Dan Kolko

Espinosa played with torn rotator cuff last season

January 26, 2013, 10:29am

A couple things are different about Danny Espinosa from the last time we saw him. First, he's got a massive beard, which he started growing around Oct. 1 and hasn't shaved since. That will go before spring training starts. Also, he finally knows what was wrong with his left shoulder, which bugged him for the better part of the final two months of last season. Espinosa was originally diagnosed late last season with a bone bruise inside the capsule of his shoulder. Turns out, Espinosa...

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Rizzo on All-Star Game, Vasquez, Zimmermann, more

January 26, 2013, 8:42am

Nationals

Rizzo on All-Star Game, Vasquez, Zimmermann, more

Danny Espinosa still has his beard, and it's still fierce. Never say I don't bring you all the important updates. Mike Rizzo took part in a fan Q&A session here at NatsFest at bit ago, and at one point was asked about the chances of the Nationals and Washington D.C. getting to host an All-Star Game. Rizzo's response? "We deserve the damn All-Star game, I'll tell you that," he told the fans, who broke out in applause. The Nationals would have loved to have been selected to host the...

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A fun-filled day ahead

January 26, 2013, 4:21am

Nationals

It might still be January and spring training still might be nearly three weeks away, but for today, at least, Nationals baseball will be in full swing. In just a little bit, I'll be taking off for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown D.C. to take part in NatsFest, which runs from noon-4 p.m. Season ticket holders can arrive even earlier for special events that begin at 11 a.m. At least 22 players will be in attendance today, as well as general manager Mike Rizzo and other...

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Things getting interesting in the NL East

January 25, 2013, 3:07am

Nationals

Things getting interesting in the NL East

I'd imagine there aren't many baseball fans who would object to me saying that not much is being expected of the Miami Marlins or New York Mets this season. The Marlins, who downright stunk last year, traded away the vast majority of their established major leaguers, and while there is buzz around the league that the Mets could be major players for free agent center fielder Michael Bourn, they dealt Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey this offseason and are coming off a second half of the...

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A chance for Moore to do more

January 24, 2013, 3:41am

Nationals

Ladies and gentlemen,

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The science of team chemistry

January 23, 2013, 5:24am

Nationals

Essentially, the Nationals' five-man bench was finalized months ago. Chad Tracy signed a one-year extension covering the 2013 season during the Nationals' postseason run last year, keeping him a part of the Goon Squad, which will also contain Steve Lombardozzi, Tyler Moore, Roger Bernadina and whichever catcher doesn't start that particular day - Kurt Suzuki or Wilson Ramos. That five-man group didn't really leave room for Mark DeRosa, so even though manager Davey Johnson hoped to bring...

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Random news and notes, including some Detwiler talk (DeRosa signs with Toronto)

January 22, 2013, 6:09am

Nationals

Random news and notes, including some Detwiler talk (DeRosa signs with Toronto)

The Nationals had been considered one of the favorites to host the 2015 All-Star Game. That won't be happening, however. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Reds will be given the Midsummer Classic in 2015, likely leaving D.C. out of the All-Star Game picture until at least 2017. The league office prefers that the All-Star Game alternates between American League and National League cities on a year-to-year basis. The Mets will host this year's All-Star Game at Citi Field, the 2014...

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Soriano move affects other bullpen arms

January 21, 2013, 6:22am

Nationals

Before I delve into some Nationals talk, indulge me as I drop a quick Ravens statistic for anyone who might have followed me over from that beat last year. Joe Flacco has thrown for 853 yards with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in the postseason. He's outplayed Peyton Manning and Tom Brady the last two weeks, and this is the second season in a row in which he's gone into Gillette Stadium and played well enough to get his team to the Super Bowl. Pay the man. Sorry, had to get that...

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Managing the expectations

January 20, 2013, 9:01am

Nationals

Davey Johnson and Bryce Harper were in New York last night to receive some hardware. Back in the U.S. after a lengthy trip to Africa with his wife, Johnson was presented with his National League Manager of the Year award, and Harper was given his NL Rookie of the Year at the New York Baseball Writers' Association Dinner. Here are the dapper Harper making their acceptance speeches. Harper sure can rock a tux. I wrote a few weeks ago about how the Nationals will have to adjust to being the...

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Davey Johnson comments on the passing of Earl Weaver

January 19, 2013, 10:02am

Nationals

Davey Johnson comments on the passing of Earl Weaver

Nationals manager Davey Johnson played under legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver for four years from 1968-72, making three All-Star games in that time. Last night, Weaver passed away at 82. Weaver was beloved not only by fans in Baltimore, but by those who suited up for him, as well. Johnson has said in the past that Weaver was a mentor of sorts to him, and he had a close relationship with the former Orioles skipper. "I grew up in the minor leagues with Earl Weaver and we proceeded to...

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Breaking down why the Nats remain high on A.J. Cole

January 19, 2013, 6:34am

Nationals

Breaking down why the Nats remain high on A.J. Cole

At Thursday's press conference at Nationals Park, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said he feels "very fortunate" to have gotten the package that he did in return for Michael Morse, who was under contract for only one more season. That package consisted of right-handed prospects A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen, and a player to be named later, who will be selected from a list of a couple of guys the Nationals and Athletics agreed upon. Cole is the big name in the group acquired from the A's, a...

