Mark Zuckerman

Better, worse or the same in 2018: Pitchers

February 01, 2018, 7:11pm

It's the new game that's sweeping the nation! Well, maybe not quite, but it seemed to get positive reviews when it debuted yesterday. So we might as well go ahead and do Part 2 of "Better, Worse or the Same." If you missed yesterday's installment, we looked at each of the eight positions on the field (minus pitcher) and asked whether the Nationals likely would be better, worse or the same in 2018 at each position as they were in 2017. The final tally: three positions should be better...

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Nats sign veteran Montero to compete for backup catching job

February 01, 2018, 11:22am

Nationals

Nats sign veteran Montero to compete for backup catching job

The Nationals will have another experienced catcher on their camp roster this spring. Just not either of the experienced catchers they have routinely been linked to all winter. The Nats have signed Miguel Montero to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp, electing to take a low-risk flyer on the former Diamondback, Cub and Blue Jay after watching Alex Avila sign with Arizona and Miami refuse to lower its asking price for J.T. Realmuto. Montero won't be threatening Matt...

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Better, worse or the same in 2018: Position players

January 31, 2018, 7:55pm

Nationals

Better, worse or the same in 2018: Position players

Are the 2018 Nationals going to be better than the 2017 Nationals? Are they going to be worse? Are they going to be about the same? When you really boil things down to the basics, that's what everyone is trying to figure out before the new season gets underway. Teams can improve or be diminished based on their offseason transactions, but change also is possible from returning players who either disappointed or overachieved last year. Given how little the Nationals roster has changed since the...

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Avila to Arizona could open door for Realmuto to D.C.

January 30, 2018, 7:35pm

Nationals

Avila to Arizona could open door for Realmuto to D.C.

If it feels like we've been talking about J.T. Realmuto quite a bit this winter, well, we have. Such is the reality when you combine an awfully quiet offseason with one of the few positions the Nationals could try to upgrade with a Marlins franchise smack-dab in the middle of a fire sale. We're talking about Realmuto again today, not because of anything the Nats or the Marlins did in the last 24 hours, but because of what the Diamondbacks did: sign Alex Avila. Arizona reportedly agreed to a...

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Nats sign Brignac to minors deal, Espinosa goes to Yankees

January 29, 2018, 5:44pm

Nationals

Nats sign Brignac to minors deal, Espinosa goes to Yankees

The Nationals are bringing in some extra infield insurance, signing veteran Reid Brignac to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp this spring. Brignac's signing, which was confirmed by a club source and first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, gives the Nats another experienced infielder whose services may be required if Daniel Murphy isn't ready to return from his October knee surgery by opening day. The Nationals already have Wilmer Difo available to start at...

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Report: Albers heading to Brewers on two-year deal

January 29, 2018, 8:43am

Nationals

Report: Albers heading to Brewers on two-year deal

Matt Albers has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the Brewers, parlaying his career season in the Nationals bullpen into a $5 million deal in Milwaukee. Albers' deal, reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, is still pending a physical. Once that final step is completed, the veteran right-hander will become the first prominent free agent who played for the Nationals last season to sign elsewhere for 2018. Though the Nats had some interest in attempting to re-sign Albers, he was...

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Scherzer receives Cy Young, pair of Nats honored by Cavaliers

January 28, 2018, 7:48pm

Nationals

Scherzer receives Cy Young, pair of Nats honored by Cavaliers

It's been more than two months since he was named the National League's Cy Young Award winner, but on Sunday night, Max Scherzer officially was presented with the award itself. Scherzer was among several players honored at the annual New York Baseball Writers' Dinner, joined by fellow winners of the BBWAA's annual end-of-season awards along with the winners of awards given out specifically to New York players. It was Scherzer's second straight January trip to the Big Apple to receive a Cy...

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Has rest of NL East gained any ground on Nats this winter?

January 27, 2018, 7:50pm

Nationals

Has rest of NL East gained any ground on Nats this winter?

The Nationals' offseason to date has not included any real additions, only the re-signing of free agents Howie Kendrick, Brandon Kintzler and Edwin Jackson, plus the swapping of Adam Lind for Matt Adams. There's still plenty of time and, more importantly, plenty of available players to make some significant transactions that will dramatically alter things. But for now, the 2018 Nationals look a whole lot like the 2017 Nationals. That's not a bad thing, mind you, considering the 2017...

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Nats may not have to wait as long as Angels for first Hall of Famer

January 26, 2018, 7:18pm

Nationals

Nats may not have to wait as long as Angels for first Hall of Famer

Vladimir Guerrero surprised some people this week when he (with the Hall of Fame's consent) decided his soon-to-be-made plaque for Cooperstown will feature him wearing an Angels cap. Guerrero actually spent more time during his career playing in Montreal (eight seasons) than he did playing in Anaheim (six), with one season apiece spent at the very end with the Rangers and Orioles. But the outfielder noted that he won his lone MVP award and made five of his six career postseason appearances...

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Is Realmuto next man up in Marlins fire sale?

January 25, 2018, 7:50pm

Nationals

Is Realmuto next man up in Marlins fire sale?

Giancarlo Stanton was traded to the Yankees in mid-December. Marcell Ozuna went to the Cardinals a few days later. Christian Yelich was dealt to the Brewers last night, as the Marlins completed a stunning dump of their entire starting outfield - a really good one, too - in the span of six weeks. Which leaves one remaining question down in Miami: Is J.T. Realmuto next? Realmuto, the last remaining player of any real consequence on the Marlins roster, had already expressed his desire to get out...

