nationals

Can Turner duplicate electric second half over full 2017 season?

October 24, 2016, 12:38pm

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Trea Turner, who didn't arrive in the big leagues until July, but wound up one of the most valuable players on the team. PLAYER REVIEW: TREA TURNER Age on opening day 2017: 23 How acquired: Acquired from Padres with Joe Ross, with Nats trading Steven Souza and Travis Ott to Rays in three-team deal, December 2014 MLB service time: 135 days 2016 salary:...

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Can Werth keep it going in seventh and final year of contract?

October 23, 2016, 8:45pm

Nationals

Can Werth keep it going in seventh and final year of contract?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Jayson Werth, who despite a slow start managed to put together another solid season even as the outfielder approaches the twilight of his career. PLAYER REVIEW: JAYSON WERTH Age on opening day 2017: 37 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2010 MLB service time: 13 years, 102 days 2016 salary: $21 million Contract status: Signed for $21 million in 2017, free...

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More power in 2017 would make Robinson more valuable to Nats

October 22, 2016, 12:54pm

Nationals

More power in 2017 would make Robinson more valuable to Nats

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Clint Robinson, who in his second full big league season further established himself as a reliable bench bat who can take over at first base when needed. PLAYER REVIEW: CLINT ROBINSON Age on opening day 2017: 32 How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, December 2014 MLB service time: 2 years, 28 days 2016 salary: $534,900 Contract status: Under team control...

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Drew Ward hitting well after two weeks in Arizona Fall League

October 24, 2016, 2:20am

Nationals

Drew Ward hitting well after two weeks in Arizona Fall League

The Glendale Desert Dogs came up a bit short in the second week of Arizona Fall League play, culminating in a 10-8 loss to Surprise on Saturday. Glendale is now 3-8 and trails Peoria by six games in the West Division. It was a tough day for right-hander Austin Voth, who allowed seven runs in three innings on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He gave up one solo shot. His club bounced back from a 7-1 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the sixth. But the Saguaros rallied with...

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Drew's strong second half could entice Nats to try to re-sign him

October 21, 2016, 11:00am

Nationals

Drew's strong second half could entice Nats to try to re-sign him

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Stephen Drew, who struggled early in his first season in Washington, then managed to become a key performer off the bench despite a prolonged absence due to an unusual ailment. PLAYER REVIEW: STEPHEN DREW Age on opening day 2017: 34 How acquired: Signed as free agent, Jan. 2016 MLB service time: 10 years, 38 days 2016 salary: $3 million Contract status: Free...

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After career year halted by ACL tear, uncertain future for Ramos

October 20, 2016, 1:45pm

Nationals

After career year halted by ACL tear, uncertain future for Ramos

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Wilson Ramos, who enjoyed a career year that included his first-ever All-Star selection, only to have it cut short in the season's final week when he tore the ACL in his right knee. PLAYER REVIEW: WILSON RAMOS Age on opening day 2017: 29 How acquired: Acquired with Joe Testa from Twins for Matt Capps, July 2010 MLB service time: 6 years, 47 days 2016 salary: $5.35...

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Nationals retain entire coaching staff for 2017

October 20, 2016, 12:05pm

Nationals

Dusty Baker's entire coaching staff will return in 2017. The Nationals announced today that all seven coaches on Baker's staff - bench coach Chris Speier, pitching coach Mike Maddux, first base coach Davey Lopes, third base coach Bob Henley, hitting coach Rick Schu, assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones and bullpen coach Dan Firova - have been retained for another season. The news doesn't come as much surprise, given how well-liked the staff was by this year's roster, but most of the coaches...

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Ryan Brinley refining curveball, getting reps in AFL competition

October 21, 2016, 3:37am

Nationals

Ryan Brinley refining curveball, getting reps in AFL competition

Ryan Brinley had a very good season with high Single-A Potomac. The 23-year-old went 4-1 with a 1.37 ERA in 32 games with the P-Nats. He had 16 saves, 34 strikeouts and only seven walks. The right-hander was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on June 27 and appeared in eight games, going 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA while missing on a pair of save opportunities. He was transferred to Potomac on Aug. 1. Brinley was so good this year at Potomac, he was rewarded with midseason and postseason Carolina League...

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After sluggish April, Rendon recaptured top form in 2016

October 19, 2016, 1:02pm

Nationals

After sluggish April, Rendon recaptured top form in 2016

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Anthony Rendon, who got off to slow start but then became one of the club's most consistent and productive hitters in the second half. PLAYER REVIEW: ANTHONY RENDON Age on opening day 2017: 26 How acquired: First-round pick, 2011 draft MLB service time: 3 years, 130 days 2016 salary: $2.8 million Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2017. Free agent in...

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After an all-too-familiar year, what does future hold for Espinosa?

October 18, 2016, 12:54pm

Nationals

After an all-too-familiar year, what does future hold for Espinosa?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Danny Espinosa, who once again tantalized everyone with a midseason power surge, but once again finished with unimpressive numbers because of an inability to consistently make contact. PLAYER REVIEW: DANNY ESPINOSA Age on opening day 2017: 29 How acquired: Third-round pick, 2008 draft MLB service time: 5 years, 113 days 2016 salary: $2.875 million Contract status:...

