Dan Kolko

To tinker or not to tinker? That's the question

January 14, 2013, 5:07am

Given the state of the Nationals' roster going into this offseason, general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson could have essentially run out pretty much the exact same team in 2013. They could have left Bryce Harper in center field and put Michael Morse in left. They could have kept Jayson Werth as their leadoff hitter, given the high on-base percentage Werth put up last season in that spot. They could have offered Edwin Jackson a qualifying offer or made an effort to re-up the...

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Do you want Nats players suiting up for the World Baseball Classic?

January 12, 2013, 8:55am

Nationals

Do you want Nats players suiting up for the World Baseball Classic?

Despite lots of Twitter campaigning this past week, Bryce Harper came up short in the voting for the cover of MLB '13 The Show. Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen will grace the video game's cover after receiving over 108,000 votes via Facebook and Twitter. Harper received 42,542 votes and finished fifth in voting that also contained CC Sabathia, Miguel Cabrera, Matt Kemp, Buster Posey and Ryan Braun. We know that Harper will not be participating in the World Baseball Classic this...

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Examining the Morse market

January 11, 2013, 6:10am

Nationals

The Tampa Bay Rays have been mentioned around baseball as one team that could look to make a deal for Nationals left fielder/first baseman Michael Morse. Joe Maddon's team is still looking for more offense, and the Rays have pitching that could be dealt in order to bring in a middle-of-the-order bat. The Baltimore Orioles seem to make a lot of sense for Morse, as well, given their needs, and could potentially make a run at the 30-year-old slugger. The New York Yankees are reportedly...

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A hodgepodge of random notes (Nats sign Ohlendorf, West)

January 10, 2013, 8:28am

Nationals

A hodgepodge of random notes (Nats sign Ohlendorf, West)

Lost in all the Adam LaRoche/Michael Morse stuff the other day, I forgot to mention that it looks like the Nationals will have a new speedy outfielder wearing jersey No. 2 this season. Denard Span tweeted that he will be wearing No. 2 with the Nationals, which was his number while playing with the Twins. The previous owner of that jersey number, Roger Bernadina, apparently has agreed to part ways with it. Span tweeted that Bernadina was "very gracious" in giving up the number. So there...

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MASN to air six Nats exhibition games

January 09, 2013, 9:39pm

Nationals

Even if your boss, significant other or parental unit won't allow you to make a trip down to Viera, Fla., to see a few Nationals spring training games in person, you'll have a chance to catch a number of Nats exhibition games on the small screen. I know, I know. It's not anywhere near the same thing, but for those of you starved for baseball, I'm sure it'll do. MASN HD will be airing six exhibition games this spring, five of which will take place at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. The TV...

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Let's look more at the lack of lefties (updated with Hall of Fame note)

January 09, 2013, 7:50am

Nationals

Let's look more at the lack of lefties (updated with Hall of Fame note)

Back at the Winter Meetings in December, Davey Johnson said that he'd ideally like to add another left-handed reliever to his bullpen, giving him better match-up options late in games. General manager Mike Rizzo echoed that sentiment, but said that the Nationals don't necessarily need to add a late-inning lefty. Rizzo's reasoning was that with Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen and Ryan Mattheus in the Nationals' bullpen, Johnson has three righties who possess good track records against...

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Why move Morse?

January 08, 2013, 8:26pm

Nationals

In the wake of the news that Adam LaRoche has signed a two-year deal with the Nationals worth a guaranteed $24 million, the most popular question among fans, by far, seems to be the following: Why would the Nats trade Michael Morse? Morse has become a popular guy with teammates and fans over the last couple years, thanks largely to his offensive production (it's tough to dislike a guy who hit .303 with a .910 OPS and 31 home runs two seasons ago), but also because of his quirky, fun-loving...

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Rizzo talks LaRoche signing, Morse trade options

January 08, 2013, 12:52pm

Nationals

Rizzo talks LaRoche signing, Morse trade options

After a few months of extended talks which saw little actual negotiating, the Nationals and Adam LaRoche today agreed on a two-year contract worth a guaranteed $24 million, a deal which brings one player in but will almost certainly send another out. LaRoche returns for the 2013 and 2014 seasons and has a mutual option for 2015, as well. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo viewed LaRoche as his "Plan A" all offseason, and today, he finally brought back the Gold Glove- and Silver...

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Nats to host Yankees for March 29 exhibition

January 08, 2013, 9:15am

Nationals

Nats to host Yankees for March 29 exhibition

The Nationals made an announcement a couple minutes ago, but it in no way relates to Adam LaRoche re-signing, Michael Morse's future or anything along those lines. Because LaRoche needs to fly to D.C. for a physical before his new two-year contract can be finalized, we'll probably have to wait a day or two before the Nationals make a formal announcement that they've reached a deal with the first baseman. Instead, this bit of news concerns an exhibition between the Nats and the Yankees,...

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LaRoche returns to Nats on a two-year deal (deal is official)

January 08, 2013, 7:23am

Nationals

LaRoche returns to Nats on a two-year deal (deal is official)

It took a while, but the Nationals have gotten the guy they wanted all along. After lengthy negotiations centering around the length of a deal, the Nats and first baseman Adam LaRoche have agreed to terms on a two-year contract, a source has confirmed. LaRoche, who won Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger awards for his performance this last season, gives the Nationals great lefty-righty balance in their lineup and keeps their strong infield defense intact. LaRoche led the Nationals with 33...

