Source: Nationals progressing toward deal with Matt Wieters

Source: Nationals progressing toward deal with Matt Wieters
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals and Matt Wieters had been linked to each other all winter, seemingly a good match for both the club and the free agent catcher. This morning, the two sides appear finally to have found common ground. Though nothing is done yet, a source familiar with the talks said the Nationals are progressing toward a deal with Wieters, one that could be finalized soon. Terms of this potential deal haven't been confirmed, but Wieters reportedly will get a two-year...
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Despite other offers to start, Drew preferred return to Nats bench

Despite other offers to start, Drew preferred return to Nats bench
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After a strong debut season with the Nationals, the first of his career in which he didn't start on a regular basis, Stephen Drew had a decision to make. There were opportunities this winter to sign with other clubs that could offer a guarantee of more playing time. And Drew admittedly thought long and hard about accepting one of those offers. But then he thought about his year in Washington, the success he had coming off the bench and the success the team had in the...
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A tour through the Nationals' new spring training complex

A tour through the Nationals' new spring training complex
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Before we get started, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the kind words and well wishes over the last week. For those who don't know, my mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly late last Monday night. I flew back to Washington the next morning and was home all week, helping my wife, our son, my father-in-law and sister-in-law cope with a difficult situation. Everybody is doing reasonably well, given the circumstances, and we're all grateful...
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Strasburg vs. Harper showdown highlights first live BP session

Strasburg vs. Harper showdown highlights first live BP session
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There's not that much to it, and it hardly is a true representation of the pitcher-batter confrontations that will take place nightly not long from now. But at this early stage of the spring, the sight of live batting practice always perks everybody up. If nothing else, it's a reminder that the games themselves are fast approaching. The Nationals held their first round of live BP this morning, taking advantage of the cloverleaf of four practice fields they have outside...
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Live from West Palm Beach ... it's reporting day!

Live from West Palm Beach ... it's reporting day!
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - And so the big day has arrived at last. Nationals pitchers and catchers officially report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for the start of spring training. Now, as any of you who have followed these things closely over the years know, not a whole lot actually happens on reporting day. Players aren't even required to set foot in the building in order to report. They simply have to arrive in town, or notify club officials that they're on their way. As long as...
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Nats finalizing deal with veteran first baseman Adam Lind

Nats finalizing deal with veteran first baseman Adam Lind
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are finalizing a deal with veteran first baseman/outfielder Adam Lind, adding another left-handed bat to their options off the bench and some insurance behind Ryan Zimmerman. The major league contract won't be complete until Lind passes a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal, which was first reported by ESPN's Jim Bowden (the former Nats general manager). Lind, 33, is a career .271/.328/.462 hitter in 11 big league seasons with the Blue...
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Nats' most pressing spring question: Who's the closer?

Nats' most pressing spring question: Who's the closer?
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We conclude today with the team's most pressing question in West Palm Beach: Who's the closer? When they departed the ballpark 122 days ago, dejected from yet another first-round loss in the postseason, the Nationals knew there was a chance they would have a different closer when they reconvened again in West Palm Beach. They...
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Pressure's on Harper and Zimmerman to bounce back this spring

Pressure's on Harper and Zimmerman to bounce back this spring
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman's attempts to bounce back from rough years ... Raise the subject of Nationals who underperformed in 2016, and the first two names out your mouth are likely to be Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. And raise the subject of the Nationals most in need of a bounce back in 2017, and...
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Nationals announce full, 63-man spring training roster

Nationals announce full, 63-man spring training roster
Erick Fedde, Andrew Stevenson and Drew Ward are among the 24 non-roster invitees to Nationals spring training, the first opportunity for all three prospects to play in big league camp. The club announced all of its non-roster invitees this afternoon, three days before pitchers and catchers are due to report to the brand-new complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. Several previously announced veterans who signed minor-league contracts - pitchers Matt Albers, Jeremy Guthrie, Joe Nathan, Vance Worley,...
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All eyes will again be on post-injury Strasburg this spring

