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Good morning, NatsTown. My locally sensitive leanings are telling me I should say I hope you're all surviving in the snow, even though my Minnesota upbringing is telling me to laugh hysterically at all of you for treating an inch of snow like it's a big deal, especially when you should be battle-hardened from last year's multiple Snowpocalypses. But I digress...
A couple notes for you this morning on developments related to past, present, and possibly future, Nationals:
-The Phillies are apparently hanging onto Joe Blanton for now, according to MLB.com Phillies beat writer (and fellow hardened Midwesterner) Todd Zolecki. In reality, what that probably means is, GM Ruben Amaro hasn't gotten an offer to his liking. If the Phillies hang onto Blanton and other teams go through injuries, Amaro might be able to fetch a better price for him. The Nationals would likely have some interest in Blanton, but he's scheduled to make $17 million the next two years. I'd think they'd want the Phillies to pick up some of Blanton's salary, and probably wouldn't be willing to give up much more than a prospect or two for him. But the Phillies probably can only benefit from waiting to move Blanton, and that's apparently what they're going to do for now.
-The Nationals will introduce first baseman Adam LaRoche in a press conference at Nationals Park at 1:30 on Friday. We'll have plenty more for you from the park, as the successor to Adam Dunn meets with the local media for the first time.
-Former Nationals second baseman Adam Kennedy, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners this week, says he's happy to be back in the AL West. He's stepping into a crowded middle infield in Seattle, but he's counting on getting some playing time before Dustin Ackley is ready to take over at second base. Kennedy said he had some other options, but liked his chances of getting some playing time with the Mariners.
Check back this afternoon - we didn't get to the Tuesday Talker List yesterday, so I'll have a special Wednesday version of it today. Good luck with that melting inch of snow, hearty locals!
