• Late news: Saturday night the Nats announced that they had accepted the resignation of Andy Dunn, director of player development. No reason for Dunn's resignation was given.
• The grab bag of pitchers that the Nats invited to spring training includes a mix of young prospects and old retreads. The Post profiles two examples of those extremes, Matt Chico and Jason Simontacchi. Both are fighting for spots in the rotation, but with a key difference: if Chico doesn't make it he'll go to Triple-A and prepare for another shot next year. For Simontacchi, "I'm not here to settle for Triple-A."
• If you want more information on these pitchers, you're in luck. MLB.com profiles Chico, including his trade to the Nats just days after the Diamondbacks said he wouldn't. The Free Lance-Star reviews the long, twisting career of Simontacchi, identifying as a turning point 2000, when he got an offer to pitch in Italy just as his professional career appeared to be coming to an end.
• One pitcher you won't see in the rotation is Jon Rauch, who believes that he would risk injury from the wear and tear of starting. "They throw me into a starting role and I am not healthy the whole year, it doesn't do any good for the team."
• Ray King, meanwhile, hopes to reestablish himself as a workhorse in the bullpen after a disappointing season last year in Colorado. "I'm 33, but I'm still a lefty," he said. King hopes to be one of the two left-handed relievers Acta plans to put into the bullpen.
• Chris Schroder continues to get special tutoring from Jose Rijo on his slider and changeup. Schroder spent two weeks in the DR in the offseason working on those pitches with Rijo.
• What impresses Manny Acta the most about Ryan Zimmerman? It may be his maturity. "I'm shocked at how mature [for] his age he is," Acta tells the Times. "He's a pro, on and off the field. He's a unique guy." So mature, it seems, that partying at the Super Bowl with Scarlett Johansson doesn't go to his head.
• Nook Logan tells the Times in a Q&A that "it feels good in a way" that he is entering spring training as the starting center fielder, but he won't let it go to his head. "That's the mindset I've got, just come and play like I've still got to go get it."

Note: No update Monday morning, not because of President's Day but because I'll be traveling.