Mark Zuckerman

Is there a pre-spring favorite in the NL East?

February 09, 2019, 7:33pm

There hasn't been a legitimate, down-to-the-wire pennant race in the National League East more than a decade now, not since the Phillies hung on to top the Mets during the final weekend of the 2008 season. The division hasn't been decided by fewer than seven games since 2012, when the Nationals finished four games ahead of the Braves (but were never seriously threatened in September). Is this the year that finally changes? There's certainly an argument right now that the NL East is the best...

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Report: Nats under consideration for 2020 series in London

February 08, 2019, 7:29pm

Nationals

Report: Nats under consideration for 2020 series in London

Could the Nationals be headed across the pond for one summer series in 2020? It appears to be a legitimate possibility. Major League Baseball is considering two potential matchups for its planned London Series in June 2020, either the Nationals vs. the Mets or the Cubs vs. the Cardinals, according to the Associated Press. The report, citing two people familiar with the discussions, suggested an announcement on the final matchup is expected after opening day this year. In its attempt to spread...

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Gott designated for assignment to clear spot for Hellickson

February 08, 2019, 12:53pm

Nationals

Gott designated for assignment to clear spot for Hellickson

The Nationals have designated reliever Trevor Gott for assignment, clearing a spot on their 40-man roster for Jeremy Hellickson, whose signing was officially announced by the club. Hellickson agreed earlier this week to terms on a one-year, $1.3 million contract that also includes up to $4 million in incentives. The deal was contingent on the right-hander passing a physical, which he has now done, and on the Nationals clearing a roster spot for him. They chose to make Gott the odd man out, a...

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Barraclough loses arbitration case

February 08, 2019, 6:04am

Nationals

Kyle Barraclough lost his arbitration case against the Nationals, a panel of three independent judges ruling the recently acquired reliever will earn $1.725 million this season instead of the $2 million he sought. Barraclough and the Nationals presented their respective cases before the panel Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla., the second and final member of the roster to go to a hearing this month. Michael A. Taylor also lost his case last week, with the arbitrators deciding his salary will be...

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Deep down, The Intimidator was really an Old Softie

February 07, 2019, 7:20pm

Nationals

Deep down, The Intimidator was really an Old Softie

He was The Intimidator, the fearsome presence who commanded a room the moment he walked in, the baseball icon who played and managed his entire career with a chip on his shoulder. That was the Frank Robinson most of the world knew, the version of himself he wanted most of the world to know. But he was also The Old Softie, the jovial uncle who cared deeply about those who managed to crack his outer visage, whether teammates, players of his or reporters who covered him. This was the Frank...

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With or without Harper, Nats outfield has talent and star power

February 06, 2019, 8:01pm

Nationals

With or without Harper, Nats outfield has talent and star power

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... You would think that, with only six shopping days left until pitchers and catchers report, the Nationals would have long since known which three outfielders would be taking the field for opening day 2019. You, of course, would be wrong. Sure, the Nats have prepared all along to enter the coming season without Bryce Harper. But as...

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Hellickson returning to Nats on major league deal

February 06, 2019, 6:57am

Nationals

Hellickson returning to Nats on major league deal

Given how effective he was for them last season - when healthy and when used strategically - Jeremy Hellickson always loomed as an enticing pitching option for the Nationals to bring back in 2019. Sure enough, the two sides have worked out a deal to reunite. And more than a month earlier than they worked out last year's deal. Hellickson has agreed to terms on a one-year, major league contract that guarantees him $1.3 million, with an additional $4 million possible via incentives, according to...

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Nats infield returns almost entirely intact, with one big change

February 05, 2019, 5:56pm

Nationals

Nats infield returns almost entirely intact, with one big change

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ... Despite significant changes across just about every other part of the roster, the Nationals' infield returns almost entirely intact in 2019 - with one notable exception at second base. Daniel Murphy, one of the best all-around hitters in baseball, has moved on after spending most of the last three years in D.C. terrorizing...

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Nats hoping two new catchers will be better than one star

February 04, 2019, 6:37pm

Nationals

Nats hoping two new catchers will be better than one star

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... The Nationals didn't get enough production from their catchers the last two seasons. Of this, no one can deny. Matt Wieters, well-liked as he was by members of the pitching staff and the rest of the clubhouse, simply could not hit well enough to justify as much playing time as he received. Trouble was, none of the Nats'...

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Beyond Doolittle, Nats bullpen is full of question marks

February 03, 2019, 8:23pm

Nationals

Beyond Doolittle, Nats bullpen is full of question marks

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the bullpen ... A position of instability and turbulence for years, the Nationals bullpen entered the 2018 season as a legitimately perceived strength. The three-headed "Law Firm" of late-inning relievers general manager Mike Rizzo acquired during the summer of 2017 all returned, and the rest of the group featured a balanced combination of...

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Revamped rotation will need to return to elite form this year

February 02, 2019, 2:04pm

Nationals

Revamped rotation will need to return to elite form this year

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series begins today with the starting rotation ... It's no secret how the Nationals have attempted to build a championship-caliber roster over the last seven seasons: with a dominant rotation leading the way. Trouble is, the 2018 version of that rotation didn't come close to holding up its end of the bargain and proved to be perhaps the No. 1 reason this team...

