Mark Zuckerman

Source: Nats signing reliever Will Harris to three-year deal

January 02, 2020, 5:41pm

In their quest to fix the most notable hole in an otherwise talented and deep roster, the Nationals have signed the veteran reliever who gave up the home run that propelled them to their first World Series title only nine weeks ago. Will Harris, the former Astros right-hander who threw the pitch that Howie Kendrick clanked off the foul pole at Minute Maid Park in Game 7, has agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Nationals, a source familiar with the terms confirmed tonight. The...

233 Hits

Comments

Tags:

Was 2019 a one-time thing or the start of something even bigger?

December 22, 2019, 8:37pm

Nationals

Was 2019 a one-time thing or the start of something even bigger?

The 2019 season was a long time coming for the Nationals. After eight years as contenders, after 15 years in the District, after 51 years as a franchise and after 95 years without a World Series title in D.C., this Nats club was the one that finally broke through and hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy. Along the way, the members of this championship team won over everyone's heart, forever etching their place in Washington sports history. No matter what happens for the next 95 years, the...

261 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime world series featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

How the Nationals depth chart looks at this point

December 21, 2019, 8:07pm

Nationals

We've talked a lot about what the Nationals still need to do this winter to get their roster back into full form, whether that includes the re-signing of players who helped them win the World Series or the addition of newcomers who could help offset the losses of key figures. But what do the Nats already have internally to address any positions of need? If they had to take the field today - and thank God they don't - what would their roster look like? Even if they didn't have to cobble...

246 Hits

Comments

Tags:

depth chart mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Will new reliever rule keep Nats from adding another lefty?

December 20, 2019, 8:21pm

Nationals

Will new reliever rule keep Nats from adding another lefty?

It feels like the Nationals have perpetually been searching for a left-handed reliever who can consistently get left-handed hitters out. Because they have. Sure, there have been a few guys over the years who have been successful: Mike Gonzalez in 2012, Matt Thornton in 2014, Sean Burnett and Sean Doolittle over multiple years. But there have been far more failures than successes in this department: Enny Romero, Sammy SolÃs, Tim Collins, Tony Sipp, Matt Grace, Dan Jennings, Tom Gorzelanny,...

213 Hits

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime roenis elias sean doolittle featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

How far are Nats willing to go to sign Donaldson?

December 19, 2019, 8:20pm

Nationals

How far are Nats willing to go to sign Donaldson?

The Nationals are interested in Josh Donaldson, this much we know. But how far are they willing to go to try to lure the top remaining free agent third baseman to D.C. in the hope he can fill the very large hole created by Anthony Rendon's departure? Donaldson won't come cheap. That has become obvious. The veteran slugger, who turned 34 last week, appears likely to get a four-year deal for something in the vicinity of $100 million. That's a steep price for any player at his age. Here's the...

223 Hits

Comments

Tags:

atlanta braves josh donaldson mark zuckerman minnesota twins nationals nationals pastime texas rangers featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals make few changes to minor league staffs

December 19, 2019, 11:34am

Nationals

The Nationals are retaining the vast majority of their minor league coaches from this season, but several will be in new roles in 2020. Among the changes announced by the club today: Longtime Double-A Harrisburg manager Matt LeCroy is shifting to a roving position as quality control coordinator, Triple-A Fresno pitching coach Brad Holman is taking over as minor league pitching coordinator and Billy Gardner becomes LeCroy's replacement as the manager in Harrisburg. Most everyone returns intact...

317 Hits

Comments

Tags:

fredericksburg nationals fresno grizzlies harrisburg senators mark zuckerman minor leagues nationals nationals pastime nationals farm report frontstory_nationals3

Lefty Abad reportedly signs minor league deal with Nats

December 19, 2019, 6:57am

Nationals

Lefty Abad reportedly signs minor league deal with Nats

The Nationals will extend spring training invitations to a swath of players who sign minor league contracts this winter, and among those players will be a veteran reliever who previously pitched for the organization. Left-hander Fernando Abad has agreed to terms with the Nats on a minor league deal, according to The Athletic. The 34-year-old will compete with countless others in West Palm Beach, Fla., who hope to secure the one or two spots on the opening day roster that figure to be up for...

254 Hits

Comments

Tags:

fernando abad mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats taking steps now to try to avoid World Series hangover

December 18, 2019, 6:19pm

Nationals

Nats taking steps now to try to avoid World Series hangover

Davey Martinez has experienced World Series hangover. Mike Rizzo has seen other clubs battle it after winning a title. So the Nationals manager and general manager are already trying to establish a tone that will combat the fatigue and malaise that inevitably follows a championship season. The key message they want to deliver to their players: Be ready to go right from day one of spring training, and place importance on winning games in March and April. Martinez knows firsthand how easy it is...

231 Hits

Comments

Tags:

davey martinez mark zuckerman max scherzer mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime spring training stephen strasburg winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Healthy again, Scherzer will head to Florida in two weeks

December 17, 2019, 6:54pm

Nationals

Healthy again, Scherzer will head to Florida in two weeks

When last we saw him inside a ballpark, Max Scherzer was drenched in champagne and beer, his body and his mind completely exhausted after a gutsy Game 7 start to help lead the Nationals to their first World Series title. Scherzer, who pitched three days after receiving a pain-relieving injection in his neck that forced him to miss his scheduled Game 5 start, admitted that glorious night in Houston it would take some time to recover from all this. Not that much time, though, as the veteran...

227 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Now a Nat for life, Strasburg says D.C. has "become home to me"

December 17, 2019, 9:13am

Nationals

Now a Nat for life, Strasburg says D.C. has "become home to me"

Stephen Strasburg, like most every baseball-loving kid who grew up in San Diego, fell in love with Tony Gwynn. And not strictly for his performance on the field. Strasburg understood that Gwynn represented the Padres in every possible way. He was San Diego's Own, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire 20-year career with one franchise and remained closely connected with the franchise and the city until his death. Strasburg would never try to compare himself to his baseball hero, college coach,...

