LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Nationals addressed a bullpen need this week when they signed right-hander Joe Blanton, 36, to a one-year contract. Manager Dusty Baker welcomed the addition of Blanton to a bullpen likely to include Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, Sammy Solis and Blake Treinen.
But Baker said Wednesday that Blanton's specific role with Washington remains undetermined, given his recent experience as a late-inning reliever, long reliever and swingman.
In a late-inning role for much of last season, Blanton appeared for the Dodgers 75 times. He struck out one batter per inning en route to a 1.01 WHIP and career lows in ERA (2.48) and opponents' batting average (.194) in 80 innings.
"He didn't start out as a late-inning guy," Baker said. "We have three or four late-inning possibilities. I really don't know until I see him and how he meshes with our group of guys."
Pitchers in action Wednesday
After starter Joe Ross threw two scoreless innings in Wednesday's 9-1 win over Detroit, a group of right-handed non-roster invitees kept the Tigers from scoring through the seventh inning.
Taylor Hill and Jacob Turner each pitched two innings without allowing a run, after which Wander Suero tossed a scoreless frame of his own.
Left-hander Braulio Lara allowed one run on a single and a double in the eighth inning, and then right-hander Derek Eitel tossed a perfect ninth to preserve the victory.