Kieboom, García headed to Triple-A after latest Nationals cuts

Infielders Carter Kieboom and Luis García were optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday afternoon, as the Nationals made a series of roster moves that pretty much solidify their 26-man roster for Thursday's nationally televised home and season opener against the Mets.

Also optioned to Triple-A were left-hander Sam Clay, right-hander Kyle McGowin and outfielder Yadiel Hernández.

Utility men Jordy Mercer and Hernán Pérez, both of whom were in camp on minor league deals, had their contracts selected by the Nationals. Lefty T.J. McFarland and outfielder Yasmany Tomás were released from their minor league contracts, while infielder Jake Noll was designated for assignment, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster.

Ten players were reassigned to minor league camp: right-handers Aaron Barrett, Javy Guerra, Paolo Espino and Todd Peterson; catchers Welington Castillo, Brandon Snyder and Blake Swihart; infielder Adrián Sanchez; and outfielders Gerardo Parra and Carlos Tocci.

The Nationals still have some final roster machinations to complete. Right-handers Will Harris (right hand numbness) and Rogelio Armenteros (right arm soreness) and left-hander Seth Romero (undisclosed injury) will likely be placed on the injured list to start the campaign. Armenteros was limited to one spring inning, while Romero did not appear in a Grapefruit League game.

Those IL moves would get the Nationals down to the 26-man limit, but the club could still claim a player off waivers or sign a free agent cut by another team as other roster moves are completed in the coming days.

The most notable of the cuts is Kieboom, the former first-round draft selection who was given every opportunity to win the third base job only to struggle mightily at the plate, going 6-for-40 in Grapefruit League play and slashing just .150/.227/.250. García's demotion was not a surprise, given that the Nationals would prefer for him to play regularly in the minors rather than sporadically in the majors.

As recently as Tuesday, manager Davey Martinez was still emphasizing how confident the Nats were in Kieboom, 23, despite his shortcomings.

"Carter's going to get an opportunity to play third base," Martinez said. "We'll see how it looks. This is the last week. We've got to hone in on some things. No decisions have been made yet. But we want to make sure we take the 26 best guys that we can possibly take."

With Kieboom starting the season at Rochester, the Nats will likely turn to any of several utility men - Josh Harrison, Pérez and Mercer - or veteran Starlin Castro to man the hot corner, at least temporarily. They clearly believe the experienced players are a better option than the 20-year-old García, and all of those players have experience at both second and third bases, with Mercer possessing ample time at shortstop. Should Castro move to third, Harrison or Pérez could start at second.

Harrison slashed .419/.471/.677 with two homers and seven RBIs this spring, Pérez slashed .303/.314/.333 with six RBIs and Mercer slashed .200/.226/.300 without an RBI. Castro is nursing a sore left hamstring.

Today's cuts also indicate that both right-handers Erick Fedde and Austin Voth will stick as long men out of the bullpen. Both pitchers are out of options, meaning they would need to be exposed to waivers in order to be sent to the minors and could be claimed by another team.

If no more roster moves are made to add players from outside the organization, the Nationals would begin the season with 13 pitchers (including an eight-man bullpen) and 13 field players (including a five-man bench).

The Nationals will apparently keep Luis Avilán as a second lefty out of the 'pen after he worked to a 2.08 ERA in seven spring outings, including one start as an opener (although the Nats will need to clear a 40-man roster spot for him). Other relievers who seem primed to head north are left-handed closer Brad Hand and right-handers Kyle Finnegan, Daniel Hudson, Tanner Rainey and Wander Suero.

As expected, right-hander Joe Ross won the fifth starter's job, rounding out a rotation that also includes righties Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg and southpaws Patrick Corbin and Jon Lester.

Yan Gomes and Alex Avila will be the catchers, while the other infielders are first basemen Josh Bell and Ryan Zimmerman, and shortstop Trea Turner. The four outfielders are Kyle Schwarber, Victor Robles, Juan Soto and Andrew Stevenson.