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Backpacks now banned at Nats Park, ESPN picks up May 19 game

February 01, 2019, 6:58pm

Nationals

Backpacks now banned at Nats Park, ESPN picks up May 19 game

Citing a need to "enhance ballpark safety," the Nationals announced Friday a new policy that prohibits fans from bringing backpacks into Nationals Park for the upcoming season. Fans previously had been allowed to enter the ballpark with backpacks, which, like other bags, were screened by security personnel at all gates. The team will no longer allow them, though, except in cases of backpack diaper bags or backpacks used for medical reasons or for devices covered by the Americans with...

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Taylor loses arbitration case, will earn $3.25 million this season

February 01, 2019, 7:21am

Nationals

Taylor loses arbitration case, will earn $3.25 million this season

Michael A. Taylor lost his arbitration case against the Nationals, with a panel of three independent judges ruling the outfielder will earn $3.25 million this season instead of the $3.5 million he was seeking, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Taylor and the Nationals presented their cases before the panel Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla., the first of 13 arbitration hearings between major league clubs and players currently scheduled to take place over the next two weeks. Kyle...

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What are we to make of Padres' reported interest in Harper?

January 31, 2019, 6:51pm

Nationals

What are we to make of Padres' reported interest in Harper?

Here we are on the first day of February, various players around baseball are already starting to make their way to Florida and Arizona to get a jump start on spring training, and the news involving Bryce Harper isn't that he has signed with anyone but that he's meeting in Las Vegas with officials from the Padres. Yes, it's been an awfully strange winter. And the Harper Free Agent Extravaganza hasn't followed a script anyone saw coming. With the market for the star outfielder apparently...

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2018 contributors Holland, Reynolds sign with NL West clubs

January 30, 2019, 5:47pm

Nationals

2018 contributors Holland, Reynolds sign with NL West clubs

A pair of veterans who enjoyed some success with the Nationals found new homes Wednesday when Greg Holland reportedly agreed to a deal with the Diamondbacks and Mark Reynolds reportedly signed with the Rockies. Holland's contract, first reported by The Athletic, guarantees the reliever $3.25 million with an additional $3.5 million possible in incentives. It's a massive drop in salary for Holland, who despite waiting until March 31 to sign with St. Louis last spring still earned a guaranteed...

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Frank Robinson, Hall of Famer and first Nats manager, dies

January 30, 2019, 6:42am

Nationals

Frank Robinson, Hall of Famer and first Nats manager, dies

Frank Robinson, the talented and tenacious Hall of Fame outfielder who broke barriers as baseball's first African-American manager and who led the Nationals through their first two seasons in Washington, has died. He was 83. Robinson died this morning at his home in California, surrounded by family and friends, Major League Baseball announced. He had reportedly been in failing health in recent weeks. After working for Major League Baseball in a variety of roles over the last decade, Robinson...

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Nats hire former manager, GM McKeon as senior adviser

January 29, 2019, 6:01pm

Nationals

Nats hire former manager, GM McKeon as senior adviser

Always eager to add more experienced baseball lifers to his scouting staff, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has hired former big league manager Jack McKeon as a senior adviser. McKeon's hiring, which has not yet been announced by the organization, was confirmed by a club source. It was first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The 88-year-old McKeon has enjoyed a life full of notable baseball achievements, including 16 seasons as a major league manager and a decade as GM of the...

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How Nats pitchers are projected to perform in 2019

January 28, 2019, 5:30pm

Nationals

How Nats pitchers are projected to perform in 2019

Yesterday, we looked at FanGraphs.com's' Steamer projections for the Nationals' primary position players, an interesting assortment of optimism and pessimism, depending on the individual. Today we'll look at those projections for the Nationals pitching staff. Fair warning: This one trends more toward the pessimistic end of the spectrum. Here we go ... MAX SCHERZER Actual 2018 stats: 18-7, 2.53 ERA, 220.2 IP, 300 SO, 0.91 WHIP, 7.2 WAR Steamer 2019 projection: 15-8, 3.13 ERA, 208 IP, 271 SO,...

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How Nats position players are projected to hit in 2019

January 27, 2019, 7:09pm

Nationals

How Nats position players are projected to hit in 2019

As spring training draws closer and closer, it's reasonable to start wondering what kind of seasons individual players are likely to produce. No, we still don't know every player who will be part of the Nationals' 2019 roster, but we do know the vast majority of them at this point. Projecting stats from year to year is a tricky business, but there are no shortage of analytical formulas out there that attempt to do just this. One of the most popular is FanGraphs.com's Steamer projections,...

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Looking at the Nationals' current depth chart

January 26, 2019, 7:36pm

Nationals

We've examined how the Nationals' 25-man roster might look if it was assembled today, a useful exercise during the winter to gauge what, if any, holes still remain. But as you well know, it takes a lot more than 25 players to get through a major league season. The Nationals used 53 players last year, their highest total since 2009 and only four shy of the club record. So it's also useful to look at the organization's depth chart beyond the projected 25-man roster. Who do the Nats have...