nationals

With Justin Morneau available, would Nationals have interest in veteran's lefty power bat?

October 30, 2015, 6:52am

Justin Morneau's option was not picked up by the Colorado Rockies. Would the Nationals be interested in the first baseman? They would certainly covet a left-handed power bat of this stature, but would injury concerns and a logjam at that spot make them hesitate? Ryan Zimmerman is at first base for the Nationals and is coming off an oblique injury that finished his 2015 season early. Would the Nationals consider Zimmerman in left field, Bryce Harper in center field and Jayson Werth in right...

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Harper, Donaldson named Hank Aaron Award winners

October 31, 2015, 3:52pm

Nationals

Harper, Donaldson named Hank Aaron Award winners

Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals have been selected as the American League and National League winners of the 2015 Hank Aaron Award, Major League Baseball announced today. Established in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, the Hank Aaron Award is officially sanctioned by MLB and recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each League. Fans voted for the award on MLB.com, and...

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Prospects for Bud Black's coaching staff

October 30, 2015, 5:15am

Nationals

Prospects for Bud Black's coaching staff

The reaction to Bud Black beating out Dusty Baker for the Nationals managerial job might have caused some head scratching at first. After all, the former managed the Padres - his only gig as a big league skipper - to a less-than-flattering 649-713 record over 8 1/2 years without tasting one sip of playoff-clinching champagne, while the latter took three different teams to the playoffs, reaching the World Series with the Giants in 2002. The immediate feeling on Black is understandable. Why...

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Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos named Gold Glove finalists

October 29, 2015, 11:26am

Nationals

Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos named Gold Glove finalists

Following his first full season playing right field, Bryce Harper was named as a National League finalist for a 2015 Gold Glove Award. Rawlings made the announcement earlier today with the winners set to be revealed on ESPN on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Beyond his eye-popping numbers at the plate, Harper routinely impressed with highlight-reel sliding catches in right field. His cannon of a right arm produced eight outfield assists, tied for sixth-best among major league outfielders. That arm, combined...

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Baseball America's Nationals top 10 prospects list includes Giolito, Turner and Robles

October 29, 2015, 6:55am

Nationals

Baseball America released its top 10 Nationals prospects list in its digital edition this week. Here is the Nationals top 10: 1. RHP Lucas Giolito 2. SS Trea Turner 3. CF Victor Robles 4. RHP Erick Fedde 5. RHP Reynaldo Lopez 6. SS Wilmer Difo 7. RHP A.J. Cole 8. CF Andrew Stevenson 9. RHP Austin Voth 10. 3B Anderson Franco Franco is 18 out of the Dominican Republic and hit a combined .269 for two teams in 2015. Voth has advanced well and has shown stuff that plays at higher levels; he can...

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Bud Black gives Nats a manager who knows pitching

October 29, 2015, 5:37am

Nationals

Bud Black gives Nats a manager who knows pitching

Many of the frustrations caused by former Nationals manager Matt Williams stemmed from his handling of the Nationals pitching staff - from top to bottom. Those concerns surfaced during controversial decisions in the 2014 National League Division Series, then carried over and lasted throughout the Nats' most recent disappointing campaign. From pulling starters too early to old-school matchup approaches to overworking his bullpen, Williams never seemed to push the right buttons. When he...

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With Nationals, Black will have to learn to adjust to higher expectations

October 29, 2015, 12:07pm

Nationals

Back when Buddy Black, the Nationals' new manager, was a left-handed pitcher in the American League, he once stood below the Metrodome roof in Minnesota and counted the squares - and the holes in the squares - in the light-colored plastic roof. "Sometimes, you just have to find things to do," Black says. "I've been coming here for years and wondered how many holes there were in the roof. So I counted them.'' Black has the quirkiness you'd expect in a left-handed pitcher. But, he's also...

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Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos named Rawlings Gold Glove finalists

October 29, 2015, 8:47am

Nationals

Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos named Rawlings Gold Glove finalists

The finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced Thursday by Rawlings Sports, and for the fourth consecutive year, the Washington Nationals have two players among the honorees. Right fielder Bryce Harper and catcher Wilson Ramos were named finalists at their respective positions, the first such honor for each player. The awards will be announced on Tuesday, November 10, on ESPN. Harper is up against strong competition for the award, facing off against St. Louis Cardinals right...

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Anthony Rendon qualifies for Super Two arbitration status

October 28, 2015, 12:32pm

Nationals

Anthony Rendon qualifies for Super Two arbitration status

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon is among a group of 25 major leaguers who have qualified for Super Two arbitration status this year, according to MLBTradeRumors.com. The site reports that Rendon came in right at 2.130 service time cutoff, earning an extra year of arbitration-eligible status. Typically, a major league player becomes arbitration-eligible when he accrues three years playing in the big leagues. As MLBTR writes, "A full year of Major League service is defined as spending 172...

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Padres scribe on Bud Black as a manager: "Players do like him"

October 27, 2015, 4:26pm

Nationals

Padres scribe on Bud Black as a manager: "Players do like him"

Former Padres skipper Bud Black has reportedly emerged as a frontrunner for the Nationals managerial vacancy. Dennis Lin is in his third season as the Padres beat reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter: @dennistlin) and says Black was very approachable by both his players and the media during his time as San Diego's manager. "I'd say the No. 1 thing that comes to mind when people think about Buddy around baseball is the fact that he treated everyone the same way - with respect,"...

