Ian Desmond, 24, has beaten out incumbent Cristian Guzman for the Washington Nationals' starting shortstop job, manager Jim Riggleman said. Desmond, who made his Nationals debut as a September call-up, leads the team this spring with 14 RBIs. Guzman, 32, is a two-time All-Star with a .271 career average; he is owed $8 million in 2010, the last year of his contract.

More Nationals: Washington optioned outfielder Justin Maxwell ( Maryland, Sherwood) to Triple-A Syracuse. He was 5-for-49 with 20 strikeouts this spring.