nationals

A couple of intriguing non-roster invitees

January 26, 2015, 5:34am

Seemingly every year, there's at least one non-roster invitee who makes a major impression in spring training, and ends up surprising people and cracking the opening day roster. Sometimes, it's a veteran who had been signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Guys like Chad Tracy, who are looking to find their way back into the fold in the majors after an injury, time in Triple-A or a year playing abroad. Other times, it's an under-the-radar minor...

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Zimmerman walks off against the Padres in this week's "Nationals Classics" game

January 27, 2015, 5:23am

Nationals

Spring training is just three weeks away. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to kiss this cold, snowy winter goodbye and say hello to the boys of summer. While I can't realistically do that, you and I can watch this week's "Nationals Classics" game on MASN HD, featuring a walk-off home run from Ryan Zimmerman. Here's what's on deck: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m.: Besides being the longest tenured player on the Nationals, Zimmerman has also earned the reputation of being one of...

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Taking a look at the remaining free agent relievers

January 25, 2015, 5:21am

Nationals

Taking a look at the remaining free agent relievers

The Nationals don't currently have a need, per se, for another reliever. Tyler Clippard has departed, going to Oakland in the trade that brought Yunel Escobar to D.C., but the Nationals could look to fill Clippard's eighth-inning role in 2015 with some combination of Aaron Barrett/Matt Thornton/Blake Treinen. All three posted strong numbers in 2014 and all three are highly thought of within the organization. But if the Nats are indeed looking to add another reliever from the free agent...

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Matt Williams' message to Tanner Roark

January 24, 2015, 5:05am

Nationals

We all know the situation Tanner Roark is in. After winning 15 games last season and posting a stellar 2.85 ERA in a breakout year, Roark, almost unfathomably, will likely start the season in the Nationals' bullpen. That is, of course, assuming that the Nats don't trade any of their starting pitchers before opening day. There's always the chance of injury when it comes to pitchers, however, and even if Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez are all...

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How far things have come

January 23, 2015, 4:39am

Nationals

When listening to Max Scherzer explain his reasoning for signing with the Nationals a couple of days ago during his introductory press conference, one thing stood out to me above all others, and that's that this franchise has come a long way in the last handful of years. From 2008-10, the Nats lost a total of 298 games. Their winning percentage was .386 during that three-year span. The Nats finished last in the National League East all three years. It was tough to get free agents who...

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Rizzo, Williams have a history with Scherzer (Meek, Ka'aihue sign minor league deals)

January 22, 2015, 5:01am

Nationals

Rizzo, Williams have a history with Scherzer (Meek, Ka'aihue sign minor league deals)

Mike Rizzo's history with Max Scherzer is well-documented. The Nationals general manager was the scouting director in Arizona in 2006 when the Diamondbacks selected the hard-throwing Scherzer with the No. 11 pick in the first-year player draft. Rizzo scouted Scherzer, and loved what he saw out of the young right-hander. And when it came time for the Diamondbacks to make their first-round pick, Rizzo had to convince the others in the Arizona war room that Scherzer was the best guy on the...

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Video: Scherzer discusses what brought him to D.C. (with Rizzo, Williams interviews)

January 21, 2015, 1:41pm

Nationals

Video: Scherzer discusses what brought him to D.C. (with Rizzo, Williams interviews)

After getting a brief tour of the home clubhouse at Nationals Park and signing his contract early this afternoon, it became official - Max Scherzer is a Washington National. Scherzer met with reporters today, discussing the process that he went through this offseason as he waited to see where he'd end up and what eventually lured him to D.C. The $210 million sure doesn't hurt, but Scherzer said there was more to his decision than just that. "You can offer as much money as you want, but if...

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With a star-studded rotation, who makes opening day start for the Nationals?

January 22, 2015, 7:26am

Nationals

There are 162 games in a baseball season, so determining a team's opening day starter seems to be a low-level story. But it is never that way. Opening day starters are a topic of conversation the minute teams arrive in spring training. Given so much is set with the Nationals going into the spring, the opening day starter is virtually the only question to be answered. Some managers announce their opening day starter at the beginning of spring training. Others hold back, even though reporters...

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Rizzo: With Scherzer deal, Nats have "strengthened a strength"

January 21, 2015, 11:58am

Nationals

Rizzo: With Scherzer deal, Nats have "strengthened a strength"

Most people looked at the Nationals rotation as 2014 morphed into 2015 and saw the strongest starting five in the major leagues. General manager Mike Rizzo looked at the potential juggernaut on the mound and thought about only one thing: making it even more imposing. The Nationals introduced Max Scherzer on Wednesday afternoon after the right-hander put pen to paper on a seven-year, $210 million contract. If the Nats weren't already the odds-on favorite to repeat as National League East...

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Roark's role set to change in 2015

January 20, 2015, 3:23am

Nationals

While I'm sure those on the Nationals roster are excited about the addition of Max Scherzer, with the right-hander joining an already-loaded rotation, Scherzer's reported seven-year, $210 million deal has a major impact on one National in 2015. That player is Tanner Roark. Roark won't publicly come out and complain about how his role will change if the Nats decide not to trade one of their starters after Scherzer's addition, but you have to imagine he isn't thrilled. Roark worked his way...

