Mark Zuckerman

Thoughts on last week's Adams and Milone signings

December 25, 2017, 6:10pm

If I've learned nothing else in 13 years on this beat, it's this: The best way to ensure the Nationals make some offseason news is to go on vacation. It has happened before, and it happened again last week. While I was soaking up the sun (and watching the Capitals blow a sure-win over the wretched Coyotes) with my family in Arizona, the Nats went and signed two free agents: Matt Adams and Tommy Milone. These weren't major moves, not in the least. In Milone's case, it's actually a minor...

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Lilliquist ready to lead top-flight pitching staff to new heights

December 17, 2017, 8:46am

Nationals

Lilliquist ready to lead top-flight pitching staff to new heights

Fired by the Cardinals at the end of the regular season, Derek Lilliquist had to wonder if it would take a while to find another pitching coach job as good as the one he held the previous six seasons. That kind of job opening, for a perennial postseason contender, doesn't come around all that often. And then one did. When the Nationals came calling last month, needing a new pitching coach after Dusty Baker's departure led to Mike Maddux leaving (for St. Louis, of all places), Lilliquist...

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Rizzo on Kintzler, Glover and the state of the Nats bullpen

December 17, 2017, 7:07am

Nationals

Rizzo on Kintzler, Glover and the state of the Nats bullpen

As much as he wanted to bring back Brandon Kintzler and keep the back end of his bullpen intact for the 2018 season, Mike Rizzo admittedly thought the Nationals would be at a disadvantage in negotiations. Kintzler, who recorded 29 saves this season (28 while with the Twins), figured to get offers to close somewhere else. And sure enough, he did. Only to decide to re-sign with the Nationals after all. "I think there were those offers to go pitch the ninth inning exclusively, to have more save...

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On Kintzler's return, pitchers batting eighth and Long's hiring

December 16, 2017, 5:48pm

Nationals

On Kintzler's return, pitchers batting eighth and Long's hiring

The Nationals' first major league signing of the offseason still isn't official because Brandon Kintzler still needs to pass his physical. But that didn't stop those who were at Nats Winterfest on Saturday from raving about the re-signing of the veteran reliever, which preserves the three-man unit that so effectively locked down games late this season. "That was awesome to see," said Sean Doolittle, who along with Ryan Madson joined Kintzler to form the so-called "Law Firm" bullpen over...

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After "worst year of my life," Eaton itching to return from injury

December 16, 2017, 9:37am

Nationals

After "worst year of my life," Eaton itching to return from injury

Injured time is hard time for ballplayers, never more so than injured time that overtakes nearly an entire season and leaves a player watching from the outside as his teammates lose in the postseason. Adam Eaton just experienced all of that in 2017, and it left him determined never to experience it again. "Oh, it was brutal," the outfielder said Saturday at Nationals Winterfest. "The worst year of my life, I think it's safe to say. The longest summer of my life. That's what I told all of...

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Cy Young, fatherhood helping Scherzer move on from Game 5

December 16, 2017, 7:31am

Nationals

Cy Young, fatherhood helping Scherzer move on from Game 5

He battled through a grind of a season that included a string of fluky, nagging ailments only to emerge with the third Cy Young Award of his career, an achievement that already creates talk of his Hall of Fame resume. For Max Scherzer, though, the greatest pleasure of this offseason so far has been the mundane task now required of him several times a day. What exactly is the right-hander up to at the moment? "Changing diapers," he said. "Wiping butts." Brooklyn, the first child of Max and...

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Plenty of player updates coming this weekend at Winterfest

December 15, 2017, 4:27pm

Nationals

Plenty of player updates coming this weekend at Winterfest

After a week's worth of rumors and a lot of time spent hearing from the Nationals general manager and manager, this weekend we'll get a chance to hear from a whole bunch of players who have come from all parts of the country (and beyond) to attend Nats Winterfest. Yes, it's time for the annual, two-day winter event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It has turned into quite a major event over the years, going all the way back to the days when the team hosted a one-day gathering...

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Lobaton heads to Mets on minor league deal

December 15, 2017, 12:37pm

Nationals

Lobaton heads to Mets on minor league deal

Jose Lobaton has found a new home, but the Nationals' longtime backup catcher will be staying in the National League East. Lobaton has signed a minor league contract with the Mets, who will offer him an invitation to big league camp next spring and a chance to make their opening day roster. The 33-year-old spent the last four seasons as the Nationals' No. 2 catcher, backing up Wilson Ramos and later Matt Wieters. Known more for his work behind the plate than at the plate, Lobaton struggled in...

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Nats expect rehabbing Murphy to be ready for opening day

December 14, 2017, 6:31am

Nationals

Nats expect rehabbing Murphy to be ready for opening day

One of the Nationals' unspoken but most significant concerns of the winter is the status of Daniel Murphy, who had surgery on his right knee Oct. 20 that initially left the club unable to say for sure if the All-Star second baseman would be ready for the start of the 2018 season. In the eight weeks since Murphy had the procedure - officially a debridement and microfracture surgery to repair articular cartilage - the Nationals have begun to get a clearer picture of his timetable for recovery....