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Once a fallback option, Murphy turned in MVP-caliber year

October 17, 2016, 10:57am

Nationals

Once a fallback option, Murphy turned in MVP-caliber year

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Daniel Murphy, whose first season in Washington proved to be among the best all-around seasons in Nats history and made the veteran infielder an MVP candidate. PLAYER REVIEW: DANIEL MURPHY Age on opening day 2017: 32 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2016 MLB service time: 7 years, 109 days 2016 salary: $8 million Contract status: Signed for $12 million...

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Austin Voth getting changeup to work well in second AFL start

October 19, 2016, 12:30pm

Nationals

Austin Voth getting changeup to work well in second AFL start

Right-hander Austin Voth bounced back in his second start in the Arizona Fall League on Monday. The 24-year-old went four innings, struck out seven and didn't walk anybody in a no-decision. His Glendale Desert Dogs fell 5-4 to Peoria but were tied 1-1 when he left the game. "He pitched like he's very capable of pitching," said pitching coach Sam Narron. "He's out here to work on that changeup. He threw quite a few of them (Monday) and they were very effective." In his first game in...

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Week 1 AFL update: Glendale Desert Dogs

October 17, 2016, 9:02am

Nationals

The Glendale Desert Dogs are 2-3 and one game out of first place in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. After starting 2-1, they have dropped two games in a row. Third baseman Drew Ward is hitting .444 (4-for-9) with a double, an RBI, two walks and two strikeouts in three games. Shortstop Osvaldo Abreu is hitting .273 (3-for-11) with a double and three RBIs in three games. Center fielder Andrew Stevenson is hitting .250 (3-for-12) with a homer, six RBIs and one stolen base. He has...

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Phillips Valdez honing breaking pitch to get to next level

October 18, 2016, 9:57am

Nationals

Phillips Valdez honing breaking pitch to get to next level

Right-hander Phillips Valdez was on the radar among starters who are building innings in the Nationals organization. The Dominican product moved from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2013. Valdez has a solid frame at 6-foot-2 and 160 lbs., and offers a mid-90s fastball with a changeup and a slurvy breaking pitch. In 2014, he split time between short-season Single-A Auburn and low Single-A Hagerstown. In 2015, he went from Hagerstown to high...

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What can Nats expect from Zimmerman after difficult season?

October 16, 2016, 7:37pm

Nationals

What can Nats expect from Zimmerman after difficult season?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we'll begin with reviews of each significant player on the Nationals roster. We begin today with Ryan Zimmerman, the once-reliable slugger who struggled through his worst major league season before finding his stroke just in time for the playoffs. PLAYER REVIEW: RYAN ZIMMERMAN Age on opening day 2017: 32 How acquired: First-round pick, 2005 draft MLB service time: 11 years, 32 days 2016 salary: $14 million Contract status: Signed for $14 million in...

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Top five offseason storylines for the Nationals

October 15, 2016, 9:05pm

Nationals

It happened much sooner than anyone around here wanted, but it's now officially the offseason in D.C., and there's nothing anybody can do to change that. This figures to be quite a compelling offseason for the Nationals, who will be motivated to do what they can to put themselves in a better position to advance deeper into October in 2017 than they did in 2016. At the same time, most of the necessary pieces are already in place. General manager Mike Rizzo doesn't have to do a whole lot this...

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Looking back at what went right during the NLDS

October 14, 2016, 7:44pm

Nationals

Looking back at what went right during the NLDS

There's been plenty of teeth-nashing, head-banging and face-palming in the last 36 hours over everything that went wrong for the Nationals in Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series. That's fine. Losses like this need to be analyzed and rehashed, with an eye on what could have been different. Let's take a moment this morning, though, to do the opposite exercise. Instead of looking at what went wrong in the NLDS, let's take a brief look at what went right. You may be surprised...

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Zimmerman's postseason could play into 2017

October 17, 2016, 3:41am

Nationals

Zimmerman's postseason could play into 2017

Frist baseman Ryan Zimmerman had a less than Ryan Zimmerman type regular season. Could his performance in the National League Division Series catapult him into a better 2017? Zimmerman hit .218 for the season. In the postseason, Zimmerman went 6-for-17 (.353) in the 2016 postseason. He has hit .357 in his postseason career. He even started this NLDS going 5-for-11 (.455). Zimmerman was asked prior to NLDS Game 5 about his recent run how it will help him in the future. He mentioned the...

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Trea Turner showed he belonged in big leagues and gave hint of potential

October 15, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

Trea Turner showed he belonged in big leagues and gave hint of potential

The Nationals might still be licking their wounds from the Game 5 loss Thursday in the National League Division Series, but president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo built this team for the long haul and the core of this team is still very young. Two of the youngest players reside in the outfield in center fielder Trea Turner (23) and right fielder Bryce Harper (24 on Sunday). Today, we spotlight N.C. State product Turner. Turner had an amazing season for the Nationals,...

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Ramos has surgery for torn ACL, Nats say rehab is 6-8 months

October 14, 2016, 12:33pm

Nationals

Ramos has surgery for torn ACL, Nats say rehab is 6-8 months

Wilson Ramos had surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee today, a procedure that may not allow the soon-to-be free agent catcher to be ready for the start of the 2017 season. Ramos also had repairs done to the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus in his knee, the Nationals said. Rehab from the surgery, performed by orthopedist Robert Najarian, is expected to take six to eight months. The 29-year-old catcher was enjoying the best season of his career when he hurt himself leaping to...