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Nationals agree to terms on seven-year contract with right-hander Max Scherzer

January 21, 2015, 8:51am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer on a seven-year contract on Wednesday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Scherzer, 30, joins the Nationals after seven Major League seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2010-14) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-09), and on the heels of back-to-back All-Star campaigns. Scherzer is 91-50 with a 3.58 ERA in 207 career games (198...

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So what now?

January 19, 2015, 4:32am

Nationals

Good morning, Nationals fans. Your team just made the biggest move of the offseason. Max Scherzer is coming aboard, according to multiple reports, on a seven-year contract that will pay him upwards of $180 million. This is without a doubt the biggest move of the baseball offseason, a signing that would have brought a 100-loss team into the national conversation. The difference here is that it takes a team that won the most games in the National League last year and only ups its standing as we...

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Getting a chance to hear from the newest National

January 21, 2015, 3:58am

Nationals

Getting a chance to hear from the newest National

What a banner year it's been for the NFL. Oh, wait. Did I say "banner year"? I meant disastrous year filled with public relations nightmare after public relations nightmare. The latest NFL issue deals with the ESPN report that came out late last night saying that 11 of the Patriots' 12 footballs used in the AFC championship game were significantly underinflated. I don't know about you guys, but I'm now a bit less pumped up about the Super Bowl two Sundays from now. This controversy has...

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Will Zimmermann stay after Scherzer signing and will Nats rotation be among best ever?

January 20, 2015, 9:12am

Nationals

Will Zimmermann stay after Scherzer signing and will Nats rotation be among best ever?

Now that the Nationals have constructed the best rotation in baseball by adding Max Scherzer, the next set of questions surround Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann, 28, is eligible for free agency after the season. He and the Nationals have been negotiating, but there's no deal. Zimmermann is willing to stay in D.C., but wants fair market value. So, what is fair? Jon Lester signed for six years and $155 million with the Chicago Cubs. Zimmermann, who has won 57 games with a 3.24 ERA and a...

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Nationals make their pitch, reportedly land prized four-pitch pitcher Scherzer

January 19, 2015, 5:57am

Nationals

Five years ago, pitcher Max Scherzer was a blue-chip prospect with an unpredictable delivery and even more unpredictable results. He's on his way to Washington after agreeing to a seven-year contract reportedly worth in excess of $180 million, giving the Nationals an unbelievable rotation that includes Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark and Jordan Zimmermann. Media reports speculate that Zimmermann or Fister could be traded for prospects as general manager Mike Rizzo...

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Reports: Nats to sign Max Scherzer to seven-year deal

January 18, 2015, 3:11pm

Nationals

Reports: Nats to sign Max Scherzer to seven-year deal

The Nationals are closing in on a deal with right-hander Max Scherzer, the top free agent available this offseason, according to multiple reports. Update: Reports have the Nats signing Scherzer to a seven-year contract, and FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says the deal is worth more than $180 million. A first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft when Nats general manager Mike Rizzo was Arizona's scouting director, Scherzer has emerged as one of the top right-handed...

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NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats

January 19, 2015, 3:51am

Nationals

NL East opponents concerned if Scherzer pitches for Nats

So much for another quiet offseason for the Nationals. Last week, the Nationals acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar to shore up their infield. They sent fan favorite and eighth-inning eraser Tyler Clippard to Oakland to complete the deal. Now there are reports that the Nationals have agreed to a seven-year deal with 2013 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who went 39-8 the past two seasons with 492 strikeouts for the Tigers. NJ.com, which covers the Mets, believes this makes it even more...

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A big spring ahead for Taylor

January 18, 2015, 3:54am

Nationals

From a developmental standpoint, 2014 was a massive year for Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor. Selected out of high school as a sixth-round pick back in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Taylor was viewed as a potential center fielder at the big league level early on because of his speed and defensive ability. He made his way through the low levels of the Nats minor league system delivering on that reputation, but also struggling somewhat with the bat. In 2010, his first taste of...

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Catch three "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD

January 16, 2015, 5:54am

Nationals

We're just 31 days from the start of spring training. If you ask me, it can't come soon enough. To fill your baseball void, we have three "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD. We kick things off with everyone's favorite fictional holiday, "Clinchmas." Here's what's on deck this week: Monday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m.: Enjoy today's holiday by reliving another one - Clinchmas. That's right, today you can enjoy the Nationals' clinching of the National League East in Atlanta this past Sept....

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Another option to consider in the late innings

January 16, 2015, 11:37am

Nationals

Another option to consider in the late innings

When discussing possible in-house replacements for Tyler Clippard in the eighth-inning role, the names of Aaron Barrett and Blake Treinen have been thrown around by myself and others. Both are young and still relatively inexperienced at the big league level, but both have shown promise in their limited major league action. There's a far more experienced option in the organization that we haven't talked much about since the trade that sent Clippard to the A's, however. That option is Matt...