Nats select two prospects

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Unwilling to dive into an exploding free agent market, unable to consummate any deals with finicky trade partners, the Washington Nationals sought to improve their club yesterday the only other way they could: through baseball's arcane Rule 5 draft.

The Nationals selected two young players -- New York Mets catcher Jesus Flores and Minnesota Twins right-hander Levale Speigner -- and gushed over the possibility of each playing a significant role with the club, this season and beyond.

"We got two guys in the major league draft that we really wanted to get," general manager Jim Bowden said before departing the winter meetings and heading back to Washington.

Flores (who figures to serve as catcher Brian Schneider's top backup) and Speigner (who could compete for a spot in the starting rotation or pitch out of the bullpen) were the Nationals' top two targets heading into the Rule 5 draft. Each player cost $50,000 and must remain on the major league roster all season or else be offered back to their original clubs for $25,000.

That the draft proved to be the highlight of Washington's stay at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort underscores the rebuilding organization's standing in the sport right now. While other clubs spent the last four days shelling out millions of dollars to what is considered a weak free agent class, the Nationals sat back and watched, never detouring from their plan to rebuild for the long-term.

Glaring holes remain in Bowden's starting rotation, but the general manager believes there could still be affordable options available in another month if the market slows down and free agents such as Tomo Ohka, Mark Redman, Jason Johnson and Brian Moehler are willing to sign minimal, one-year deals.

"That doesn't mean we haven't made an offer to a free agent pitcher, because we have," Bowden said. "What it means is, it's going to be January before some people in the free agent market find out if they can do better."

Whether they ultimately land a free agent or not, the Nationals still believe they can improve their club through trades. Outfielder Ryan Church and closer Chad Cordero remain the primary targets, with the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs interested in Church and the Boston Red Sox pining for Cordero.

Asked if he's optimistic he can complete a deal in the next few weeks that would fit into the organization's long-term plan, Bowden said "yes" but would not get any more specific.

Though they didn't leave town with any major new additions, the Nationals were pleased to swipe the two young players via the Rule 5 draft.