WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Pitchers and catchers report to Nationals spring training camp today in Viera, Fla., while the rest of the team arrives by Feb. 21. The Examiner breaks down the competition at each position:

CATCHERS

Starter Brian Schneider was traded to the Mets and the Nats signed veterans Paul Lo Duca, 35, and Johnny Estrada, 31, to plug the hole. Lo Duca, the likely starter, underwent knee surgery last month and will miss at least part of spring training. He and Estrada are both big improvements at the plate. But Lo Duca was prominently featured in the Mitchell Report and Estrada endured knee and elbow surgeries in the offseason. Neither is signed past this year. That leaves the future to Jesus Flores, who showed promise as a rookie in ’07 but will likely start at AAA Columbus.

INFIELD

What’s the status of 1B Nick Johnson, who suffered a gruesome broken leg in September 2006 and hasn’t played since? An on-base machine, no one knows if Johnson will ever be the same player. So Dmitri Young, last year’s NL Comeback Player of the Year, enters as the starter. He was sensational in 2007 (.320, 13 HR, 74 RBI). But was the 34-year-old’s All-Star season a fluke?

The Nats have tabbed Cristian Guzman at SS and Ronnie Belliard (.290, 35 doubles, 11 HR) at 2B. Despite a disappointing 2007, Felipe Lopez (.245, 9 HR, 50 RBI) fights for playing time at both spots.

Ryan Zimmerman (.266, 24 HR, 91 RBI) is the anchor at 3B. The 23-year-old saw his numbers dip in his second full year. But he is an elite defensive player and the franchise face. Free agent Aaron Boone contributes as a reserve corner IF.

OUTFIELD

The Nats rolled the dice on youth and potential in the OF. They traded for CF Lastings Milledge, 22, a top Mets prospect. They acquired tantalizing LF slugger Wily Mo Pena, 26, from the Red Sox last August and he promptly hit eight home runs in 37 games. The most controversial pick up was Elijah Dukes, 23, from Tampa Bay, an immense talent with a litany of arrests. Dukes hit 10 HRs in just 52 games with the Rays before the club suspended him for the season. He is slated as the fourth OF. The stabilizing presence is RF Austin Kearns (.266, 16 HR, 74 RBI), an excellent defensive player who needs more consistent production at the plate. Free agents Rob Mackowiak and Willie Harris join Ryan Langerhans in the fight for a fifth OF spot.

STARTING PITCHERS

Last spring training’s 36-pitcher free-for-all is a distant memory. The rotation is far more stable now. But is it healthy? John Patterson, so good in 2005, has made just 15 starts in two years and needed surgery to repair a nerve problem in his right arm. Shawn Hill (4-5, 3.42 ERA) was the staff’s best pitcher. But he made just 16 starts and had two offseason surgeries (elbow, left shoulder). Jason Bergmann (6-6, 4.45 ERA) showed flashes early and late — he was 4-1 in September — but in between battled elbow and hamstring injuries. Matt Chico (7-9, 4.63) led the staff in innings (167) and fellow rookie John Lannan (2-2, 4.15) capped a rapid rise from A ball with six solid starts in August. That pair must hold off a challenge from veteran Tim Redding (3-6, 3.64 ERA), among others.

BULLPEN

The bullpen ranked ninth in ERA in the majors (3.81) and topped the NL in innings. Closer Chad Cordero has 113 saves over the last three seasons, including 37 in 2007. Jon Rauch (8-4, 3.61 ERA) and Saul Rivera (4-6, 3.68) were No. 1 and No. 2 in MLB in appearances. Luis Ayala (2-2, 3.19) returned from elbow surgery to appear in 44 games and should be fully recovered after a hunting accident left him with shotgun pellets in his left biceps. Jesus Colome (5-1, 3.82) and Chris Schroder (2-3, 3.18) both had their moments in 2007 while Joel Hanrahan moves in from the rotation. The lefties fighting for a spot are Mike Bacsik, Katsuhiko Maekawa and Ray King.