like at least a one-run double and maybe even a two-run triple. Alas, it was only a very loud out. Erick Fedde has done his part, though, to keep the Giants lineup down. The right-hander is through three scoreless innings on 38 pitches, a welcome development.

Update II: The Nationals now lead 3-0 in the fifth. To be honest, it feels like they should be leading at least 7-0. The Giants have thrown a whopping 137 pitches and issued six walks. But the Nats have only scored one run via a legit base hit. They scored two in the fifth via a bases-loaded balk by Sam Coonrod and then an Adams routine fly ball to center that Pillar lost in the twilight. It officially counts as an RBI double for Adams, but he'd be the first to tell you he didn't really earn it.