By Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 17, 2008

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 16 -- Felipe López does not have a starting position or a spot in the Washington Nationals' presumptive Opening Day lineup, as the team opened its second spring training camp under Manager Manny Acta on Saturday. But Acta tabbed López as perhaps his most important priority this spring, and said the 27-year-old infielder will be given "every chance" to win a starting job.

"Everybody knows the talent he has, and everybody has seen what he is capable of doing," Acta said of López, who plays both second base and shortstop. "If Felipe shows that he's back to his old self, I'll make the best decision for our ballclub."

The Nationals' middle infield will be one of the most interesting story lines of the spring, as three veterans -- shortstop Cristian Guzmán, second baseman Ronnie Belliard and López -- battle for two spots. The Nationals are treating Guzmán and Belliard as the presumptive starters as camp opens, but López, in Acta's words, "is probably the most talented of the three."

"This is the year we have to make a decision on López and Guzmán," Acta said, referring to the fact both players become free agents after this season. "Especially López, because he has a chance to be part of our future. So we are going to give Felipe every chance in spring training to win a [starting] job -- whether it's second or short."

López, an all-star with Cincinnati in 2005 at age 25, had a career-worst season for the Nationals in 2007, batting just .245 with nine homers and 50 RBI. The team prevailed over him in a salary arbitration case this week, and will pay him $4.9 million this season, instead of the $5.2 million he sought.

Acta said he hasn't spoken with López all offseason, but plans to meet with him soon after he reports Wednesday.

Acta said his tentative starting lineup has Guzmán batting leadoff and newly acquired center fielder Lastings Milledge batting second, although that is subject to change, particularly if López, the Nationals' primary leadoff hitter last season, wins a starting job.

Although Guzmán was limited by injury to only 174 at-bats last season, his .380 on-base percentage was the best of his career.

"I'm not expecting Guzmán to have a .380 on-base -- that, to me, would be unrealistic, even when I prefer to be optimistic," Acta said. " . . . But if he does come down from .380 to .340, or .330 even, he's going to be [improving] our club, considering the guys who were [batting leadoff] last year had a very low on-base percentage."