Dan Kolko

Report: Michael Gonzalez leaves Nats for Brewers

December 28, 2012, 9:32am

Another left-handed reliever is off the market. Michael Gonzalez, who appeared in 47 games with the Nationals last season, has signed a one-year deal with the Brewers, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The deal is worth $2.25 million plus incentives, according to CBSsports.com. Gonzalez posted a 3.03 ERA with the Nats, and he held left-handed hitters to a .179 batting average. He was also a valuable voice in the Nationals' clubhouse, as he mentored a number of the Nationals'...

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Can Bernadina back up a strong 2012 campaign?

December 28, 2012, 7:07am

Nationals

Can Bernadina back up a strong 2012 campaign?

If you're looking for some good baseball programming on TV to get you through the weekend, I've got a suggestion for you. Cue up the DVR and record any future airings of a one-hour special that originally aired on MLB Network last night called "The Third Team." The show follows around the six umpires that worked the 2012 World Series and gives you a very cool look at the game from their perspective. All six umpires are miked up during the games, and you get to see how the umps handle...

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As 2013 nears, Nats still waiting on LaRoche

December 27, 2012, 6:11am

Nationals

As 2013 nears, Nats still waiting on LaRoche

If you happen to be interested in getting a sneak peak at the Nationals' new-look batting practice caps for this season, you're in luck.

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The forgotten man in the bullpen

December 26, 2012, 7:18am

Nationals

By the time pitchers and catchers report to spring training some six to seven weeks from now, we'll already have a pretty good idea how the bulk of the Nationals' bullpen will be put together. Barring injuries to any of these players, it's pretty safe to slot Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, Ryan Mattheus and Zach Duke into the 'pen. Another left-hander (J.P. Howell? Michael Gonzalez? Bill Bray?) is almost certain to join that group, as well. A lot can change between now and...

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More gift-giving during this holiday season

December 25, 2012, 7:14am

Nationals

More gift-giving during this holiday season

Here's wishing a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all the Nationals fans out there. Hope you all get to spend the day with family and friends, and enjoy the company of those close to you. Regardless of what religion you may practice, that's what's truly important this time of year. That, and some sweet gifts. If past years are any indication, today will be a very quiet day in the baseball world. The trade talks will likely come to a halt for the day. The calls to agents will be...

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Targets on their backs

December 23, 2012, 10:29pm

Nationals

Watching the Redskins pick up their sixth straight win yesterday and move within one more victory of a division title (boy, will Sunday night's game against the Cowboys be just a tad intense?), I realized that the Skins' 2012 season to this point somewhat mirrors the Nationals' 2012 campaign. Obviously, given how each team finished in 2011, the Nats entered this most recent season with a bit loftier expectations around them than the burgundy and gold, and while the Redskins might end up in...

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A possible reason for LaRoche's miniscule market

December 23, 2012, 7:48am

Nationals

A possible reason for LaRoche's miniscule market

It was reported earlier this year that Nick Swisher wanted Jayson Werth-type money this offseason. Don't we all. Swisher didn't get $126 million over seven years. He didn't get close to that. But he did end up with a four-year, $56 million deal courtesy of the Indians, according to reports. The top free agents are starting to come off the board pretty quickly now. By my count, of the top 50 free agents

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Big splashes not necessary for a successful offseason

December 22, 2012, 6:09am

Nationals

Big splashes not necessary for a successful offseason

As spring training gets close to beginning each year, we see columns pop up all over the internet declaring the winners and losers of that particular offseason. Often, the teams that make the big splashes - the big-name signings, the major trades - are declared winners for that offseason period. It's those type of moves which excite a fan base, which make headlines and generate a lot of attention towards a club. The Marlins were considered winners last offseason after signing Jose Reyes,...

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Appreciating what we'll see on the mound in 2013 and beyond

December 20, 2012, 11:00pm

Nationals

Appreciating what we'll see on the mound in 2013 and beyond

Given the contracts that Edwin Jackson (four years, $52 million), Anibal Sanchez (five years, $80 million) and Zack Greinke (six years, $147 million) have scored this offseason, can you imagine what any of the Nationals' top three starters would fetch on the open market if they were all free agents this offseason? What type of deal would Gio Gonzalez land after winning 21 games, posting a 2.89 ERA and notching 207 strikeouts in 2012? How much money would a 26-year-old Jordan Zimmermann...

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Nats' decision on Jackson comes back to bite them

December 20, 2012, 11:11am

Nationals

Nats' decision on Jackson comes back to bite them

Five days after the World Series ended, the Nationals had a choice to make: extend Edwin Jackson a qualifying offer, or cut ties with the veteran right-hander completely. If the Nats presented Jackson with the qualifying offer and he accepted it, he would have been on the books for a one-year, $13.3 million deal in 2013. If he declined the qualifying offer and signed elsewhere, the Nats would receive a valuable compensatory draft pick, which would come between the first and second rounds of...

