Mark Zuckerman

Gomes surprised but excited by trade to Nationals

December 01, 2018, 8:16am

When he got a call Friday afternoon from Indians general manager Chris Antonetti saying a trade was in the works, Yan Gomes assumed it involved one of a couple teams. The Mets and Dodgers both had been linked to him in recent days, so he figured he was headed in one of those directions. So what did the 31-year-old catcher think when Antonetti told him he was heading to the Nationals? "To be honest, I got taken back a little bit," Gomes said today during a conference call with reporters...

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Winterfest returns to Nationals Park

November 30, 2018, 7:30pm

Nationals

It's a couple weeks earlier than in previous years, and it's back on South Capitol Street for the first time in nearly a decade, but it's time again for Winterfest. The Nationals' annual offseason gathering will have a different look and feel this year, with the event being held the first weekend in December and at Nationals Park after a steady run later in the month at the Washington Convention Center. Among the new activities this year are opportunities for fans to hit in the Nationals'...

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Nats acquire Gomes for Rodriguez, two others (updated)

November 30, 2018, 1:05pm

Nationals

Nats acquire Gomes for Rodriguez, two others (updated)

The Nationals finalized a trade tonight that will bring All-Star catcher Yan Gomes to Washington in exchange for right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, minor league outfielder Daniel Johnson and a player to be named, completing a dramatic, 11-day overhaul of their catching corps. Having just signed veteran Kurt Suzuki to a two-year, $10 million deal last week, the Nationals went out and acquired another experienced catcher in Gomes, who had been the subject of trade speculation in recent days, though...

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Nats agree to terms with SolÃs, tender contracts to six others

November 30, 2018, 12:48pm

Nationals

Nats agree to terms with SolÃs, tender contracts to six others

The Nationals aren't ready to part ways with Sammy SolÃs just yet. Faced with an 8 p.m. EST deadline to tender a contract to the injury plagued and erratic reliever, the Nationals elected not only to bring SolÃs back in 2019 and give him another chance to right his ship following an especially frustrating season but to sign him right now. The two sides agreed to a one-year, $850,000 deal, according to a source familiar with the terms. The Nationals tendered contracts to all six of their...

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It's tender (or non-tender) decision day for the Nationals

November 29, 2018, 10:56am

Nationals

It's the final day of November, which means it's another deadline day in baseball's offseason, this one for tendering contracts. By 8 p.m. EST, all clubs must inform players who are eligible for arbitration (those with more than three and fewer than six years of big league service time, plus the top 22 percent of those with two years-plus service time) whether they will be offered a 2019 contract. Teams and players don't have to agree to any particular salary figures yet; there's still...

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How do the Nationals get better defensively in 2019?

November 28, 2018, 5:34pm

Nationals

There are any number of ways the Nationals need to get better on an individual basis, addressing specific needs at specific positions. But there's also a broader way the Nats need to get better, something that encompasses the entire roster. They need to be a better defensive ballclub. There's really no disputing this fact. Even though they boast an elite third baseman in Anthony Rendon, an above-average shortstop in Trea Turner ,and really athletic center fielders in Michael A. Taylor and...

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Nats facing plenty of competition for frontline starters

November 27, 2018, 8:21pm

Nationals

Nats facing plenty of competition for frontline starters

The Nationals have been aggressive in addressing some of their needs early this offseason, more aggressive than most teams. They acquired two relievers (Kyle Barraclough and Trevor Rosenthal) before the calendar even reached November. They signed a catcher (Kurt Suzuki) before any of the other top free agents at the position found a new home. Those were important moves, and all should help the Nationals in areas where they clearly needed help. But let's not kid ourselves here, because the...

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Suzuki signing was smart - if Nats sign another catcher, too

November 26, 2018, 8:16pm

Nationals

Suzuki signing was smart - if Nats sign another catcher, too

It never fails. The Nationals go weeks without making any news, and then the moment I go on vacation they suddenly create headlines. So I can't say I was shocked when - just as I was packing my bags and preparing to head to the airport eight days ago - the first report of the Nats signing Kurt Suzuki emerged. Yes, it happened again. Thanks, as always, to Byron Kerr and Pete Kerzel for stepping in to cover the news and everything else that happened over the last week while I was relaxing and...

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Do the Nats have the prospects to pull off a winter blockbuster?

November 18, 2018, 7:39pm

Nationals

Do the Nats have the prospects to pull off a winter blockbuster?

We've talked a lot so far this offseason about the options available to the Nationals via free agency, whether the big-name starting pitchers, the veteran catchers or the left-handed first basemen and relievers currently out there for the taking. There is, of course, another method for acquiring big league players who can make an immediate impact: a trade. Mike Rizzo certainly hasn't been averse to pulling off a winter blockbuster. Go back to December 2011, when he sent four prospects (A.J....

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Carter Kieboom wraps up strong AFL season

November 17, 2018, 7:01pm

Nationals

Carter Kieboom wraps up strong AFL season

If the Nationals wanted to use the Arizona Fall League to determine how close Carter Kieboom is to playing in Washington, they likely emerged feeling pretty good about their top infield prospect's development. Kieboom wrapped up a strong AFL season Saturday by contributing to both of the Salt River Rafters' runs during their heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Peoria Javelinas in the league's championship game. The 21-year-old infielder was hit by a pitch and proceeded to score in the top of the...

