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For more than a week, it's seemed like there were two logical destinations for the two most prominent first basemen left on the free agent market; Derrek Lee and Adam LaRoche. Now that Lee has a one-year deal with the Orioles, pending a physical, all roads would seemingly point LaRoche to the Nationals. The 31-year-old reportedly had a three-year offer from the Orioles, and didn't
For the Nationals, 2010 was a year of changes; they began spring training in the most settled, tranquil fashion they had in several years, after the unrest of 2009's Smiley Gonzalez debacle. That soon gave way, though, to the Stephen Strasburg World Tour, which blazed through Florida towns and minor league ballparks in the Northeast before reaching its apex in one transcendent performance on June
Most people associate Harmon Killebrew with the Minnesota Twins, and with good reason -- he played 14 of his 22 major league seasons there, and hit 475 of his 573 homers with the Twins, becoming the first real star for the team as it put down roots in the Midwest. But before Killebrew was with the Twins in Minnesota, he was a young star for
As the Nationals continue to search for a first baseman, there's perhaps no one on their roster who will be affected as much by the result of their decision as Michael Morse. The 28-year-old had an eye-opening 2010, hitting 15 homers in just 266 at-bats and nudging his way into the mix for a starting spot in 2011. He's likely to have a greater role
We should get some resolution to the Nationals' first base search either this week or early next week, and I continue to believe Derrek Lee will wind up playing the position for Washington in 2011. Should that happen, it would leave the Nationals without a legitimate left-handed power threat, which got me thinking: How important is it to have power from the left side? General
A pair of Nationals players picked up honors today in the Dominican Winter League. Outfielder Eury Perez, who played last season at Single-A Hagerstown, was the league's rookie of the year, while right-hander Yunesky Maya was the league's pitcher of the year. Maya posted a 4-2 record and 1.32 ERA in eight starts, striking out 42 batters in 41 innings. He struggled in the majors
With the holiday weekend over, the lull of activity in the baseball world should also give way to a busier week as teams continue filling holes on their rosters before 2011. The Nationals still have two prominent ones - a top-end starting pitcher and a first baseman - and while they might not get both this week, I have a feeling they'll get one of
Normally, I'm opposed to the kitschy holiday-themed blog post, but I'll make an exception this morning - since this actually has some news value. Tomorrow, of course, is Christmas Day, and it's understood among many players in baseball that free agents want to find a new home by then. There's something about being able to spend the holidays with family, worry-free and celebrating a new
There's one less player on the Nationals' roster this afternoon. Left-hander Aaron Thompson has been claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Nationals announced today. The 23-year-old was acquired July 31, 2009 from the Florida Marlins in exchange for Nick Johnson. Thompson never pitched in the majors, but went 5-13 with a 5.65 ERA in 27 between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse in 2010.
