Nathan unsure of future with Nats: "I wish I could tell you"

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - With a little less than two weeks before the reported March 24 opt-out date in his minor league contract, veteran reliever Joe Nathan isn't quite sure where he stands with the Nationals.

And that's all right with the 42-year-old right-hander, whose 377 career saves are the second-most among active major leaguers.

"I wish I could tell you," Nathan said. "That's probably one of the more difficult things, really not having a clue what route these guys want to go. ... I think I have about a little under two weeks until we'll know one way or the other. For me, it's not anything I can worry about. Just go out and pitch."

In five innings over five appearances this spring, Nathan has allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. His 5.40 ERA may not look particularly impressive, but manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux seem to think he's got miles left on his right arm, even after undergoing Tommy John surgery early in 2015.

"I think we get caught up, especially in spring, with the numbers. ... For me, I have been here a while, and fortunately I've got a skipper and a pitching coach who have been through this," Nathan said. "It's more about your pitches and how things are coming out. Me and Mad Dog (Maddux) had a good conversation (after) the other outing and we both felt like that stuff-wise was starting to crisp up and get sharper, and arm strength's starting to come around. We feel like things are progressing like he's seen it before."

It's a subtle thing, but Nathan has been pitching fairly early in games - taking the fourth inning, for instance - which allows him to gauge his arsenal against actual major league hitters rather than minor leaguers who might be overmatched or swinging wildly to make an impression.

"For me, everything's on track - even a little ahead for spring training," Nathan said. "I've always been a guy that's a tick down in spring before the season starts, even when I threw harder. For me, to be throwing 90 (mph) and last outing I think I touched 94 (mph), that's definitely harder than I'm accustomed to at this time. At the same time, I'm comfortable and it's not like I'm overextending myself. ... I feel good and I'm bouncing back great."

So far, Nathan has Baker in his corner. But the manager is taking a realistic approach to Nathan's situation.

"We're going to have to take a longer look him, probably until the end to decide," Baker said. "Is he going to get better? Is he going to remain the same? Are there guys equal (to) or better than him that's going to contribute more to the team? You don't know, so you just got to play it out."

And the decision isn't singularly based upon Nathan's performance.

"Those are the hardest decisions to make," Baker said. "I don't look forward to that at all, the final decisions and cuts. Even though they're not all my decisions, but I'm the one that's got to tell them. Some of the decisions are time and tenure, some of the decisions are contractual decisions, some of them are do-you-got-any-options-left decisions. There are a lot that goes into the final decisions. Those are tough decisions."

The question remains whether there's a spot for Nathan in the Nationals bullpen. Figuring a four-man bench, there would be room for seven relievers. For now, Nathan would be a longshot to work his way into the closer conversation, and that role seems like it will come down to a choice between two right-handers, Blake Treinen or Shawn Kelley. Righties Koda Glover and Joe Blanton seem to be locks, as do left-handers Sammy Solis and Oliver Pérez. That leaves one spot up for grabs between Nathan, veteran swingman Vance Worley and hard-throwing lefty Enny Romero, who is out of options.

"We got a lot of arms in camp that are trying to do the same thing," Nathan said. "Besides what you have in this room, there's the guys of the future (in minor league camp). There's guys everywhere. But we can't pay attention to that. We know that, eventually, there's going to be guys that may come up and we were in that boat at one point - and they're going to come up and take our place. It doesn't matter who you are. It happens."

That's baseball's circle of life. Everyone has a shelf life and some expiration dates are looming sooner than others.

Nathan, a guy who's pitched in the postseason and All-Star Games, a pitcher whose resume is longer than just about anyone in camp, just wants a chance to show he still belongs.

"It's doing what I can do, knowing what I can do, and knowing what my strengths and weaknesses are," he said. "Just trying to stay in my lane and do what I can to help this club. Maybe come in and help a young guy try to get better, but at the same time, pushing myself to get better."

He's been coming to big league spring camps since the late 1990s, and the game has changed. Now, weight rooms are the size of some of his first clubhouses, and the amenities afforded players - nutritionists and massage therapists - used to be reserved for only the highest-paid players who could demand - and receive - such contractual perks.

"People always say, 'What are you still chasing?' For me, it's about chasing a world championship," Nathan said. "But at the same time, I'm enjoying it. If I wasn't enjoying it, I wouldn't be here."