Pete Kerzel

Nats ink Carroll to minor league deal; Rijo a fugitive in Dominican

December 12, 2011, 10:51am

The Nationals added some outfield depth to the organization Monday with the signing of Brett Carroll to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training in Viera, Fla. The 29-year-old Carroll has spent parts of five seasons in the majors with the Marlins and Brewers. A 10th-round pick by the Marlins in the 2004 draft, Carroll is a career .203 hitter with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 175 games. The addition of Carroll helps the Nationals replace Erik Komatsu, who was taken by the...

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Who's in on Yu Darvish? (updated)

December 11, 2011, 2:30pm

Nationals

How far the Nationals' pursuit of Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish goes - assuming, of course, that they participate in the bidding process now that the right-hander has been posted by his homeland club, the Nippon-Ham Fighters - depends just as much on the other bidders as it does the Lerner family's deep pockets and desire to add to their collection of stud pitchers. There will be no shortage of interest in Darvish, who is generally considered the best hurler never to pitch in Major League...

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Gorzelanny, Slaten, Flores sweating out Monday's non-tender deadline

December 10, 2011, 1:03pm

Nationals

Gorzelanny, Slaten, Flores sweating out Monday's non-tender deadline

While Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo continues his search for a pitcher, a center fielder and some bench help, baseball's offseason calendar continues to move on. Next up is Monday's midnight deadline for teams to tender contracts to its arbitration-eligible players, and the Nationals have some decisions to make. Of the seven players eligible for arbitration, some decisions will be relatively easy. Outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse, left-hander John Lannan, and right-handers...

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A closer look at the Perry-for-Balester swap

December 09, 2011, 6:48pm

Nationals

A closer look at the Perry-for-Balester swap

On the surface, the Nationals' trade earlier today sending right-hander Collin Balester to the Detroit Tigers for right-hander Ryan Perry is a bit of a head-scratcher. But what looks like a straight-up deal of similar pitchers who had hit proverbial dead ends with the organizations that drafted them is actually more of a minute tweak for each club. Let's tackle Balester first. The 25-year-old was drafted by the Expos in 2004, and while he showed promise as a starting pitcher early in his...

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Nationals announce spring training reporting dates

December 09, 2011, 6:25am

Nationals

It may be chilly in the mid-Atlantic, but there are warm thoughts ahead. Like Florida-warm. Specifically, the planned community of Viera, home to Space Coast Stadium and spring training headquarters of the Nationals. The Nationals have announced their reporting dates for the 2012 edition of spring training. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 19, position players are due in Feb. 23 and the first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 23. Now, if the club will just announce its Grapefruit...

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Big contracts put Zimmerman in line for huge payday

December 08, 2011, 5:55pm

Nationals

Big contracts put Zimmerman in line for huge payday

The Nationals came back from the Winter Meetings empty-handed, shut out in their quest to find a starting pitcher, a center fielder who can hit leadoff and some punch off the bench. Not that Ryan Zimmerman is happy that he doesn't have someone a few spots ahead in the batting order to drive in on a regular basis, but general manager Mike Rizzo's inability to cross anything off his shopping list in Dallas could pay some dividends for the third baseman. Rizzo hopes to re-sign Zimmerman to an...

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Nats GM Rizzo upbeat as Winter Meetings end

December 08, 2011, 7:04am

Nationals

Nats GM Rizzo upbeat as Winter Meetings end

DALLAS - He thought he had the pitcher he wanted only to fall tantalizingly short of signing free agent Mark Buehrle, who opted for more money, a longer contract term and a reunion with former manager Ozzie Guillen in Miami. He talked to multiple teams about center fielders in trades, but couldn't find a deal that worked. He was so busy courting Buehrle and trying to find a center fielder that his attempts at beefing up the Nationals' bench got shuffled down the priority list. Yet general...

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Rizzo coy on whether Nationals will bid for Yu Darvish

December 08, 2011, 6:26am

Nationals

DALLAS - News that the Nippon-Ham Fighters have decided to post prize pitcher Yu Darvish created a frenzy of activity at the Hilton Anatole on the final day of baseball's Winter Meetings. Japanese media members swarmed team executives who have expressed an interest in Darvish, trying to establish an early field of teams who will enter the process to bid for the right to try an negotiate a contract with the 25-year-old, a two-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player. The Nationals have...

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Nats don't make a pick, but lose Komatsu, Meyers in Rule 5 draft (updated with Rizzo quotes)

December 08, 2011, 5:18am

Nationals

Nats don't make a pick, but lose Komatsu, Meyers in Rule 5 draft (updated with Rizzo quotes)

DALLAS - The Nationals didn't make a pick in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft Thursday morning, but they lost two players from their Triple-A Syracuse roster. With the 22nd pick, the Cardinals selected outfielder Erik Komatsu, who was acquired from the Brewers in the trade for Jerry Hairston Jr. Komatsu hit .277 with seven homers and 48 RBIs between Double-A Huntsville and Harrisburg in 2011. "We were prepared for the possibility that he would be (picked)," Nationals general...

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Boras: I. Rodriguez not returning to D.C. (and lobby leftovers)

December 08, 2011, 4:08am

Nationals

Boras: I. Rodriguez not returning to D.C. (and lobby leftovers)

DALLAS - Apparently, the Winter Meetings must, by decree of longstanding baseball law, include at least one full-out media scrum with super agent Scott Boras, a guy who frustrates the other 29 clubs that do not have a curly W on their caps. This year's happened last night, while Nats general manager Mike Rizzo was pondering exactly what Plan B - and the B doesn't stand for Buehrle - means for his team. Boras held court for a smaller-than-usual number of reporters, who still thrust tape...

