Mark Zuckerman

Where the Nats' 40-man roster stands on decision day

November 17, 2016, 5:21pm

There's a deadline this afternoon around baseball. It's not one of the major deadlines, like the trade deadline or the qualifying offer deadline. But it's nonetheless a potentially significant one when it comes to organizations keeping their best prospects from getting swooped up by another club. By 5 p.m. EST, all teams must add any players they wish to protect from being selected in the Rule 5 draft to their 40-man roster. What does that mean? A quick primer for those who aren't familiar...

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Murphy finishes second in NL MVP vote to Bryant

November 17, 2016, 1:55pm

Nationals

Murphy finishes second in NL MVP vote to Bryant

Daniel Murphy had an MVP-caliber season and might well have taken home the hardware had he put up the same stat line in a previous year. This year, though, Murphy was forced to take a back seat to Kris Bryant, who as the best player on the best team in baseball easily captured the National League MVP. Bryant, the brightest young star on a Cubs roster filled with them, won his first career MVP this evening, garnering 29-of-30 first-place votes and 415 total points from members of the Baseball...

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On a boat in paradise, Scherzer celebrates another Cy Young win

November 16, 2016, 3:45pm

Nationals

On a boat in paradise, Scherzer celebrates another Cy Young win

Max Scherzer and his wife, Erica, have been going on boating trips with old college friends and their spouses every November for years. It's an annual tradition, and one the Scherzers weren't about to pass up, not even when it overlapped with another annual tradition: the announcement of the Cy Young Award winners. "For the past few years, we all get together over this time of the year and find a way to do the vacation together with all of our wives," the Nationals ace said. "And it took a...

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Explaining my NL Cy Young Award ballot

November 16, 2016, 3:04pm

Nationals

Voting for the annual Baseball Writers' Association of America awards rarely is simple. Sure, every once in a while you get a no-brainer - Bryce Harper for National League MVP in 2015 - but most of these decisions are tough. And few I've ever voted for were tougher than this year's NL Cy Young Award ballot. As I started compiling a list of candidates in late September, I was able to come up with 10 pitchers who at least deserved consideration. Five of those pitchers wound up on the actual...

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Scherzer wins Washington's first-ever Cy Young Award

November 16, 2016, 1:24pm

Nationals

Scherzer wins Washington's first-ever Cy Young Award

The Nationals handed Max Scherzer the largest free-agent contract ever given to a pitcher two winters ago, believing the right-hander was among the best starters in baseball and worthy of leading their star-studded rotation for years to come. Two seasons in, Scherzer has lived up to the contract. And tonight came perhaps the most significant validation of that: He won the National League Cy Young Award. In a battle between several elite pitchers who enjoyed dominant seasons, Scherzer emerged as...

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How much payroll can the Nationals add this winter?

November 15, 2016, 7:06pm

Nationals

Yesterday, I raised the subject of the Nationals possibly pursuing a big bat this winter, someone who could be inserted into the heart of their lineup between Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy and add some more consistent firepower to a batting order that was effective this season but seemed to be lacking at times. Some have since raised an important question that ties into that subject: Do the Nationals have enough money to sign a big-name batter like that? So let's delve into that matter,...

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Baker finishes third in NL Manager of the Year vote, Roberts wins

November 15, 2016, 1:54pm

Nationals

Baker finishes third in NL Manager of the Year vote, Roberts wins

Dusty Baker finished third in voting for National League Manager of the Year, recognized by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for helping lead the Nationals back to the postseason in his first season at the helm. Dave Roberts, who had to overcome a Dodgers club ravaged by injuries in order to win a division title, won this year's award. The rookie manager received 16 of 30 first-place votes and 108 total points in balloting performed by two writers from each NL city...

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Could the Nationals pursue another big bat this winter?

November 14, 2016, 12:53pm

Nationals

The Nationals' top needs this winter are fairly clear-cut. They need a closer, whether they re-sign Mark Melancon or acquire someone else. They need a catcher, whether they bring back the rehabbing Wilson Ramos, give Pedro Severino a chance or look outside the organization. They need to decide whether Trea Turner is their center fielder or shortstop, and address any domino effects of that decision. Here, though, is a less clear-cut question currently facing the Nationals front office as the...

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Turner finishes second to Seager in Rookie of the Year voting

November 14, 2016, 11:14am

Nationals

Turner finishes second to Seager in Rookie of the Year voting

Trea Turner was phenomenal for half a season. But Corey Seager was great for the full season, and that's why the Dodgers shortstop beat out the Nationals center fielder for National League Rookie of the Year. Seager was named the winner this evening, a unanimous choice by all 30 voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (two from each NL city) and 150 total points. Turner finished second with 11 second-place votes and nine third-place votes, while Dodgers right-hander...

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Your primer to this week's BBWAA award announcements

November 13, 2016, 7:49pm

Nationals

Your primer to this week's BBWAA award announcements

The season ended two weeks ago, free agents are beginning to sign with new clubs and every team around baseball is fully ensconced in reshaping rosters for 2017. But first, there's still one final task that must be completed before everyone can truly turn the page on the 2016 season: Hand out the major individual awards. That process will play out over the next four nights as the winners of the four awards given out by the Baseball Writers' Association of America are announced. It begins...

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Did Burnett earn a major league contract for 2017?

