Mark Zuckerman

Top prospect Robles gets chance to impress vs. big leaguers

February 23, 2017, 11:25am

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Victor Robles is all of 19, having played all of 41 games of high Single-A ball, so he could've been excused had he been a bit overexcited to play in the Nationals' intrasquad game today against major leaguers. Robles, though, showed no such signs of that. If anything, he looked and acted like he belonged with the advanced company. "I felt comfortable," he said via interpreter Octavio Martinez. "That's what I work for, is to prepare myself and face big league...

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Strasburg and Roark pitch intrasquad game, Scherzer bullpen set

February 23, 2017, 10:22am

Nationals

Strasburg and Roark pitch intrasquad game, Scherzer bullpen set

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The rules were loosely defined, there were no umpires and players from both sides were wearing the same white uniforms, but the Nationals' intrasquad game today nonetheless offered an opportunity for everyone to progress beyond the simple workouts that had previously constituted spring training. The game, really more of a glorified scrimmage, lasted seven innings. None of the regular position players participated, but Stephen Strasburg and Tanner Roark started on the...

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After erratic 2016, GonzÃ¡lez seeks All-Star berth and consistency

February 23, 2017, 5:10am

Nationals

After erratic 2016, GonzÃ¡lez seeks All-Star berth and consistency

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Upon reporting for spring training earlier this month, Gio GonzÃ¡lez went into Dusty Baker's office to say hi to his manager. The left-hander also wanted to make clear his motivation for the coming season. GonzÃ¡lez told Baker his goal is to be an All-Star in 2017. Selfishly, because the Midsummer Classic is being played in Miami (GonzÃ¡lez's hometown) but also because he knows he can still be the kind of elite pitcher he was when he first arrived in D.C. five...

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How the Nats-Boras relationship compares to other teams

February 22, 2017, 4:42pm

Nationals

How the Nats-Boras relationship compares to other teams

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Every time the Nationals sign another Scott Boras client, there's a round of snickering around the game of baseball. It's as if everybody's in on the joke now. Yes, the Nationals have a lot of players who are represented by Boras. They could have as many as nine of them on their opening day roster: Max Scherzer, Jayson Werth, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Gio GonzÃ¡lez, Matt Wieters, Anthony Rendon, Oliver PÃ©rez and Stephen Drew. That's as much as 36 percent...

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News from workout, a look at tomorrow's intrasquad game

February 22, 2017, 11:11am

Nationals

News from workout, a look at tomorrow's intrasquad game

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When I tweeted this morning that a major storm was plowing through the state of Florida and that the Nationals' workout might get washed out, a player pointed out to me that I should have included the phrase "pending physical." As we all did Tuesday with the Matt Wieters news, and as reporters across the sport do many times a player signs a new contract, we add the stipulation that the deal won't be official until the player passes a physical. Just in case it falls...

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Trea Turner misses part of workout while serving jury duty

February 22, 2017, 9:51am

Nationals

Trea Turner misses part of workout while serving jury duty

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Scour through the annals of baseball history, and you'll find countless reasons why players miss a day or two of spring training. But you've probably never heard of this one. Certainly no one around Nationals camp recalled it happening before. Trea Turner was absent from the start of this morning's workout before he was summoned for jury duty. Yes, jury duty. The odds of that happening to a ballplayer during spring training are remote, but the fact Turner lives in...

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More on Wieters and the Nationals' catching corps

February 21, 2017, 6:27pm

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Spring training signings aren't rare. They happen every year. But spring training signings of players as notable as Matt Wieters don't happen that often, at least not for the Nationals, who at this time of year typically have brought in guys only on minor league contracts with no guarantee of an opening day roster spot. Wieters, of course, is going to be the Nats' starting catcher come opening day (barring injury). And so the news of his deal Tuesday - it's still...

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Notes from today's Nationals workout

February 21, 2017, 11:37am

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though the Matt Wieters news dominated the day, there was an actual workout this morning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Nationals' third full-squad workout, to be precise, and the second in a row to feature pitchers throwing to live hitters. All the guys who didn't throw off the mound Monday participated today (aside from Max Scherzer, who is restricted until his right ring finger is fully healed) and among the more notable throwers were Shawn Kelley and Koda...

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Norris surprised but understands deal for Wieters

February 21, 2017, 10:38am

Nationals

Norris surprised but understands deal for Wieters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Derek Norris knew what was up when a group of reporters approached him at his locker following today's workout at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. "No comment!" the 28-year-old catcher barked, before quickly revealing he was joking and inviting the group to move closer to ask him about the subject on everyone's mind: Matt Wieters. Norris learned of the Nationals' plan to sign Wieters earlier in the morning when manager Dusty Baker summoned him before the workout....

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Baker glad Nats got Wieters deal done now rather than wait

February 21, 2017, 10:00am

Nationals

Baker glad Nats got Wieters deal done now rather than wait

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' signing of Matt Wieters is a done deal, pending the catcher passing a physical, Dusty Baker said this afternoon. Now the veteran manager and his organization have to figure out what to do with their logjam behind the plate. Baker confirmed the deal in his daily press briefing, saying it was important to get Wieters in camp now rather than later this spring to ensure he has ample time to learn the Nationals' pitching staff. "It's better that we got him...

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Source: Nationals progressing toward deal with Matt Wieters

February 21, 2017, 5:39am

Nationals

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

February 21, 2017, 4:56am

Nationals

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

February 20, 2017, 4:24pm

Nationals

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

February 20, 2017, 10:36am

Nationals

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!

February 13, 2017, 2:16pm

Nationals

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

February 13, 2017, 9:35am

Nationals

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?

February 12, 2017, 1:07pm

Nationals

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

February 11, 2017, 7:08pm

Nationals

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

February 11, 2017, 9:58am

Nationals

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

February 10, 2017, 7:38pm

Nationals

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...