The Nationals have locked up a key piece of their bullpen for at least the next two years, signing left-hander Sean Burnett to a two-year extension with a mutual option for 2013, according to a source close to the reliever. Burnett will make a combined $3.7 million the next two seasons, and stands to earn $3.5 million in the option year. The deal is not
Baseball America, the game's most authoritative publication on amateur and minor league ball, came out with its annual ranking of the Nationals' top 10 prospects this morning. There is no surprise at the top of that list: Bryce Harper is the team's No. 1 prospect, and leads four of the "best tools" categories (best hitter for average, best power hitter, best athlete and best outfield
Maybe if Matt Chico had had better luck - if he hadn't felt pain in his elbow during his first start at Triple-A Columbus in 2008, if he hadn't had to beg then-minor league pitching coach Steve McCatty to stay in a game even he knew he couldn't finish - his career wouldn't have come to this point. Maybe Chico would have gotten his mechanics
The Nationals officially announced a few minutes ago they have signed Rick Ankiel to a one-year deal, confirming the news that broke yesterday. With Ankiel now on the 40-man roster, the Nationals have 42 players on the list. So they'll need to take two players off of it in the near future. Twenty-six of the 42 players on the roster are pitchers, and the most
The Nationals began the offseason with big pursuits and big talk: They wanted a No. 1 starter for their rotation, and they were perfectly willing to wade into a shallow market for pitching, armed with the cash to get a deal done. Well, as we sit a few days before Christmas, when agents are trying to find homes for their players before the customary lull
The Nationals held a conference call for reporters with Stephen Strasburg a few minutes ago, to update the progress of the right-hander's rehab from Tommy John surgery. Here are the highlights of the brief call: --Strasburg said he expects to start throwing sometime in January, and will report to spring training in Viera, Fla., with the rest of the Nationals' pitchers and catchers. He's still
It's been a weird offseason for Ian Desmond, who has spent his days alternately hearing how he's one of the cornerstones of the Nationals' future and then listening to his name bandied about in trade rumors. This much is clear: Desmond's strong rookie season in 2010 made baseball stand up and take notice. Sometimes, this wasn't for all the right reasons. Desmond can be a
The Nationals on Monday agreed to terms with six players on minor league deals, inviting them to spring training in Viera, Fla. Another got a major league contract. Some of these transactions have already been reported, others haven't. So in the interest of making sure everyone knows who's reporting to Space Coast Stadium, we'll provide the whole rundown. Three players who spent last season in
At this point in his career, there's little reason to think Rick Ankiel - who signed a one-year deal with the Nationals today - is anything more than a fourth outfielder. But the Nationals are stretched thin enough in the outfield at the moment that adding Ankiel makes some sense from a depth perspective, even if odds are long that he turns out to be
We haven't checked in recently on the Nationals players logging time in winter ball, and a number of players who will be fighting for roster spots in spring training are still at it in Latin America. Here's the latest: --Jesus Flores, playing for the Navagantes del Magellanes in the Venezuelan Winter League, is hitting .328 in 18 games, having gone 15-for-40 in his last 10.
All offseason, there has been educated speculation about what it would take to trade for Royals pitcher Zack Greinke; Kansas City would want a young pitcher back, the thinking went, as well as a middle infielder who's close to the majors. Another player or two would have to be added to get the 2008 AL Cy Young winner, and all that was with no guarantees
At this point, the Nationals' search for a No. 1 starter is largely dependent on other teams' willingness to part with a pitcher under their control. It's an expensive proposition, made even more costly by the fact that the two teams believed to be taking offers for young pitchers this winter - the Kansas City Royals (on Zack Greinke) and the Tampa Bay Rays (on
You've got to love the Internet revolution. How else would we know when players decide on a new team? Second baseman Matt Antonelli chose his personal blog to deliver the news this afternoon that he's decided to accept a contract offer from the Nationals. Mind you, the team hasn't issued a press release, and it's unclear whether Antonelli is getting a major league deal or
Another day, another bullpen option for the Nationals, who signed veteran swingman Chad Gaudin to a minor league contract with a spring training invite Friday morning. MASNsports.com's Ben Goessling detailed the decidedly hard-throwing complexion of the relief corps in a previous post, and when you look at the heath, consistency and durability concerns prevalent throughout the rotation, the reasons general manager Mike Rizzo is collecting
The Nationals continued to add pitching depth Friday, signing right-hander Chad Gaudin to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 27-year-old Gaudin, who has worked as both a starter and a reliever during his eight-year-career, was 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA in 42 appearances out of the bullpen in 2010 with the Yankees and A's. He pitched much better in New
After news first broke that the Nationals had traded Josh Willingham to the Oakland Athletics yesterday, there were a couple hours where it was unknown who they'd be getting back. During that time, I got a call from another reporter who covers the Nats, and we started talking about possible names. The first one that came up was Henry Rodriguez. We'd discussed the Nationals' interest
This blog post has been an hour in the making, but since we operate on a server that was apparently designed sometime in the Clinton administration, it's just getting to you now. Enough techno-carping. Anyway: Chien-Ming Wang, who spent all last season rehabbing a shoulder injury that's kept him out of the majors for most of the last two years, will get a chance to Continue reading ....
