Perhaps no team in baseball has more uncertainty about their starting rotation then the Washington Nationals. Their opening day starter projects to be a guy who was trying to make the team last year in Shawn Hill (16 starts in 2007) followed by John Patterson who is still rehabbing from injuries. (7 starts in 2007)

Jason Bergmann will enter the year as their third starter largely because he started 21 games last year and his 28 career starts is considered experience when you look at the remainder of the candidates..

Fourth and fifth sports are up for grabs and can’t be assured to Joel Lannan or Matt Chico whose 31 starts led the team last year. Tim Redding will also be pushing to remain on the roster and untested Tyler Clippard and Garret Mock could also be given a look.

Clippard a 22-year-old former Yankee could be deemed to need more time in Triple-A while Mock, 24, just as well could be released this spring after struggling though the Nationals minor league affiliates the last two years.

Maybe the Nationals could make their battle for the fourth and fifth roster spot a battle to the death. They could then spin it off to some reality TV show and probably get a contract with the CBS network. It couldn’t be any worse then the Big Brother ploy.

Throw in Odalis Perez and we have all the usual suspects of late.

After signing in 1994 with the Atlanta Braves out of the Dominican Republic an 18 year old Perez was assigned to Rookie ball in 1995 pitching effectively in the Gulf Coast League.

He’d move up to short season again pitching well before move up to A-ball in 1997 and acting as a reliever in 36 games.

Between splitting time in Double-A and Triple-A in 1998, combining for 36 games, 21 starts and a 3.87 ERA Perez made his first major league appearance on September 1st of that season. He’d pitch in 10 big league games that year.

In 1999 the 22 year old made 17 starts for the big league club picking up 4 wins and having a 6.00 ERA before falling victim to Tommy John surgery. He would miss the 2000 season rehabbing.

He would complete a brief stay in the minors before he rejoined the Braves in 2001. Following the season he was traded along with Andrew Brown and Brian Jordan to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Gary Sheffield.

While the Braves benefited from Sheffield in the middle of their order, the Dodgers had picked up a 15 game winner and Perez finally capitalized on all his hype. He would be selected to the NL All-Star team that season and his 3.00 ERA ranked 4th in the NL.

After a hohum 12-12 record and a 4.52 ERA in 2003, Perez was much improved with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Sadly for Perez he was the victim of horrid run support and notched just 7 victories in his 31 starts.

Things began to spiral out of control for Perez and he finished with just 11 wins in his last two seasons with the Dodgers compiling 4.56 and 6.83 ERA’s before being traded to the Kansas City Royals along with two minor leaguers for Elmer Dessens.

While with the Royals Perez collected some where around $10 million dollars between the remainder of 2006 and the 2007 seasons. Making roughly $1 million per victory Perez was just 10-15 for the Royals posting an ERA above 5.50. Granted the Dodgers were still paying part of the bill, this is not what the Royals could have hoped for.

If Odalis did make the Nationals he would be far and above the most experienced member of the rotation. Of course that doesn’t mean he would be any good but he would make just under $1 million if he actually made the team so the Nationals can choose to go with him if he does impress during Spring Training.

Gut instincts say that if not Perez the Nationals will at least go with Mike Bacsik of Barry Bonds fame, Rob Bell, Ray King or another of their non roster invitees.

In nine seasons in the majors Odalis Perez is 66-70 in 222 career games, including 191 starts. He has a career ERA of 4.47 and a less then stellar 1.33 WHIP.