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Playing the waiting game (Gorzelanny signs with Brewers)

December 20, 2012, 3:57am

Nationals

Playing the waiting game (Gorzelanny signs with Brewers)

The Padres have reportedly dropped out of the Edwin Jackson sweepstakes, this apparently because they aren't willing to give the veteran right-hander a four-year contract. Yes, Jackson appears likely to receive a four-year deal that could end up topping $50 million. This for a guy with a 4.40 career ERA who has been with seven organizations in 10 years. I've got nothing against Jackson, who I liked a lot in my time covering him this season. But, man, this free agent market is...

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Rendon, Giolito head up Baseball America's list of Nats' top 10 prospects

December 19, 2012, 7:15am

Nationals

Rendon, Giolito head up Baseball America's list of Nats' top 10 prospects

There's no doubt that the Nationals' minor league system has been thinned out by recent trades that brought in Gio Gonzalez and Denard Span. But there are still a few prospects within the Nats' system with a pretty high ceiling, even after guys like Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Tommy Milone and Alex Meyer were dealt in order for the Nationals to bring in proven major league players. Baseball America has released its list of the top 10 prospects in the Nationals' organization for...

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Where are the weaknesses?

December 18, 2012, 6:06am

Nationals

Another day has passed, and still no announcement from the Red Sox on whether they've finally completed their deal with first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli. Napoli and the Red Sox agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal at the Winter Meetings more than two weeks ago, but the deal has still not been made official. There are reports that the Red Sox have found some sort of issues with Napoli's physical, and while the two sides are still working on a way to finalize the contract they...

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Why the Nationals won't offer LaRoche a three-year deal

December 16, 2012, 9:20pm

Nationals

The Nationals won their division and the Redskins are tied for the lead in theirs in mid-December. It's a wild time to be a D.C. sports fan. Last week, I discussed why Adam LaRoche has yet to make a decision on whether to return to D.C. and re-sign with the Nationals. The main reason is that LaRoche is still looking for a three-year contract, and the Nats are unwilling to offer anything beyond two years. At first glance, the Nationals' insistence on holding firm on their two-year offer...

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Look for more action on the bases in 2013

December 16, 2012, 5:24am

Nationals

Look for more action on the bases in 2013

The Nationals weren't a team that relied heavily on speed in 2012. They didn't have to. When healthy, the Nats' starting lineup featured eight guys who have hit at least 15 home runs in a season. Seven of those players have legitimate 25-homer power. The Nats also had a strong overall team on-base percentage, which nearly slotted them in the top third of the league in that category. They were tied for 14th in the league in stolen bases last season, swiping 105 bags. Not bad, but nothing...

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Some surprising pitching news within the division

December 15, 2012, 6:02am

Nationals

Some surprising pitching news within the division

Given we currently have a free agent market in which Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher coming off a nine-win, 3.86-ERA season, can land a five-year, $80 million deal, it's shocking that the Mets aren't willing to offer R.A. Dickey the two-year, $26 million extension he's seeking. Instead, the Mets are on the verge of dealing the Cy Young Award-winning knuckleballer to the Blue Jays, according to reports, for top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and other pieces. I guess this is the move you make...

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The market is starting to play out

December 14, 2012, 6:01am

Nationals

We all know about the so-called "Madden curse," where some football fans believe that a player landing on the cover of the popular "Madden" video game will lead to that player getting injured or having a sub-par season the following year. Does the curse apply to baseball video games, as well? Nationals fans should hope not. Bryce Harper is one of the candidates to grace the cover of "MLB 13: The Show," and the 20-year-old outfielder apparently has already taken part in a campaign shoot...

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A new twist in the LaRoche talks (plus an international signing)

December 13, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

Yesterday, I wrote about the possible ripple effects of Josh Hamilton leaving the Rangers, and specifically how that could impact Adam LaRoche's chances of re-signing with the Nationals. Well, it's happened. Hamilton has left the Rangers. Hamilton has agreed to a whopping five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, according to reports. This gives the Angels one of the most lethal offensive trios in recent memory, with Hamilton joining Albert Pujols and Mike Trout near the top of the...

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Some of this, some of that

December 13, 2012, 6:12am

Nationals

If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...

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What is LaRoche waiting on?

December 12, 2012, 5:19am

Nationals

According to the latest odds put out by the sports book Bovada, the Nationals are tied with the Tigers and Dodgers at 17/2 as the favorites to win the 2013 World Series. I tweeted out that information last night, only to have about five people respond telling me to stop being a jinx. If the Nats lose 100 games next season, you'll know who to blame. I made an appearance on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN last night (you can catch the video of my call-in here), and during the...