So where do the two players - right-hander Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown - acquired from the Oakland A's in exchange for outfielder Josh Willingham fit into the Nationals' plans? The 23-year-old Rodriguez is a power arm who should slide immediately into the bullpen mix, giving the Nats another hard-throwing option to prevent them from overusing Tyler Clippard. Rodriguez's fastball last year averaged 98.45
UPDATED AT 4:54 P.M.: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo didn't shed much light on the Wang negotiations today in a conference call with reporters. "We're in discussions with his representative," Rizzo said. One of Wang's agents did not respond to a request for comment. After signing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang last February and spending the whole season helping him rehab from a shoulder injury, the Nationals have
Update 4:54 p.m.: In a conference call with reporters, general manager Mike Rizzo said the package the Nationals got back from the Oakland Athletics for Josh Willingham - reliever Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown - was a better return for the outfielder than they would have received when they were taking offers on Willingham near last year's trade deadline. Rodriguez, a 23-year-old right-hander who
Josh WIllingham's time with the Nationals has come to an end. A source close to Willingham has confirmed that a deal sending the outfielder to the Oakland A's for a pair of minor leaguers has been completed. The potential of a trade was first reported by FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Check back on MASNsports.com for more details as they become available.
I was hoping to post this yesterday, but in the flurry of activity surrounding the Jayson Werth press conference, I didn't get a chance to put it up. General manager Mike Rizzo wrote a letter to fans before the Werth press conference detailing a few (though not all) of the Nationals' future plans. Considering how many of you have been asking about the exact meaning
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed former Nationals reliever Joel Peralta, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted this morning. Olney reported Peralta will get a one-year deal worth $900,000. The Nationals non-tendered Peralta at the beginning of the month, worried he would cash in through arbitration or want a multi-year deal. But I find it hard to believe the Nationals wouldn't have re-signed the right-hander for $900,000.
The Nationals have added a pair of minor league free agents to their system, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reported on Wednesday, signing outfielders Buck Coats and Jonathan Van Every. Coats, 27, has played 46 major league games for the Cubs, Reds and Blue Jays, the last one coming in 2008. He's a 6-foot-3 left-hander who's hit for a .286 career average in the minors, and
Shortly after the general managers' meetings in Orlando last month, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo flew with key members of the team's ownership group, including Ted and Mark Lerner, to meet with Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth at agent Scott Boras' corporate campus in Newport Beach, Calif. It's an office where Rizzo has done an increasing amount of high-profile business over the last two seasons, but on
The biggest news of Jayson Werth's introductory press conference with the Nationals was the full no-trade clause the team gave him in his seven-year, $126 million deal. But there were some other interesting points and observations from the 30-minute event, as well as few things said after the gathering. The more interesting nuggets are below: --Werth was asked about Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies,
Among all the thank yous and big statements made at Jayson Werth's introductory press conference this afternoon, one item stuck out, both for its news value and the philosophical change it represents for the Nationals: Werth has a full no-trade clause in his seven-year, $126 million deal, one of the final concessions general manager Mike Rizzo made in his negotiations with agent Scott Boras and
Some free agents sign a big deal and could care less if they can't fulfill their part of the bargain. They're content, when injured, to sit on the sidelines - often far away from their teammates - and check for the sizable direct deposits that show up every two weeks. Jason Marquis isn't one of them. When he got hurt last season, after signing a
Because we're all about convergence today at MASN, I'll be live-blogging some choice quotes and reaction from the Jayson Werth press conference at Nationals Park, which will get underway in about five minutes. Keep checking this page for quotes. And if you're able to watch, we'll be streaming the press conference online and, of course, airing it on MASN HD. Jayson Werth press conference live
During the offseason, Jordan ZImmermann might be the hardest member of the Washington Nationals' roster to track down. He retreats to his hometown of Auburndale, Wis. (population 738), and spends the winter working out, hunting in the central Wisconsin woods with high school and college buddies and generally staying off the radar altogether. The snow-swept hamlet is as far away from East Coast media buzz
While the offseason is all about new additions and tweaking a roster, it's also a time to reflect upon players who move on to a new team. Several ex-Nationals have recently lined up new jobs for 2011. Catcher Wil Nieves, non-tendered by the Nats earlier this month, signed a $775,000 deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and will compete in a crowded field to back up