All eyes will again be on post-injury Strasburg this spring
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with Stephen Strasburg's return from his late-season elbow injury ... It's not unusual for Stephen Strasburg to report for spring training with some kind of question looming over him. Whether it was his return from Tommy John surgery, his return from the Nationals' precautionary shutdown or his contract...
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MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule

MASN announces spring training broadcast schedule
If you're not able to make it down to West Palm Beach to see the Nationals in person this spring, rest assured you will have plenty of opportunities to watch them on television. MASN will be televising seven exhibition games this spring, the network announced this morning, including the first Grapefruit League game to be held at the new The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. That game against the Astros, the ballpark's co-tenants, will be televised at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28, with replays later that...
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Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order

Baker could need full spring to settle on best batting order
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We continue today with Dusty Baker's batting order decisions ... We know which eight players will be in the Nationals' opening day lineup against the Marlins come April 3 (barring injuries or other unexpected developments, of course). We don't, however, know in what order Dusty Baker will bat them. And the manager himself may...
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Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy

Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy
The Nationals' exhibition slate will once again conclude with a game against an American League opponent on South Capitol Street - and then a newly created final game in a unique venue: the United States Naval Academy's field. The club announced today it will host the Red Sox on March 31 at Nationals Park, then face Boston again the next day at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis. It's the first game in a three-year deal the Nationals have struck to play exhibition game at the Naval Academy,...
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How will Turner perform at shortstop?

How will Turner perform at shortstop?
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with Trea Turner taking over as the everyday shortstop ... Say what you want about Danny Espinosa's oft-maddening approach at the plate and how you won't miss watching that four times a night. But here's something you most certainly will miss watching: Espinosa in the field. There was a certain comforting feeling...
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Projection models split on Nationals and Mets in NL East

Projection models split on Nationals and Mets in NL East
As equipment trucks (not to mention a handful of early-arriving players) across America make their way to Arizona and Florida, anticipation for the 2017 baseball season perks up. As do season projections by various stat-based sites. FanGraphs.com and Baseball Prospectus have both published their 2017 projections. They do not, however, agree on the identity of the top dog in the National League East division. FanGraphs likes the Nationals, projecting 90 wins and a plus-86 run differential for...
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Nationals acquire lefty reliever Romero from Rays

Nationals acquire lefty reliever Romero from Rays
The Nationals have added another hard-throwing (if erratic) left-hander to their bullpen, acquiring Enny Romero from the Rays in exchange for minor league right-hander Jeffrey Rosa. Romero was on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster and thus immediately joins the competition for a spot in the Nationals' opening day bullpen. The 26-year-old will need to show improved command from last season, though, to head north with his new club. Romero sports one of the game's best fastballs by a left-hander (it...
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Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?

Nats outfield has big names, but how much will they produce?
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 ... There are no questions about the identities of the Nationals' three starting outfielders. Those jobs are locked up, two by longtime club stars and one by a high-profile newcomer. It remains to be seen, however, how those three perform, and whether this defensive alignment proves to be the best one. Everything starts, as...
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Infield includes MVP candidates and a vet trying to bounce back

Infield includes MVP candidates and a vet trying to bounce back
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' planned 2017 infield includes the league's reigning MVP runner-up, the league's reigning Rookie of the Year runner-up, one of the league's better all-around third basemen and a once-elite player who still hopes he can recapture his previous form and help lead his team deep into October for the first...
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Nationals catchers face tall task in replacing Ramos

Nationals catchers face tall task in replacing Ramos
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 ... How do you replace an All-Star catcher who hit .307 with 22 homers, 80 RBIs, an .850 OPS and threw out 37 percent of opposing base stealers? The answer is: You don't. The Nationals will feel the loss of Wilson Ramos this season, and there's not much they can do about that. After five years battling injuries and...
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Bullpen has some holes but plenty of talent

Bullpen has some holes but plenty of talent
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 ... This may come as a surprise, given how much angst there seems to be over the subject, but the Nationals had one of baseball's best bullpens last season. The unit ranked in the top five in the majors in ERA (3.37), WHIP (1.187), opponents' on-base percentage (.300) and opponents' OPS (.673). So how come there's still so...
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