VIERA, Fla. -- The Nationals made their first round of cuts Thursday, optioning infielder Wilmer Difo and pitchers Matt Grace and Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse. The Nats also reassigned pitchers Paolo Espino and Taylor Hill and catchers Raudy Read and Brian Jeroloman to Minor League camp.
For manager Dusty Baker, the cuts were difficult to make. While he didn't name names, Baker said there were some players who were surprised they were let go early.
"Some of the guys [who were cut] need some work to get ready for their own seasons," Baker said.