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With Kintzler, Nats turn to familiar face to fill bullpen hole

December 14, 2017, 6:26am

Nationals

With Kintzler, Nats turn to familiar face to fill bullpen hole

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals came to the Swan and Dolphin Resort with a short but clear list of needs. They departed having addressed only one of those needs, but they did so in a manner that should please just about anyone who cares about such things, at a price that should allow them to address their other needs later this winter. The late-night re-signing of Brandon Kintzler to a two-year, $10 million contract that's technically not a guaranteed two-year, $10 million contract -...

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Source: Kintzler returning to Nats on two-year deal

December 13, 2017, 9:09pm

Nationals

Source: Kintzler returning to Nats on two-year deal

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals front office was working late Wednesday night at the Winter Meetings. And because of it, the club's "Law Firm" bullpen will be reunited for the 2018 season. The Nats and Brandon Kintzler agreed to a two-year contract in the wee hours, a source confirmed, ensuring the veteran right-hander will return and again team up with Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to recreate the formidable late-inning trio that was so successful during the final two months of this...

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Rizzo willing to consider another closer, confirms Harper talks

December 13, 2017, 12:06pm

Nationals

Rizzo willing to consider another closer, confirms Harper talks

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nearly three days into the Winter Meetings, the Nationals have yet to make any transactions. Then again, most teams that aren't the Marlins fall into that same category. What the Nats have done at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to this point is meet with a lot of rival clubs and agents representing a host of players, with a particular emphasis on relief pitchers. They may not have actually acquired one yet, but the Nats believe they've positioned...

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Boras had "preliminary" Harper talks with Nats last month

December 13, 2017, 6:59am

Nationals

Boras had "preliminary" Harper talks with Nats last month

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Scott Boras met with Nationals ownership last month to discuss a contract extension with Bryce Harper, a meeting that obviously didn't result in the consummation of any deal to keep the star outfielder in Washington long term, but at least showed a willingness on his part to engage in talks before he becomes a free agent next winter. "We had a meeting with Washington ownership about a month ago, just for some preliminary discussions," Boras said this morning in his...

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Pursuit of Davis would leave Nats facing familiar closer issue

December 12, 2017, 8:08pm

Nationals

Pursuit of Davis would leave Nats facing familiar closer issue

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - That the Nationals reportedly are interested in Wade Davis is not surprising. They made a run at the reliever at last year's Winter Meetings, only to watch as he eventually was traded by the Royals to the Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler. There is one major difference for the Nats between last winter's pursuit of Davis and this winter's potential pursuit of Davis: They didn't have a closer one year ago; they do now. The July acquisition of Sean Doolittle addressed...

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Rizzo on Harper, Arrieta and more at the Winter Meetings

December 12, 2017, 12:11pm

Nationals

Rizzo on Harper, Arrieta and more at the Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The 2018 Winter Meetings are, in all likelihood, going to be the Bryce Harper Winter Meetings. With baseball's annual event just happening to be held in Las Vegas at the same time the town's most famous native professional athlete just happens to be a free agent, a circus atmosphere is pretty much expected by everyone. Unless, of course, the Nationals somehow find a way to re-sign the star right fielder to a long-term extension before then. What are the odds of that...

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Arrieta not on Nationals' radar despite Boras' push

December 12, 2017, 7:44am

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Start with a big-name free agent. Make sure he's represented by Scott Boras. Then connect them to the Nationals, specifically managing principal owner Ted Lerner. Congratulations, you've just created the perfect Winter Meetings rumor. It's happened before, it'll happen again and it did happen today when ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that Boras "is trying to engage the Nationals on Jake Arrieta." Crasnick went on to point out the obvious - the Nats already have...

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Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?

December 11, 2017, 1:33pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals are in the market for at least one experienced reliever, preferably right-handed. Whether they're willing to jump right now into a market that has quickly become the most active of any position at the Winter Meetings remains to be seen. Another veteran right-handed setup man came off the board Monday when Pat Neshek returned to the Phillies for a two-year deal worth a reported $16.25 million. That came on the heels of a pair of signings Sunday: Brandon...

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Rizzo suggests Nationals not looking for fifth starter

December 11, 2017, 11:59am

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It's the Winter Meetings, and it's Mike Rizzo talking, so take this all with a large grain of salt. But a few hours after arriving at the Swan and Dolphin Resort for this week's annual baseball industry gathering, the Nationals general manager suggested he's not in the market for another experienced major league starting pitcher, instead talking up the two inexperienced in-house candidates he already has in Erick Fedde and A.J. Cole. "We have great confidence in...

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Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"

December 11, 2017, 7:48am

Nationals

Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - There is much Dave Martinez still needs to learn about his Nationals roster, and much of that won't happen until he gets a chance to see them on practice fields under the spring Florida sun, but the rookie manager was willing to admit he's already made one key lineup decision: Adam Eaton will bat leadoff in 2018. In his first media session since he was introduced as the Nationals' new manager last month, Martinez held court with reporters at the Winter Meetings for...

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Market for relievers already being set as Winter Meetings open

December 10, 2017, 2:36pm

Nationals

Market for relievers already being set as Winter Meetings open

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Winter Meetings officially get underway this morning, but a few teams already were acting yesterday like the event had kicked into full gear. And the Nationals likely were paying close attention to what happened. With the Cubs reportedly signing Brandon Morrow and the Cardinals reportedly signing Luke Gregerson, the relief market is now starting to take shape. And so the Nats are getting a good idea what it will cost if they want (as they intend) to bolster their...