Mark Zuckerman

Nats announce minor league invitees, 61 players in camp

February 13, 2018, 7:40am

Sixty-one players in total will report for spring training this week, 21 of them non-roster invitees including several with significant major league experience and several prospects from within their own organization, the Nationals announced today. With pitchers and catchers officially set to report Wednesday, the Nationals finally revealed the full spring roster, which still could expand given the plethora of prominent free agents who have yet to sign. For now, camp will feature a full 40-man...

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Nats acquire utilityman Matt Reynolds from Mets

February 12, 2018, 4:47pm

Nationals

Nats acquire utilityman Matt Reynolds from Mets

The Nationals acquired utilityman Matt Reynolds from the Mets for cash considerations tonight, adding another versatile major leaguer to their mix of bench options this spring. Reynolds, 27, had been designated for assignment last week after New York signed free agent Todd Frazier. Reynolds will probably face long odds to make the Nationals' opening day roster, but he has one remaining minor league option and thus should stick in the organization one way or the other. Reynolds fills the 40-man...

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Spring training storylines: Is this last shot at winning it all?

February 12, 2018, 11:39am

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Is this last shot at winning it all?

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We conclude today with the underlying question not only of the spring but of the season: Is the window of opportunity for this franchise about to close at the end of 2018? We can talk about position battles, lineup choices, bullpen configurations and injury concerns all we want, but let's not ignore the elephant in the room. The...

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Spring training storylines: Are Eaton, Murphy fully healed?

February 11, 2018, 6:54pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Are Eaton, Murphy fully healed?

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with the return of two key regulars from major knee surgeries ... One played the entire 2017 season, hobbled only at the very end by an injured knee that required surgery once the team was eliminated. The other played only four weeks in 2017, his debut in Washington abruptly halted by a nasty fall at first base that...

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Spring training storylines: Free agent signings during camp?

February 10, 2018, 4:45pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Free agent signings during camp?

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with the possibility of free agent signings even after camp has begun ... It's not unusual for teams to sign players during spring training. It happens every year, with a handful of veterans still available and needs arising as a result of injuries or other camp developments. But baseball has never opened a spring...

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Spring training storylines: Another new manager at the helm

February 09, 2018, 7:40pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Another new manager at the helm

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with the first camp run by new manager Dave Martinez ... When Nationals pitchers and catchers officially report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday, they'll walk down the hallway from the clubhouse, peek into the manager's office and find a new face there. Next door, in the coaches' locker room, will...

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Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?

February 08, 2018, 7:57pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?

The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with the open competition for the fifth spot in the opening day rotation ... The Nationals have been a contender for six full seasons now, and throughout that time, they have maintained that status by employing one of baseball's most talented, deepest starting rotations. And throughout this entire stretch, we've...

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Nationals outfield, if healthy, loaded with talent and depth

February 07, 2018, 5:05pm

Nationals

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series concludes today with the outfield ... Given the talent they had - not to mention three established starters to begin the season - it's hard to believe the Nationals wound up using 14 different outfielders in 2017, the fourth-highest total in the majors. Chalk that up not to poor performance but a seemingly never-ending string of injuries both major and minor...

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Catching prospect Read suspended 80 games for PED violation

February 07, 2018, 12:07pm

Nationals

Catching prospect Read suspended 80 games for PED violation

Raudy Read, who made his major league debut last season and now stands as one of the higher-rated Nationals prospects, has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for Boldenone, making the young catcher the franchise's first big leaguer to face punishment for performance-enhancing drugs. Read, 24, confirmed he tested positive during "a routine drug test this winter," but said he was "shocked" by the result and insists he has never knowingly taken a...

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Nats infield returns intact, but there are some questions

February 06, 2018, 7:22pm

Nationals

Nats infield returns intact, but there are some questions

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the infield ... The Nationals return their entire starting infield from last season, and why wouldn't they be excited about that? This quartet featured the first .300-30-100 hitter in club history, the runner-up for the league's batting title, the league's co-leader in WAR and a shortstop who stole 46 bases in 98 games while committing...

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Nats know they need better production from catchers in 2018

February 05, 2018, 3:37pm

Nationals

Nats know they need better production from catchers in 2018

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... The Nationals knew they'd be undergoing a change at catcher in 2017 after Wilson Ramos departed via free agency, and they knew it would be difficult to make up for Ramos' All-Star production. Little did they know just how difficult, though, or how precipitous the dropoff would be. The club's initial plan involved...

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Once a weakness, revamped 'pen enters spring as strength

February 04, 2018, 8:03pm

Nationals

Once a weakness, revamped 'pen enters spring as strength

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the bullpen ... Undeniably the club's biggest weakness through the first half of the 2017, the Nationals bullpen morphed into one of its true strengths by season's end. For that, thank general manager Mike Rizzo, who acquired three key arms in July and transformed the nature of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings in dramatic...

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Nationals rotation once again built to lead the way in 2018

February 03, 2018, 4:24pm

Nationals

As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series begins today with the starting rotation ... If asked to point to the one most significant reason for the Nationals' sustained, six-year run of success, the answer is simple: a dominant rotation. In every one of those six seasons, the Nationals have ranked no worse than seventh in the majors in starters' ERA. Three times, the unit has ranked first or second...

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Collusion charge is a stretch, but MLB is facing a real problem

February 02, 2018, 4:36pm

Nationals

Collusion charge is a stretch, but MLB is facing a real problem

It's been the underlying story of the entire offseason throughout the baseball world, the lack of free agent signings. And yesterday the most controversial theory was put out there by a prominent agent, something many have wondered but few have publicly been willing to offer: collusion by all 30 clubs to keep spending down and increase their own profits. Brodie Van Wagenen, the co-head of CAA baseball and agent for a host of big-name players (including Ryan Zimmerman), posted a memo on his...

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Better, worse or the same in 2018: Pitchers

February 01, 2018, 7:11pm

Nationals

Better, worse or the same in 2018: Pitchers

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...