Confident That He's Healthy Again, Hill Eyes Spot in Rotation

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 14 -- Right now, pitcher Shawn Hill feels confident -- cautiously confident -- that his arm will allow for a solid season.

A year ago, he threw a bullpen session four days before spring training. Hill couldn't even play catch the next day, so he knew something was wrong. This year, he's healthy.

On Saturday, Hill talked about a couple of topics.

· First, he acknowledged the difference between feeling healthy and actually demonstrating as much.

· Second, he said that if he's healthy, he figures he can be in the rotation.

· Third, if he's not in the rotation, he won't complain.

"I choose my words carefully here, so you guys don't bury me," Hill said, cracking a smile. "Um . . . healthy, I think that -- as long as I go out and I'm healthy, as long as I'm throwing the way I can, I should be able to earn my spot [in the rotation], no problem. There are question marks hanging over my head, which is fair; I'm fully aware of that. But like I said, if I'm healthy, I've proven in the past -- over short spurts -- what I'm capable of."

You know, a reporter said, plenty of people doubt that you can stay off the disabled list.

"Yeah, everybody. You guys. Teammates, probably. You know, being realistic about it, Zim [Ryan Zimmerman], we get along great, but he is probably wondering: 'How is Shawn's arm? How is he going to hold up?' Just being realistic.

Manager Manny Acta "is thinking the same thing. Saint [pitching coach Randy St. Claire], same. They're trying to be positive about it. But there's that dark cloud hanging over my head until I get rid of it. And the only way to do that is go out, be healthy and throw."

Last topic. Would Hill ask for a trade, or even raise an objection, if he didn't make the rotation out of spring training?

"No," Hill said. "I'm not -- if I had five 200-inning seasons and 15 wins per year under my belt, maybe I'd have a beef. I'm not in a position to be calling shots. I could definitely behind closed doors express my preference to become a starter, but to try to dictate what my role is, all I can do is go out and pitch and show that I'm healthy.

"And like I said, I think that will take care of itself. If it doesn't, there's a reason for it. Five other guys stepped up and are throwing better than me. In which case I take whatever role. But I wouldn't be doing that, that's not me. I'd kick myself in the teeth if I started doing stuff like that."

23 Agree to Terms

The Nationals agreed to terms with 23 players Saturday, meaning 62 of the 69 players invited to big league camp now have contracts. Those who still need to work out their contractual terms include the two remaining arbitration cases -- Josh Willingham and Zimmerman -- as well as Jason Bergmann, Mike O'Connor, Alberto González, Anderson Hernández and Lastings Milledge.

The full list of those who agreed to terms: outfielders Roger Bernadina, Leonard Davis, Elijah Dukes and Justin Maxwell; infielders Kory Casto and Ian Desmond; catchers Jesús Flores, Luke Montz and Wil Nieves; left-handed pitchers Matt Chico, Ross Detwiler, Mike Hinckley and John Lannan; and right-handed pitchers Luis Atilano, Collin Balester, Tyler Clippard, Marco Estrada, Joel Hanrahan, Shairon Martis, Garrett Mock, Saúl Rivera, Steven Shell and Terrell Young.