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Report: Bud Black to be hired as Nationals' next manager

October 28, 2015, 5:58pm

Nationals

The Nationals have settled on Bud Black as their next manager, according to a report from the Washington Post. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo began his search for the team's next skipper after dismissing Matt Williams on Oct. 5. Of the seven candidates who Rizzo reportedly auditioned over the past few weeks, only Black and veteran manager Dusty Baker returned to D.C. for second interviews. Rizzo was looking for his new skipper to have previous managerial experience in the majors. Black...

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Heading into free agency, Denard Span reacts after disappointing season

October 28, 2015, 5:05am

Nationals

Heading into free agency, Denard Span reacts after disappointing season

Of all the injuries the Nationals sustained this year, none were arguably as damaging as those Denard Span suffered. The veteran center fielder's season began on the disabled list after undergoing offseason hernia surgery last December followed by core muscle surgery early in spring training. Despite missing opening day and the first two weeks of the season, Span sped up his recovery to rejoin his teammates. He was playing All-Star-caliber baseball through his first 33 games, delivering his...

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#NationalChocolateDay: Reliving some of the Nats' sweetest moments

October 28, 2015, 10:17am

Nationals

#NationalChocolateDay: Reliving some of the Nats' sweetest moments

Grab a brownie, a glass of chocolate milk or a candy bar and take a seat. National Chocolate Day - one of the sweetest holidays for the Washington Nationals - is here and it's time to party. A tradition born earlier in the season thanks to ace Max Scherzer, the star of the game was doused in chocolate sauce after a walk-off or during his postgame interview. The results: a spike in sideline reporter Dan Kolko's dry cleaning bill, globs of sticky syrup in players' hair and pure...

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Report: Bud Black emerges as frontrunner to become next Nats manager

October 26, 2015, 5:14am

Nationals

Report: Bud Black emerges as frontrunner to become next Nats manager

Bud Black has emerged as the top candidate to land the Nationals' managerial job and could be offered a deal as early as today, according to ESPN's Jim Bowden. Bowden, Washington's former general manager, reports Black is in D.C. for his second meeting with the Nationals. The Washington Post is also reporting that Dusty Baker will interview again with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo today. After firing first-time manager Matt Williams after a disappointing second season, Rizzo cited...

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AFL update: Simms and Kieboom latest to shine for Salt River

October 25, 2015, 4:28am

Nationals

AFL update: Simms and Kieboom latest to shine for Salt River

Right-hander John Simms had a very good start on Friday as Salt River defeated Mesa 5-1 in Arizona Fall League play. Simms went four innings, allowing only three hits and one run. He struck out four and walked one, surrendering just a solo homer to catcher Stephen McGee. Simms is now 2-0 and has a 2.57 ERA in two games and seven innings for Salt River. The 23-year-old out of Rice was an 11th-round selection by the Nationals in 2013. Salt River won its second straight over Mesa 5-4 on...

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Breaking down the Nats' managerial candidates

October 24, 2015, 3:44pm

Nationals

Breaking down the Nats' managerial candidates

The Nationals began interviewing candidates for their managerial opening days after general manager Mike Rizzo relieved Matt Williams of his duties on Oct. 5. Since then, seven different candidates are known to have met with Rizzo and members of the Nationals brass about leading a roster believed to still be a World Series contender in 2016. Here is a look at each candidate and their chances of securing the Nationals job: 1. Dusty Baker, veteran manager: The former three-time National League...

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Does Dave Martinez have a better shot at Nats' skipper spot this time around?

October 23, 2015, 6:34am

Nationals

Does Dave Martinez have a better shot at Nats' skipper spot this time around?

I have been told the Nationals are interviewing a lot more candidates this time around for their vacant managerial position. Many have thought the announcement would be made after the World Series, but the Mariners did not waste any time or follow that protocol with the hiring of Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais to replace Lloyd McClendon. Will the vacancy in Los Angeles make Dusty Baker a hotter commodity? His name has been mentioned around Chavez Ravine. Would that make the...

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Mike Rizzo reportedly sets next round of interviews with Dusty Baker, Bud Black

October 24, 2015, 5:02am

Nationals

Mike Rizzo reportedly sets next round of interviews with Dusty Baker, Bud Black

After firing first-time manager Matt Williams following numerous late-inning strategic mistakes, it may have caused some head scratching when Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo included the likes of Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green and Triple-A skipper Phil Nevin in the ongoing managerial search. Green and Nevin, along with other Rizzo interviewees Giants bench coach Ron Wotus and Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach, don't have any background managing at the major league level,...

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Goodwin and Bautista to play winter league ball

October 22, 2015, 10:00am

Nationals

Goodwin and Bautista to play winter league ball

Double-A Harrisburg center fielder Brian Goodwin will play winter ball for Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League, according to a club source. Goodwin played in 114 games last season for the Senators. The 24-year-old has five tools and is looking to become more consistent at the plate. Goodwin hit .226 in 472 plate appearances this season with 17 doubles, four triples, eight homers, 15 stolen bases and 46 RBIs. He walked 38 times, but had 93 strikeouts. He hit .219 with Triple-A Syracuse in...

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Don Mattingly is suddenly available, but are Nationals interested?

October 22, 2015, 8:34am

Nationals

If you were hoping against hope that the Cubs would pull off a miraculous comeback, you awoke this morning a disappointed baseball fan. Me, I'm always happy when there are different teams in the postseason, and this year's final four guaranteed at least one new team in the World Series. But it'll be at least another season full of references to the billy goat, black cat, Bartman and the Cubs' long World Series drought. At the Cubby Bear, they're probably still drowning their sorrows. You...