Once Cliff Lee found a new home, agreeing to a five-year, $120 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies last night, the market for the remaining free agent pitchers got a little clearer. And if this week is a good time to be Lee, the next one could be a good time to be Carl Pavano. With Lee off the market, the Twins right-hander is now
The Nationals just announced they've signed Matt Stairs, the majors' all-time leader in pinch-hit homers, to a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training. The move is a low-risk way for the team to get some left-handed power off the bench. The signing is by no means a transformative move - Stairs will be 43 in February, and he would take
The news broke late last night that Cliff Lee was headed back to Philadelphia, having signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Phillies, and the tremors of that decision were still reverberating around the baseball world this morning. Lee, who was thought by many baseball people to be after the biggest contract he could get, left money on the table to return to the
The Nationals just announced they will introduce Jayson Werth, the former Phillies outfielder they signed to a seven-year, $126 million contract, in a 1 p.m. press conference on Wednesday. The media gathering will be held at Nationals Park. MASN will air live coverage of the press conference, hosted by Nationals studio analyst Johnny Holliday.
The pecking order seems to already be established. Ivan Rodriguez enters 2011 as the Nationals' starting catcher, with promising Wilson Ramos and perennially recovering Jesus Flores in reserve. That makes the guys who don the so-called tools of ignorance a potential position of strength for the Nats. But how long will that depth alignment remain intact? And, since it's doubtful manager Jim Riggleman will break
Back at it this morning after dealing with a nasty cold yesterday. I can confirm it was from general fatigue and not from the Packers laying an egg against the hapless Detroit Lions -- though that certainly didn't make the day better (seriously, when you've blown enough close games this season to let an inferior team waltz past you for the division lead, and put
The yearly values of Jayson Werth's contract with the Nationals were reported by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal this morning, and here's how the deal looks: Werth will reportedly get a $4 million signing bonus between January 2011 and January 2012, effectively adding the bonus to his $10 million salary for next season. He'll get $13 million in 2012, $16 million in 2013, $20 million in
When the Nationals put Mike Rizzo in control of the baseball operations department in March 2009, while they were still sorting through the organizational wreckage left by their scandal in the Dominican Republic and the subsequent resignation of general manager Jim Bowden, the abruptness of the switch was evident to most around the team's spring training complex in Viera, Fla. Rizzo, effectively acting as the
Yes, Josh Willingham can play first base. No, the Nationals don't consider him a viable option to man the position in anything more than an emergency. In trying to determine who will replace Adam Dunn in the lineup and at first, the Nationals have multiple options, general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters at the Winter Meetings. The ones Rizzo prefers are outside the organization. That's
I'll keep this short - and I promise we'll get back to baseball this afternoon - but I wanted to take a minute and tell you about another project I've had the privilege of being involved with, and share a couple easy ways you can help. In June, I started volunteering with a Northern Virginia-based organization called Heart4Kids. The woman who runs it, Sandra Denenga,
The Nationals announced a few changes to their minor league coaching staffs for 2011, most notably making Randy Knorr the manager of their top farm team in Syracuse, and hiring Tony Beasley, their third-base coach under Frank Robinson, as the manager at Double-A Harrisburg. Matt LeCroy moves up from Single-A Hagerstown to Single-A Potomac, and former Potomac manager Gary Cathcart goes to short-season Auburn. Former
I'm back at the home office this morning after departing (escaping?) Orlando without a hitch, trading the Dolphin Hotel lobby for a laptop and BlackBerry. There are still a few things to process from the week that was at the Winter Meetings, so we'll probably spend the next few days around here doing just that. Obviously, you know by now the Nationals were the talk
I'm in the terminal at Orlando International Airport, safely beyond the steaming piles of confusion at what I consider to be one of America's worst airports. Combine grumpy, slow-moving security workers with parents in the unenviable position of trying to control antsy kids while figuring out how to lug back six new stuffed animals, and stick all that in a jumbled layout, and you've got
Both the Nationals and the Orioles came to the MLB Winter Meetings in search of a first baseman. They're both still looking for one, and the list of available options continued to shrink this week. At this point, it's likely the two teams will end up fighting over the same players. MASNsports.com Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko and I sat down earlier today to discuss the
