Astacio Is Expected to Be Ready

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 28 -- Assuming newly signed right-handed pitcher Pedro Astacio passes his physical on Wednesday, the Washington Nationals believe he will not need long to get ready to pitch in a game, despite missing the first two weeks of camp.

While his agent negotiated with a handful of teams this month, Astacio kept to a workout and throwing program in his native Dominican Republic. One team, the San Diego Padres, reportedly even sent scouts to watch him throw.

"He's been throwing," Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden said. "He's a veteran guy and he knew it would be a good move to have himself in top condition when he did sign with someone."

The Nationals expect Astacio to undergo his physical -- including an MRI exam -- on Wednesday and be in uniform by Thursday or Friday, depending on when the results are available.

"It's good to have an individual who has had success and who knows how to pitch, how to get people out," Manager Frank Robinson said, referring to Astacio. "It's good to have someone like that."

Robinson said the signing of Astacio, though still unofficial until he passes his physical, essentially puts the team back to where it was before losing right-hander Brian Lawrence, who is out for the season following shoulder surgery on Sunday.

The Nationals have plenty of innings to fill in the upcoming weeks, particularly with Tony Armas Jr. -- one of the top candidates for the three remaining starting rotation jobs -- away playing in the World Baseball Classic. The Nationals have four split-squad days in the first two weeks of their exhibition schedule, the first of which comes on Saturday.

Guillen Will Return Slowly

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Robinson said the team is being cautious with the return of right fielder Jose Guillen -- who is coming off shoulder surgery -- keeping him on a conservative track that targets a full return to the lineup by Opening Day, but that in the meantime might keep him sidelined until mid-March.

"We'll stick to that schedule no matter how he feels early," Robinson said. "He's [already] hitting off a tee and soft-toss. He's throwing some out in the outfield. I didn't think he'd be doing anything."

Robinson speculated that Guillen might be ready to play in an exhibition game by mid-March, which would give him enough time to get ready for Opening Day. . . .

The team announced that Donald "Spin" Williams had been hired as a pitching adviser for its player development and scouting department. Williams, 49, spent the last five seasons as the Pirates' pitching coach.