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Looking at the Suzuki/Ramos situation

January 08, 2013, 6:45am

Nationals

In past years, the Nationals have entered spring training with a number of jobs up for grabs. Position players have battled for starting roles, pitchers have competed for spots in the rotation or a seat in the bullpen and guys lower down the depth chart have tried to merely get their name on the 25-man roster. This spring, we'll see some of that; a couple of bullpen jobs will be there for the taking, and a seat on the bench can possibly be won with a strong effort in camp, as well. For the...

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In the on-deck circle

January 07, 2013, 5:43am

Nationals

The similarities are a bit eerie. The Nationals led Game 5 of the National League Division Series 6-0 after three innings only to see their offense go silent. Their opponent, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, chipped away and eventually left D.C. fans heartbroken. The Redskins led the NFC wild card game 14-0 after one quarter only to see their offense completely shut down. Their opponent, the visiting Seattle Seahawks, chipped away and eventually left D.C. fans to deal with another stunning...

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The waiting is working

January 06, 2013, 4:13am

Nationals

If the Rangers were considered a possible landing spot for Adam LaRoche a couple days ago, it's hard to believe they still are today. Texas reportedly has agreed to terms with first baseman/outfielder Lance Berkman on a one-year, $11 million contract, a deal which includes a vesting option for 2014. Berkman, a switch-hitter, gives the Rangers more pop from the left side of the plate and a guy that they can rotate in at a few positions. This deal comes after the Rangers signed left-handed...

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Howell to sign with Dodgers

January 04, 2013, 4:55pm

Nationals

After watching Sean Burnett, Tom Gorzelanny and Michael Gonzalez all leave D.C. to sign elsewhere, the Nationals now have seen another left-handed reliever go off the market, as well. J.P. Howell, a lefty who the Nats had been targeting for a spot toward the back of their bullpen, has agreed to terms with the Dodgers, according to multiple reports. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Howell's deal with the Dodgers will be worth just under $3 million in base salary with performance...

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Some of this, some of that

January 04, 2013, 6:19am

Nationals

I saw a report yesterday that the Royals had signed first baseman Chad Tracy to a minor league deal and immediately did a double take. Had I blacked out for a few days and missed something? Nope. Turns out former Rockies manager Jim Tracy has a son. That son happens to play first base. That son also happens to have the name Chad. The Nationals' Chad Tracy still is a first baseman ... on the Nationals. This is the point we're at in the offseason - where other teams' minor league...

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Finding some offense from the No. 9 spot

January 02, 2013, 9:44pm

Nationals

Finding some offense from the No. 9 spot

We've talked often about how the Nationals' projected 2013 lineup appears pretty strong from 1-8 in the order. Power, on-base percentage and speed; regardless of whether Adam LaRoche returns or not, the Nats will have a potent top eight in their order in multiple facets. One thing we haven't talked that much about is how the Nationals' No. 9 hitter often will give this lineup an added element that not many teams can match. And no, by that I don't mean that Davey Johnson will be...

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New year, same waiting game

January 02, 2013, 5:57am

Nationals

The holidays are over, the calendar has turned and my headache has finally started to dissipate. Hello, 2013. Hope everyone had an enjoyable new year celebration and hasn't found the transition back to the real world to be too jarring. We might have put 2012 in the rear-view mirror, but we still find ourselves asking the same question today that we asked for the final few months of last year: Will Adam LaRoche return to the Nationals? LaRoche is still patiently waiting (very patiently, I...

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A favorite memory from 2012

December 31, 2012, 5:16am

Nationals

Let me make sure I have this right: The Washington Nationals and Washington Redskins both made the playoffs in the same calendar year? Two years after those two teams posted a combined winning percentage of .400, they both won the division in their respective sport? Weird, wild stuff. Add in the Orioles and Ravens both making the postseason this year, as well, and it's been a pretty special few months for sports fans in the mid-Atlantic region. As 2012 comes to an end tonight, Nationals...

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Getting some more national recognition

December 30, 2012, 6:56am

Nationals

Teams can be chock full of talent and potential, and end up going nowhere. Other teams can lack elite talent and still find a way to rattle off wins and make a run in the playoffs. Talent level guarantees nothing in professional sports. There are other factors that determine how far a team will go, which is why some organizations can spend upwards of $175 million in a season and still end up watching the postseason from home. As they prepare to enter the 2013 season, however, the Nationals...

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Still seeking some southpaws

December 29, 2012, 5:56am

Nationals

For a team that isn't overhauling its roster all that much, it's kind of interesting that the Nationals have lost all three left-handed relievers that were on their 2012 roster prior to the 25-man limit expanding in September. Sean Burnett has headed out west to join the Angels for a reported $8 million over two years, with a vesting option worth $4.5 million for 2015. Tom Gorzelanny, who was non-tendered by the Nats last month, signed a two-year, $5.7 million deal with the Brewers. And...