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Nats avoid arbitration with five players, swap salary figures with Zimmermann

January 18, 2013, 7:26am

Nationals

Nats avoid arbitration with five players, swap salary figures with Zimmermann

The Nationals have avoided arbitration with left-hander Ross Detwiler, as the two sides agreed to terms on a $2.3375 million deal with performance bonuses for the 2013 season. Detwiler will earn $25,000 if he reaches 200 innings pitched this season, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Detwiler's agency, CAA Sports, announced the terms of the deal. Another CAA client up for arbitration, Drew Storen, agreed to a $2.5 million contract with the Nats that includes performance bonuses...

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Storen's roller-coaster ride of a career continues

January 18, 2013, 5:32am

Nationals

Storen's roller-coaster ride of a career continues

Sixteen months ago, Drew Storen was putting the finishing touches on a 43-save season which, in the eyes of many, made him one of the top young closers in baseball. Today, Storen finds himself a set-up guy, a pitcher who had hoped to put a crushing blown save behind him and prove he could still close at an elite level, but instead will be primarily working the eighth inning this season in front of the Nationals' new $28 million man, Rafael Soriano. Storen has been on quite a professional...

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Espinosa added to Mexico's provisional roster for WBC (Storen avoids arbitration)

January 17, 2013, 2:40pm

Nationals

Espinosa added to Mexico's provisional roster for WBC (Storen avoids arbitration)

Major League Baseball announced its provisional rosters for the World Baseball Classic this afternoon, and two guys on the Nationals' 40-man roster are in line to participate in the event. Danny Espinosa is on the roster for Team Mexico. Espinosa was born in Santa Ana, Calif., but his father is Mexican. Nats outfielder Roger Bernadina is also set to participate in the WBC; the 28-year-old is on the Netherlands' provisional roster. Team USA's roster does not have any Nats players. Another...

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Rizzo: Soriano will close, Nats still confident in Storen

January 17, 2013, 2:11pm

Nationals

Rizzo: Soriano will close, Nats still confident in Storen

The Nationals introduced their new right-handed reliever, Rafael Soriano, at Nats Park this evening, and while general manager Mike Rizzo was quick to say that he still thinks highly of Drew Storen, he left no doubt as to who the Nats plan on utilizing as their closer. "Suffice it to say, Raffy is here to pitch the ninth," Rizzo said. "He has done it successfully everywhere he has been and we expect him to continue that." The Nats agreed to terms Tuesday with Soriano to a two-year, $28...

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Morse, Nats both benefited from slugger's time in D.C. (programming update)

January 17, 2013, 4:27am

Nationals

Morse, Nats both benefited from slugger's time in D.C. (programming update)

Michael Morse joined the Nationals organization on June 28, 2009, coming over from the Mariners in return for outfielder Ryan Langerhans. At the time, Morse had just 300 major league at-bats under his belt, having struck out 65 times and had hit just three home runs and in his brief big league tenure. He was a 27-year-old without a set position, a guy who broke into the major leagues as a shortstop despite the fact that he was 6-foot-5 and didn't have great quickness. Morse leaves the...

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Morse traded to Mariners in three-team deal (with multiple updates)

January 16, 2013, 2:09pm

Nationals

Morse traded to Mariners in three-team deal (with multiple updates)

The Nationals have found a new home for Michael Morse, shipping the power-hitting outfielder/first baseman to the Mariners in a three-team deal that also involves the Athletics, according to an industry source. In return for the 30-year-old Morse, the Nationals will get minor league pitcher A.J. Cole, who the Nats traded to the A's in the Gio Gonzalez deal last winter. Washington will also get another prospect and a player to be named, according to the source. The Mariners will give up...

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Examining all aspects of the Soriano signing

January 16, 2013, 4:06am

Nationals

Examining all aspects of the Soriano signing

If you missed Bryce Harper's appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night, you also missed Kimmel's first "clown question" reference coming four seconds after Harper walked out on stage. No, seriously. I'm not kidding. Kimmel's according to former Nats general manager Jim Bowden) to bring in a guy who doesn't fulfill a specific need for you? And why do it when it didn't appear that Boras, Soriano's ÃƒÂ¼ber-confident agent, had many other teams interested in the 33-year-old...

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Nats sign reliever Rafael Soriano (another update)

January 15, 2013, 9:35am

Nationals

Nats sign reliever Rafael Soriano (another update)

Another Scott Boras client is coming to the nation's capital. The Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28 million deal with a vesting option for a third year, according to Yahoo! Sports. Update: A source confirms the report. The terms listed above are accurate. Soriano's third-year option, worth $14 million, vests if he finishes 120 games over the next two seasons. By signing Soriano, 33, the Nationals will forfeit their first-round pick (No. 29...

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Looking at where Harper will hit in 2013

January 15, 2013, 3:57am

Nationals

Looking at where Harper will hit in 2013

If you don't mind staying up close to or past midnight tonight, you'll find the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year making an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," a late-night talk show on ABC. Bryce Harper will be swinging by the set for an interview with Kimmel, whose show starts at 11:35 p.m. It's too bad Harper hasn't been able to have any cool things happen to him prior to turning 21. Just a shame. By the way, I'm setting the over/under at the first "That's a clown question,...