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Soto caps off season with impressive series in Japan

November 16, 2018, 12:03pm

Nationals

Soto caps off season with impressive series in Japan

Whether in the minors in April and May, the majors from June to September or Japan in November, Juan Soto never stopped hitting this year. Soto capped off his remarkable rookie season by excelling at the plate over the last week as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Star Series team that traveled across the Pacific Ocean to face the Japanese national club in six-game series. The Nationals' 20-year-old outfielder hit .350 (7-for-20) with two doubles, two homers, five RBIs and a 1.159 OPS...

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Friday morning Nats Q&A

November 15, 2018, 7:09pm

Nationals

Has it really been seven weeks since the Nationals' season ended? Yep, it has. We are well into the offseason now, with players having become free agents, a few having already signed and all the big awards having been handed out. It's still relatively early as far as the Hot Stove League goes. That usually doesn't pick up until December, and it certainly will begin to get hectic when the Winter Meetings open for business Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. But that doesn't mean there isn't already...

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Scherzer, Rendon finish 10th, 11th in MVP voting (plus my ballot)

November 15, 2018, 1:31pm

Nationals

Scherzer, Rendon finish 10th, 11th in MVP voting (plus my ballot)

Though neither was a serious candidate for National League MVP, it was always going to be interesting (and telling) where Max Scherzer and Anthony Rendon ranked on the ballot. Would Scherzer improve on his previous 10th-place finishes? Would Rendon crack the top five for the second time in his career? Tonight we got our answers. While Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich ran away with the MVP Award, Scherzer finished 10th for the third straight year and Rendon finished right behind his teammate...

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Return to top of NL East is only getting tougher for Nats

November 14, 2018, 7:35pm

Nationals

Return to top of NL East is only getting tougher for Nats

If you've been following this week's Baseball Writers' Association of America awards announcements, you've perhaps noticed two developments: 1) The Nationals only had a finalist in two of the four award categories, and had no winners, and 2) The rest of the National League East has been front and center in these proceedings. The Nats had taken home at least one BBWAA award in each of the last four seasons, beginning with Matt Williams' Manager of the Year honor in 2014, continuing with...

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Scherzer finishes second to deGrom for Cy Young Award

November 14, 2018, 12:10pm

Nationals

Scherzer finishes second to deGrom for Cy Young Award

Max Scherzer's league-leading stats in most pitching categories weren't enough to retain the Cy Young Award against the guy who led the majors in the most important category: ERA. Jacob deGrom was revealed tonight as the National League's top pitcher in 2018 in a lopsided vote over Scherzer, who was trying to join elite company with his fourth career and third consecutive Cy Young Award. The Mets ace received 29 of 30 first-place votes and 207 total points to Scherzer's one first-place vote...

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Previewing tonight's Cy Young Award announcement

November 13, 2018, 7:22pm

Nationals

Previewing tonight's Cy Young Award announcement

Max Scherzer tonight could become only the fifth pitcher in history to win his fourth Cy Young Award, only the third in history to win three in a row. But don't get your hopes up too much, because the odds are heavily stacked against the Nationals right-hander. Even though Scherzer arguably was better in 2018 than he was when he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2016 and 2017, Jacob deGrom was even better this season and is decidedly favored to be revealed as the winner during...

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The Soto-AcuÃ±a rivalry is just getting started

November 12, 2018, 5:57pm

Nationals

The Soto-AcuÃ±a rivalry is just getting started

Ronald AcuÃ±a Jr. had the higher batting average (barely) and slugging percentage (by a lot). Juan Soto had the higher on-base percentage (by a lot) and OPS (barely). Soto was the more consistent hitter throughout his rookie season, never posting an OPS lower than .800 in any single month. AcuÃ±a was the more explosive hitter during stretches of his rookie season, producing a brilliant August in which he hit .336 with 11 homers and a 1.103 OPS. AcuÃ±a was the better defensive outfielder...

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Soto finishes runner-up to AcuÃ±a for NL Rookie of Year

November 12, 2018, 1:44pm

Nationals

Soto finishes runner-up to AcuÃ±a for NL Rookie of Year

Juan Soto's remarkable season, though historic for a teenager, wasn't quite good enough to merit Rookie of the Year honors. Soto finished runner-up to the Braves' Ronald AcuÃ±a Jr., who tonight was revealed the winner of the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Award in a race that was awfully close on paper but wound up more lopsided in actual balloting. AcuÃ±a received 27 of 30 first-place votes and 144 total points, with Soto receiving two first-place votes and 89 total points to...

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Harper, as expected, declines Nationals' qualifying offer

November 12, 2018, 9:26am

Nationals

Bryce Harper has declined the qualifying offer extended to him 10 days ago, an expected move that now ensures the Nationals will get draft-pick compensation if the star outfielder signs with another club this winter. The Nationals extended the offer - one year for $17.9 million, a figure predetermined by Major League Baseball - as required Nov. 2, then technically had to wait 10 days before Harper was required to make his decision. Not that his decision was ever in doubt. Harper, who made...

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"Harper's Bazaar" already proceeding as expected

November 11, 2018, 6:12pm

Nationals

"Harper's Bazaar" already proceeding as expected

Bryce Harper hasn't yet decided where he's going to play in 2019, and as far as we know, he hasn't even really begun talking to potential suitors in order to decide where he's going to play in 2019. Yet it feels like he's been a free agent far longer than the two weeks he's actually been on the open market because there's been a steady stream of Harper news making the rounds ever since the World Series concluded and the offseason officially began. This has produced no shortage of...