November 12, 2016, 5:04pm

Nationals

Did Burnett earn a major league contract for 2017?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we've been reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We conclude today with Sean Burnett, who returned to D.C. in September and impressed. PLAYER REVIEW: SEAN BURNETT Age on opening day 2017: 34 How acquired: Purchased from the Twins, August 2016 MLB service time: 8 years, 116 days 2016 salary: $1 million Contract status: Free agent 2016 stats: 0-0, 3.18 ERA, 10 G, 0 SV, 0 BS, 5.2 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 1HR, 1BB, 3SO, 0 HBP, 1.059 WHIP, 0.1...

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Source: Heisey returning to Nats on one-year deal

November 11, 2016, 5:58pm

Nationals

Source: Heisey returning to Nats on one-year deal

Chris Heisey, a key member of what became a productive bench for the Nationals this season, is returning in 2017. Heisey has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Nats worth $1.4 million plus incentives, according to a source familiar with the deal. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick was first to report the signing, which won't become official until Heisey passes a physical. The 31-year-old outfielder joined the Nationals last winter on a minor league contract, then played his way onto the...

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How prominent a role could Glover have in 2017 bullpen?

November 11, 2016, 11:00am

Nationals

How prominent a role could Glover have in 2017 bullpen?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Koda Glover, who surprisingly emerged from the minors as a power-armed reliever. PLAYER REVIEW: KODA GLOVER Age on opening day 2017: 23 How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2015 draft MLB service time: 51 days 2016 salary: $507,500 Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023 2016 stats: 2-0, 5.03 ERA, 19 G, 0 SV, 2 BS,...

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Nats need Perez to be more consistently effective in 2017

November 10, 2016, 5:16pm

Nationals

Nats need Perez to be more consistently effective in 2017

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Oliver Perez, who had an erratic first season in the Nats bullpen. PLAYER REVIEW: OLIVER PEREZ Age on opening day 2017: 35 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2015 MLB service time: 12 years, 144 days 2016 salary: $3 million Contract status: Signed for $4 million in 2017, free agent in 2018 2016 stats: 2-3, 4.95 ERA, 64 G, 0 SV, 1 BS, 40 IP, 38 H, 22 R, 22...

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Murphy, Ramos win first career Silver Slugger Awards

November 10, 2016, 10:35am

Nationals

Murphy, Ramos win first career Silver Slugger Awards

Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos each won Silver Slugger Awards this evening, further confirmation of the standout offensive performers the two key members of the Nationals lineup were this season. It's the first Silver Slugger, awarded to the best offensive player at each position in each league by managers and coaches, for both Murphy and Ramos. And both had air-tight cases to win. Murphy led all National League second basemen in homers (25), RBIs (104), slugging percentage (.595) and OPS...

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Murphy voted NL Most Outstanding Player by peers

November 09, 2016, 3:59pm

Nationals

Murphy voted NL Most Outstanding Player by peers

Daniel Murphy earned the Nationals' first end-of-season award tonight when he was named the National League's Most Outstanding Player as part of the annual Players Choice Awards. Murphy was selected by his peers in the NL in voting that was conducted in mid-September. He beat out the Cubs' Kris Bryant and the Rockies' Nolan Arenado, the other two finalists. "That, for me, is the highest praise you can get: to be recognized by your peers," Murphy said during the award show televised on MLB...

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Trusted in key late spots, Solis figures prominently in '17

November 09, 2016, 11:52am

Nationals

Trusted in key late spots, Solis figures prominently in '17

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Sammy Solis, who wound up as one of the club's most reliable left-handers out of the bullpen. PLAYER REVIEW: SAMMY SOLIS Age on opening day 2017: 28 How acquired: Second-round pick, 2010 draft MLB service time: 1 year, 118 days 2016 salary: $507,500 Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2019, free agent in 2022 2016 stats: 2-4, 2.41...

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Treinen blossomed into trusted escape artist out of bullpen

November 08, 2016, 10:15am

Nationals

Treinen blossomed into trusted escape artist out of bullpen

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Blake Treinen, who stepped up to become Dusty Baker's most trusted reliever in tight situations. PLAYER REVIEW: BLAKE TREINEN Age on opening day 2017: 28 How acquired: Acquired with A.J. Cole and Ian Krol from Athletics in three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to Mariners, January 2013 MLB service time: 2 years, 65 days 2016 salary: $524,900 Contract status:...

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Rendon comes up short in Gold Glove voting to Arenado

November 08, 2016, 9:38am

Nationals

Rendon comes up short in Gold Glove voting to Arenado

Anthony Rendon is widely regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen in the National League. But he's not regarded as being better than Nolan Arenado, and so this evening Rendon was left to watch as his counterpart from the Rockies won the Gold Glove Award over him. Arenado was the choice by NL managers and coaches who submitted their votes at the end of the regular season, the fourth straight Gold Glove victory for the 25-year-old who has only been in the big leagues four...

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Kelley succeeded in setup role, will be asked for more in 2017

November 07, 2016, 7:25pm

Nationals

Kelley succeeded in setup role, will be asked for more in 2017

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Shawn Kelley, who became a key part of the bullpen in his first season on D.C. PLAYER REVIEW: SHAWN KELLEY Age on opening day 2017: 32 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2015 MLB service time: 7 years, 128 days 2016 salary: $4 million Contract status: Signed for $5.5 million in 2017, $5.5 million in 2018. 2016 stats: 3-2, 2.64 ERA, 67 G, 7 SV, 2 BS, 58...