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MASN to broadcast seven Nats spring training games

January 25, 2018, 9:00am

Nationals

MASN to broadcast seven Nats spring training games

Seven of the Nationals' Grapefruit League games this spring will be broadcast on MASN, the network announced today. The slate begins Feb. 25 when the Nationals host the Braves at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, which will be the site of all of the televised games this year. Three of the Nationals' games against the Astros, their fellow ballpark residents - and the defending World Series champs - will be televised: March 6, March 21 and March 23. Two games against the Cardinals (March 11,...

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Thursday morning Hall of Fame (and Nats) Q&A

January 24, 2018, 3:20pm

Nationals

Thursday morning Hall of Fame (and Nats) Q&A

The hot stove league paused yesterday - though I suppose you could argue it has been stuck on pause all winter - so the Hall of Fame election announcement could take center stage. And that was a good thing, because there was a whole lot to discuss with this year's vote. It's not simply the four players who were voted in (Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman) but also those who just missed (Edgar Martinez), those who gained significant ground (Mike Mussina) and those who...

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My 2018 Hall of Fame ballot

January 24, 2018, 9:41am

Nationals

You can call the system flawed, you can argue whether steroids users should be in or out, you can debate whether it's more important to have been a consistent performer for 15 years or an elite performer for eight years, you can complain about who gets a vote and who doesn't get a vote. Here's what you can't argue, though: The Baseball Hall of Fame matters. It matters to so many people, from the players themselves to those who work in the game to those who are entrusted to submit ballots to...

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What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night

January 23, 2018, 12:21pm

Nationals

What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night

It's Hall of Fame announcement day, which means two things: Several of the greatest players in baseball history are about to become immortalized forever, and far more attention will be paid to those very good-to-great players who aren't elected this year, for a variety of reasons. Personally, I think it's a real shame that we spend way more time and energy arguing over who didn't get in than celebrating who did get in. But that's the world we live in today. Why celebrate positives when we...

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For first time in six years, Nats lacking top 100 pitching prospect

January 22, 2018, 6:27pm

Nationals

For first time in six years, Nats lacking top 100 pitching prospect

Monday's release of Baseball America's top 100 prospects list for 2018 was notable, from the Nationals' perspective, for two reasons: Victor Robles' ascension into one of the sport's best prospects is complete, given his No. 5 overall ranking, and for the first time in a long time, the Nats have no pitching prospects on the list. Nope, no pitchers. Robles and fellow outfielder Juan Soto (ranked 56th) are the only Nationals in this year's top 100 at all. And that's quite unusual for this...

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Nats are one of few MLB clubs actually trying to win in 2018

January 21, 2018, 8:53am

Nationals

Nats are one of few MLB clubs actually trying to win in 2018

Everyone has his or her own theory to explain why this offseason has been so slow across baseball. Is it collusion among the owners? Is it analytical evidence that suggests it's not wise to spend big bucks on free agents? Is it Scott Boras? Here's another theory I've seen floated from several others, and I do believe this one has some merit: There simply aren't that many teams actually trying to win big this season. Think about it. How many clubs right now would you say are guaranteed to be...

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Why a pitch clock probably would make a difference

January 20, 2018, 7:03pm

Nationals

Why a pitch clock probably would make a difference

There's been a lot of talk in recent days about the threat of Major League Baseball implementing a 20-second pitch clock this season without the approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association, the two sides having gotten nowhere during joint discussions about ways to improve the sport's pace of play. Whether the pitch clock happens this year or not, it is going to happen at some point. It's already been in use in the minor leagues and has mostly received positive reviews. And...

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Knorr returns to the dugout after a two-year break

January 19, 2018, 7:09pm

Nationals

Knorr returns to the dugout after a two-year break

A change of managers at the Triple-A level may not sound like a big deal. And from a pure baseball standpoint, it's probably not. Still, the news that Randy Knorr will be managing the Nationals' top minor league affiliate - news that had been reported 2 1/2 months ago but was officially announced by the club on Friday - is significant for many people within the organization. An organization that doesn't have very many remaining links to its pre-Washington days has an especially popular one...

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Nats fans' guide to spring training: The town

January 18, 2018, 7:01pm

Nationals

Nats fans' guide to spring training: The town

The primary purpose of any trip to spring training is to, you know, watch baseball players doing baseball things on baseball fields, all while soaking up the warm South Florida sun while all your friends back north are wearing parkas and shoveling snow. But there is more to a spring training trip than baseball. After all, you do have to eat. And baseball only takes up a portion of your day. So today we offer Part 2 of our Nats Fans' Guide to Spring Training, focusing on everything outside The...

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Nats fans' guide to spring training: The complex

January 17, 2018, 7:19pm

Nationals

Nats fans' guide to spring training: The complex

It may be tough to envision right now, what with white stuff coating the ground and wind chills still in the teens this morning, but spring training is fast approaching. In fact, it's only four weeks away. Yes, in a mere 29 days there will be actual Nationals pitchers and actual Nationals catchers wearing actual practice uniforms and participating in actual drills in West Palm Beach, Fla., the first official workout of 2018. I'll be there, obviously. But I know some of you plan to be there as...