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Buehrle's decision forces Rizzo, Nationals to fallback plan

December 07, 2011, 3:00pm

Nationals

DALLAS - Mark Buehrle was the guy the Nationals wanted. However, in the wake of the left-hander's decision to spurn a three-year offer for between $42-$45 million from Washington to sign a four-year deal with the Marlins on Wednesday, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo isn't too heartbroken that the deal never came to fruition. "We weren't - I wasn't - comfortable going four years on him as a starting pitcher," Rizzo said Wednesday night, less than two hours after finding out that weeks of...

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Nationals weighing making Rule 5 pick

December 07, 2011, 1:52pm

Nationals

DALLAS - The Nationals will have to change their plans for the Rule 5 draft, which will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, the last activity at baseball's Winter Meetings. The Nationals, who have picked first in the past two Rule 5 drafts, will have the 16th selection. General manager Mike Rizzo said the Nationals are weighing whether to make a selection. At the Orlando Winter Meetings last year, they took relievers Brian Broderick from the Cardinals (with the 16th pick in the first round) and...

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Outfield talks stall, Nats maintain interest in Cespedes, would use Desmond at leadoff

December 07, 2011, 1:21pm

Nationals

Outfield talks stall, Nats maintain interest in Cespedes, would use Desmond at leadoff

DALLAS - Twins center fielder Denard Span apparently is off the market, the Nationals continue to express an interest in Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and if they don't land the leadoff hitter/center fielder they've established as a priority for the offseason, the Nats are confident Ian Desmond can handle the job at the top of the lineup. General manager Mike Rizzo covered a lot of ground during his afternoon briefing with reporters - just like the swift flychaser he wants patrolling the...

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Rizzo, Nats fail to land Buehrle, who signs with Marlins

December 07, 2011, 12:08pm

Nationals

Rizzo, Nats fail to land Buehrle, who signs with Marlins

DALLAS - Mike Rizzo told reporters Wednesday afternoon that the Nationals had pretty much made their best and final offer to free agent Mark Buehrle and that the team was awaiting an answer from the left-hander. The Nationals didn't have to wait long for a response: Buehrle has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal to join the Miami Marlins. That gives the Marlins three high-profile, big-money free agents - closer Heath Bell, shortstop Jose Reyes and Buehrle - along with new...

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Ex-Nat Bacsik trying to talk his way into permanent radio gig

December 07, 2011, 10:35am

Nationals

Ex-Nat Bacsik trying to talk his way into permanent radio gig

DALLAS - When he etched his name in baseball history on Aug. 7, 2007 by giving up Barry Bonds' 756th career homer in San Francisco, then-Nationals lefty Mike Bacsik basked in the spotlight. He's never really grown tired of talking about the pitch that will forever link him with the game's most prolific home run hitter. Bacsik, now 34 and retired for three seasons since he last threw a ball in anger, is still talking. He's a sports talk host on a Dallas-area radio station and has been...

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Nationals in the mix for Mark Buehrle, kicked tires on Gio Gonzalez

December 07, 2011, 10:21am

Nationals

DALLAS - Looks like the Nationals are, indeed, one of the three finalists to land free agent left-hander Mark Buehrle. A major league source just confirmed for me that the Nats are still in the Buehrle sweepstakes. During his briefing with reporters Tuesday, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he thought once Buehrle had whittled down his list of possible destinations, the process of choosing a team would move swiftly. Apparently, all three of the offers Buehrle is weighing are similar...

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Is no-trade clause a stumbling block for Buehrle deal? (Updated)

December 07, 2011, 6:32am

Nationals

Is no-trade clause a stumbling block for Buehrle deal? (Updated)

DALLAS - The Nationals want left-hander Mark Buehrle and Buehrle has the Nats in his final five. General manager Mike Rizzo believes that it's possible serious talks will accelerate now that Buehrle has established the teams in contention. In other words, Buehrle has narrowed down his list and seems ready to take the next step. All indications point to the fact that Buehrle wants to come to a decision quickly, allowing him maximum offseason time get ready for spring training with his new...

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Is business about to pick up in Dallas for Nationals?

December 07, 2011, 4:00am

Nationals

DALLAS - Frustrated by the snail's pace of trade talks and free agent discussions at the Winter Meetings? Did you figure the Nationals would have solved at least one of their issues by this point, and be ready to look at, say, whether they would try to mine for a prospect in Thursday's Rule 5 draft? General Mike Rizzo probably feels your pain, but he's been around baseball long enough to know that the slow-play game can change at a moment's notice. No way around it, it's been an unusual...

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Nats, Rockies talking - but about whom?

December 06, 2011, 3:13pm

Nationals

DALLAS - Add the Colorado Rockies to the list of teams that have apparently connected with the Nationals about an outfielder at the Winter Meetings. The question is, who on the Rockies' roster are the Nationals targeting. If the Nationals wanted to fill their need for a fleet center fielder who can lead off and play strong defense, Dexter Fowler would probably be the best match. There's one problem with that line of thinking: Fowler apparently isn't available, and even if he were, the...

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Rizzo aware of, not concerned about Marlins' moves

December 06, 2011, 1:02pm

Nationals

Rizzo aware of, not concerned about Marlins' moves

DALLAS - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is well aware of the splash the Miami Marlins have made in the past week, signing free agent closer Heath Bell and free agent shortstop Jose Reyes to big deals. And he's heard the whispers that the Marlins are trying to tempt one of the biggest free agents on the market, longtime Cardinal Albert Pujols, with a 10-year contract offer. But Rizzo isn't about to get carried away in another team's machinations, not when he's got his own targets in...