One of Mike Rizzo's goals for the offseason is to improve the Nationals bench to give manager Jim Riggleman some additional positional and personnel flexibility. The Washington general manager hasn't made much headway in that objective, but it's one that will probably develop in the next few weeks as some of the lower-tier free agents fall into place. Keep in mind, there will be bargains
The Nationals added three pitchers in the Rule 5 draft this morning, taking Mets right-hander Elvin Ramirez in the first round of the major league phase and taking Cardinals righty Brian Broderick in the second round of the major league phase. In the Triple-A phase of the draft, they took Twins right-hander Michael Allen. Ramirez, seen as one of the top players in the Rule
The Nationals added a couple of pitching prospects to their roster in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 draft on Thursday morning, taking Mets right-hander Elvin Ramirez in the first round and St. Louis right-hander Brian Broderick in the second round. Ramirez, a hard-throwing 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has plenty of talent, but has only played three games at the Double-A level and
While most of you were sleeping, the Cliff Lee sweepstakes took a couple more twists, both of them indirectly set in motion by the Nationals, but neither of them helping Washington's chances of landing the left-handed pitcher. First, the Red Sox signed Carl Crawford to a seven-year, $142 million contract, according to various reports. Crawford's deal is barely $2 million more a season than the
The media workroom at the Dolphin Hotel is emptying out, and so is my last tank of energy. So, unless the Nationals make some kind of news tonight, I'm heading back to my hotel room before the Rule 5 draft in the morning. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Cliff Lee could make a decision on his new team by the weekend, so if the Nationals
Even with the list of available first basemen quickly shrinking - and the price for the few remaining starters likely rising - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he prefers to find a successor to Adam Dunn from outside the organization. Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena, long thought to be the Nationals' top choice to replace Dunn, signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Cubs
The Nationals did not meet with the representative for free agent pitcher Cliff Lee on Wednesday, but general manager Mike Rizzo said he still feels confident in the team's presentation to the premier pitcher in this year's free agent market. Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, has reportedly left the Winter Meetings in Orlando, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Wednesday night the team
The possibility of Cliff Lee finding a new home at the Winter Meetings, which seemed remote all week, is just about dead now. Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, has reportedly left the Winter Meetings in Orlando, a sign that negotiations for the pitcher haven't developed enough to get a deal done before the meetings end tomorrow. So the bidding for the Rangers left-hander, who won the
In a couple of years, Drew Storen will be the undisputed option when the Nationals need to protect a ninth-inning lead. He's already got a closer's mentality -- eager to take the ball with the game on the line, the guile to walk a fine line in the midst of danger and the ability to wrap yesterday's mistakes or disappointments in a neat little package
All week, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has been consistent about his preference the Nationals find an external replacement for Adam Dunn at first base. If that's the case, he'd better work quickly. With Carlos Pena signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Cubs and the White Sox re-signing Paul Konerko for $37.5 million over the next three years, the Nationals have few options
There have been a flurry of reports on Cliff Lee, most of them conflicting -- the Nationals are in on him, they're out on him, they're in on him at a certain level, they can't afford to pursue him, etc. -- and that's likely to continue until, and probably after, executives leave the Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World tomorrow afternoon. So by no means
The Nationals, while trying to land Cliff Lee, aren't wasting any time checking into other pitching options at the Winter Meetings. They met with Carl Pavano's agent, Tom O'Connell, on Tuesday and remain actively interested in the Twins right-hander. "We met with Nationals officials today," O'Connell said. "It was a productive meeting, and Carl is methodically going through his options." O'Connell would not comment on
We caught up with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo this afternoon to discuss the team's progress on Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, including how the Nationals stand in the market for Cliff Lee and interest from other teams in left fielder Josh Willingham. Take a look below: Mike Rizzo recaps Day 2 of the MLB Winter Meetings with Ben Goessling
The Nationals are still actively involved in trying to sign pitcher Cliff Lee, but general manager Mike Rizzo said he thinks the team's chances are slim of actually landing the left-hander. "We've had dialog with the representative (Darek Braunecker)," Rizzo said. "I still think we're a real long shot to acquire the player." Washington has had conversations with Twins right-hander Carl Pavano, considered the No.