297 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman max scherzer mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg press conference today at Nationals Park

December 16, 2019, 6:02pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg last week decided to spend the rest of his career with the Nationals. Today he'll get a chance to explain why. Strasburg, who signed a seven-year, $245 million extension eight days ago at the start of baseball's Winter Meetings in San Diego, is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. today at Nationals Park to officially announce his side of the agreement. It has never been Strasburg's way to embrace the spotlight. And truth be told, he'd probably rather not have...

346 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Monday morning Nats Q&A

December 15, 2019, 6:51pm

Nationals

Well, it was an eventful week for the Nationals out in San Diego, where they were the center of attention at the Winter Meetings, with both positive and negative results. They re-signed Stephen Strasburg for seven years and $245 million. Then they watched Anthony Rendon leave for seven years and $245 million. Which leaves them in a bit of a predicament as they try to find some way to make up for his lost production, defense and overall presence. It won't be easy. There's plenty more going on...

0 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime q&a featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Rendon says he and Nats "just couldn't come to an agreement"

December 14, 2019, 8:18pm

Nationals

Rendon says he and Nats "just couldn't come to an agreement"

Anthony Rendon officially was introduced by the Angels on Saturday, donning a familiar red cap but with a halo surrounding a big A instead of the curly W he wore the last seven seasons. Yeah, it's going to take some time to get used to that image. As Rendon explained to reporters during his first news conference on the West Coast, it was the persistence of Angels owner Arte Moreno - who pulled agent Scott Boras aside last Sunday and made it clear he wanted the star third baseman to come to...

294 Hits

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon los angeles angels mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Enigmatic Taylor finds himself in familiar position this winter

December 13, 2019, 8:46pm

Nationals

Enigmatic Taylor finds himself in familiar position this winter

As things currently stand, there is no spot in the Nationals lineup for Michael A. Taylor. He would seem to fit in well as the club's fourth outfielder, one who is well-equipped to take over at any position if anyone else got hurt. Of course, all of that depends on the 28-year-old showing he can hit with consistency at the big league level. And if there are any doubts about his ability to do that, the Nats might be wise to see what kind of trade value he has. Any of this sound familiar? It's...

270 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman michael a. taylor mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

What the Nationals still need to address this offseason

December 12, 2019, 2:12pm

Nationals

Baseball's offseason, believe it or not, is already halfway complete. The regular season ended 2 1/2 months ago. Pitchers and catchers report in two months. For the Nationals, of course, this offseason has been much shorter to date. One of the downsides of going to the World Series is the delayed start to the winter, leaving much to be done in a compressed window. The Nats have already done a lot to prepare for 2020. They re-signed Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Yan Gomes and Javy Guerra....

215 Hits

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon asdrubal cabrera carter kieboom daniel hudson josh donaldson mark zuckerman matt adams mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft

December 12, 2019, 8:24am

Nationals

Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals lost right-hander Sterling Sharp to the Marlins in this morning's Rule 5 draft, ending a wildly eventful Winter Meetings with the departure of a promising-but-raw pitching prospect. Sharp was the third player selected overall in the Rule 5 draft, which gives clubs the opportunity to acquire prospects from other organizations who were left off their 40-man rosters this winter. The caveat: Any drafted players must remain on their new club's major league roster for the...

235 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime rule 5 draft sterling sharp winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

How will Rendon be remembered in D.C.?

December 11, 2019, 8:49pm

Nationals

SAN DIEGO - When Bryce Harper departed 9 1/2 months ago, Nationals fans directed their ire at the star outfielder, blaming him for turning down the club's best offer and accepting a then-record-setting deal with one of their most hated rivals. And when Harper made his return to D.C. in a Phillies uniform five weeks later ... well, those fans left no doubt about how they'll forever feel about one of the best players in team history. When Anthony Rendon departed Wednesday night, fans seemed to...

321 Hits

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon bryce harper los angeles angels mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Source: Rendon heads to Angels for $245 million

December 11, 2019, 5:49pm

Nationals

Source: Rendon heads to Angels for $245 million

SAN DIEGO - In the end, Anthony Rendon chose to switch coasts and switch leagues but still manage to stay out of the spotlight he strives to avoid by signing with a franchise that already has two of the game's biggest stars on its roster. Rendon agreed in principle to a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels tonight, according to a source familiar with the terms, ending his time with the Nationals after seven spectacular seasons and one World Series title that sealed his legacy in...

59 Hits

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon josh donaldson los angeles angels mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Satisfied with No. 5 starter options, Nats focused on relievers

December 11, 2019, 2:40pm

Nationals

Satisfied with No. 5 starter options, Nats focused on relievers

SAN DIEGO - With Stephen Strasburg officially back for the long term, the Nationals know they'll enter the 2020 season with the same starting quartet that was instrumental in their World Series victory. Strasburg rejoins Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez as a formidable foursome that will again serve as the backbone of this roster. What about the final spot in the rotation? That's very much up for grabs at the moment, and it appears it will remain that way heading into...

214 Hits

Comments

Tags:

austin voth daniel hudson erick fedde hunter strickland joe ross mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime roenis elias winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

December 11, 2019, 10:04am

Nationals

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are shuffling three of their coaches to new positions for the 2020 season, with Tim Bogar taking over as bench coach, Chip Hale moving to third base coach and Bob Henley switching to first base coach. Every member of Davey Martinez's World Series winning staff returns next season, with one exception: Pat Roessler has been hired as assistant hitting coach, replacing Joe Dillon, who accepted the lead hitting coach's job with the Phillies last month. That means three...