Nationals in a Conundrum Over Speigner

With their injured starting pitchers slowly making progress but still weeks from returning to the majors, the Washington Nationals have a quandary. What should they do with Levale Speigner, the converted reliever who is under-performing to the point that he's crippling the pitching staff?

"It's still under consideration," Manager Manny Acta said yesterday, a day after Speigner allowed six first-inning runs in a loss to the San Diego Padres. Speigner, 26, is 0-2 with a 14.44 ERA in his four starts.

Because Speigner was taken in December's Rule 5 draft, the Nationals can't send him to the minors without first offering him back to his original team, Minnesota, and then putting him through waivers, meaning all 29 teams would have a shot at claiming him.

So the decision, Acta said, has little to do with Speigner's current numbers -- 1-2 with a 9.10 ERA, including a 3.77 ERA in 12 appearances out of the bullpen.

"What we'll look is the future, how we envision him and if we do have enough guys that could do that," Acta said, "or what do we get in the draft, how are the guys developing behind him, stuff like that."

Acta said he believed Speigner's long-term future is as a middle reliever. His next turn in the rotation is scheduled for Friday at Minnesota. Complicating the matter of finding a replacement are the struggles of the man the club presumed it would call up first: Right-hander Joel Hanrahan did not perform well in his start Saturday for Class AAA Columbus, allowing three homers and four walks over 3 2/3 innings.

Nats Tap Dominican Republic

The Nationals announced the signing of a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic yesterday, another step toward increasing their presence in Latin America. According to scouting director Dana Brown, Luis Castillo "has a chance to really hit." A switch hitter, he worked out at the Nationals' Dominican complex outside San Cristobal in front the club's top officials -- including Brown, vice president of player development Bob Boone and special assistant Chuck LaMar.

The club made a commitment to player procurement in Latin America last summer when it signed shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez for $1.4 million. Castillo, who will report to the team's rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate in Viera, Fla., received only a fraction of that bonus. Brown and vice president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo also have made scouting trips to Venezuela.