Good afternoon. Hope you're having a better day than Albert Haynesworth. A couple updates on the Nationals' quest for pitching; it's ongoing, and there's no question the team is resolving to get a starting pitcher, but which pitcher that is remains to be seen. Here's what I've heard in the lobby: --The Nationals are interested, and actively involved, with Cliff Lee, but three Nationals people
Ian Desmond provided offense from shortstop and improved his defense during the course of a strong rookie season in 2010, and second baseman Danny Espinosa was a revelation during his September call-up. But don't get attached to either, since Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo could part with one of them if the right deal at the Winter Meetings presents the opportunity to bolster the Washington
Good morning from Orlando, where the media workroom at the Dolphin Resort at Disney World is just starting to see some activity. The Nationals continue to generate plenty of conversation about the Jayson Werth deal, but by tonight or tomorrow, it's possible they'll have another addition to talk about. They continue to make a hard pursuit of starting pitching, and would have the cash to
As the Nationals go about their business on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, executives around baseball are still buzzing about what they did just before the proceedings got started. The seven-year, $126 million contract they gave outfielder Jayson Werth has been met with disbelief and derision from people around baseball, with one executive reportedly saying the team was "bidding against thin air" to offer
Now that the Nationals have landed Jayson Werth, effectively solidifying their outfield and adding an impact bat to the middle of their lineup after Adam Dunn's departure, they turn their attention to what they've said would be the chief pursuit of their offseason all along: improving their pitching staff. In short order, here's where that stands: --The Nationals remain a long shot for Cliff Lee,
Good afternoon. Just a couple things I picked up in the lobby at the Winter Meetings before heading to lunch. --I'm starting to think more and more that the Nationals are going to try and trade Josh Willingham, though it might not happen this week. They're definitely listening to offers for him, and they'd want pitching in return. Willingham is a free agent after this
The Nationals' acquisition of Jayson Werth begs a couple of questions about Jim Riggleman's outfield configuration moving forward. Is there still room for Josh Willingham? Willingham was assumed to be the Nats' left fielder for 2011, but Werth's arrival in right field will necessitate some movement. Roger Bernadina, who played 77 games in right before moving to left when Willingham sustained a knee injury in
Beyond the obvious tremors about what the Nationals' signing of Jayson Werth means for the team next year, there's a more practical question to be answered: How does the Nationals' outfield shape up now? The starting lineup, at this point, looks clear enough: Werth in right, Nyjer Morgan in center and Josh Willingham in left. But the team also has Michael Morse, a player who's
Good morning from Orlando -- we've officially just got started with the Winter Meetings, but I have to keep reminding myself it's not Tuesday. That's probably because for the Nationals, Sunday had enough action to fill up a day or two of "official" Winter Meetings time. The entire lobby was buzzing about the Nationals' signing of former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126
Jayson Werth is now a member of the Washington Nationals, a development thought to be far-fetched until this week and known only to members of the team's baseball operations department since yesterday. So how did it happen? That's easier to figure out. Werth, who conducted an introductory conference call with reporters a few minutes ago, said the Nationals landed on his radar as a possible
This is going to be a little bit piecemeal for the time being -- I'll post some more thorough analysis of the Nationals' seven-year, $126 million deal with Jayson Werth a little later tonight -- but here are some of the highlights from, and after, the press conference to announce the deal: --Things started to come together after the general managers' meetings last month, when
The Nationals have signed Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling has confirmed. The team will announce the deal in a 5 p.m.press conference at the Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Ben Goessling is headed to the presser right now and will have more this evening.
I've touched down in Orlando, site of this week's Winter Meetings, and I'm on my way to Walt Disney World, where the antics and make-believe that happen at this event every year should fit right in with what's going on at the rest of the park. This is the third straight year I've covered the Winter Meetings, and while I'm not as sour on the
What if I'd told you there was a perfect replacement for Adam Dunn - a younger one at that, who's won two Gold Gloves and put up some of the game's best power numbers in one of baseball's most cavernous parks - available at only the cost of prospects? Would that make some of your post-Dunn depression go away? Well, don't get too excited. The
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo just released a statement on Adam Dunn signing with the Nationals. Here's the full text of it: "The Washington Nationals wish Adam Dunn and his family the best of luck and good will in Chicago. Adam contributed much to the Nationals and to the Washington, D.C. community. He will be missed, but will remain an important figure in the early
Just a quick reminder: We're getting together at The Front Page near Dupont Circle tonight to talk Nationals -- stop by anytime between 6:15 and 9:00 or so, say hello and discuss whatever's on your mind about the team. We'll have space reserved in the bar area. The restuarant is at 1333 New Hampshire Avenue NW in Washington, and it's right off the Dupont Circle
The warning flares that Adam Dunn wasn't coming back to the Nationals were shot off months ago. Whether or not anyone wanted to see them is another matter. Fans pleaded with general manager Mike Rizzo to resign the slugging first baseman, through signs and chants at games, calls to sports-talk radio stations and comments on message boards. But the Nationals soldiered on, surely well aware
The Nationals non-tendered three of the 10 players they have eligible for arbitration, deciding not to offer contracts to pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, reliever Joel Peralta and catcher Wil Nieves. Of those three, Peralta is the only one I'm surprised about. He pitched well for the Nationals this year, becoming a key member of the team's late-inning relief group late in the season. The only reason
I just got off the phone with Ryan Zimmerman, who was making the rounds of phone calls back to reporters in the wake of the news Adam Dunn had signed a four-year deal with the Chicago White Sox. It's no secret Zimmerman and Dunn were close on and off the field, and Zimmerman had been one of the most vocal proponents for the Nationals resigning
What became increasingly apparent throughout the course of the season now looks official: Adam Dunn won't be back with the Nationals in 2011. According to multiple reports, Dunn has agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, the team that was rumored to be pursuing the slugger most fiercely at July's trade deadline. Now the White Sox have him, at the
As the Nationals move toward a midnight deadline to offer their arbitration-eligible players contracts for next year, it's not a lock that they won't come to an agreement with pitcher Chien-Ming Wang. Alan Chang, the primary agent for the Taiwanese pitcher, would not comment on negotiations with the Nationals, but said in an e-mail the two sides are "still in discussion" about a contract for
Major League Baseball's deadline for teams to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible players comes a week earlier than usual this year. Instead of waiting until after the Winter Meetings, teams have to decide by today to offer contracts to players eligible for arbitration or to "non-tender" them, effectively making them free agents. The Nationals have 10 players eligible for arbitration in 2011: starters John Lannan
Before we begin, a disclaimer: What lies ahead is one of those wonky comparison pieces where I crunch numbers and try to ascertain what one player's contract could portend for another in the future. Some of you like that stuff, and some of you hate it. If you're in the latter group, and you wish to stop reading, that's fine (I've already got your pageview
