nationals

Desmond and Rendon getting noticed nationally

November 23, 2014, 5:09am

Nationals fans know what they have in Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon. They know that Desmond has won three straight Silver Slugger awards among National League shortstops, and in those three years, that he has hit 69 homers, driven in 244 runs and posted an impressive slash line of .275/.326/.462. He's also mixed in some speed with his power, stealing 66 bags over the last three seasons, joining elite company as one of the few shortstops in history to have three straight 20/20 seasons. They...

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Be thankful this week for six "Nationals Classics"

November 21, 2014, 5:32am

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The holiday season officially kicks off this week with Thanksgiving on Thursday. While Thanksgiving weekend is normally filled with numerous football games, we have six opportunities for you to watch some of the greatest games in Nationals history. This week's lineup features four walk-off wins, as well as stellar pitching performances from Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg. Here's what's on deck this week: Monday, Nov. 24, 12:30 p.m.: Strasburg made his memorable major league debut...

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LaRoche lands in Chicago

November 22, 2014, 5:20am

Nationals

We knew that Adam LaRoche wouldn't be returning to the Nationals for the 2015 season. Now we know where the 35-year-old first baseman will be suiting up for the next two years. LaRoche has agreed to terms on a two-year, $25 million deal with the White Sox, a contract that was first reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The deal will give LaRoche a hitter-friendly home ballpark, as 1.86 home runs were hit per game at U.S. Cellular Field in 2014, ninth-most in the majors. Just 1.33...

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Nats sign right-hander Bruce Billings to minor league deal

November 21, 2014, 7:24am

Nationals

Nats sign right-hander Bruce Billings to minor league deal

The Nationals have signed right-hander Bruce Billings to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training, the team announced today. Billings, 29, was a 30th-round pick of the Rockies in the 2007 draft. He's appeared in just five big league games in his career, allowing 12 earned runs in 11 innings. He made one appearance for the Yankees in 2014, allowing four runs in four innings, with seven strikeouts and a walk. It was his first appearance in a big league game since...

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On the 40-man decisions and trade rumors

November 21, 2014, 4:52am

Nationals

On the 40-man decisions and trade rumors

Pedro Florimon, we hardly knew ye. The utility infielder, who the Nationals claimed off waivers from the Twins in mid-September, is now heading to the Pirates after Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers yesterday. Three organizations in a little over two months. The life of a professional baseball player can be an interesting one. The Nationals set their 40-man roster yesterday, adding A.J. Cole, Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo and Matt Grace and dropping Florimon and Ryan Mattheus. Despite Difo having...

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Taylor Swift adds second show at Nationals Park

November 21, 2014, 11:04am

Nationals

Due to overwhelming demand, Taylor Swift has announced a second show at Nationals Park on July 14, 2015 for The 1989 World Tour. Tickets to her first show, on July 13, went on sale earlier today. Tickets for the additional date go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 12, at 10:00 am ET. American ExpressÂ® Card Members and members of TaylorSwift.com will have access to purchase tickets in advance, beginning Friday, December 5 at 10:00 am ET through Thursday, December 11 at...

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Nationals add four to 40-man roster, release Mattheus; Pirates claim Florimon

November 20, 2014, 12:14pm

Nationals

The Nationals this afternoon selected the contracts of right-hander A.J. Cole, left-hander Matt Grace, infielder Wilmer Difo and outfielder Brian Goodwin. By adding these prospects to the 40-man roster, the Nationals protect them from the Rule 5 draft, which will be held Dec. 11 in San Diego at the Winter Meetings. To make room for those four players, right-hander Ryan Mattheus was placed on outright assignment and elected free agency, while infielder Pedro Florimon was claimed off waivers by...

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Beasley back in the bigs, possible landing spot for LaRoche (plus scouting hires)

November 19, 2014, 5:25am

Nationals

Beasley back in the bigs, possible landing spot for LaRoche (plus scouting hires)

With the news that the Nationals have released catcher Jhonatan Solano, the best nickname in the organization is now gone. "The Onion" was let go yesterday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, in order for the Nats to protect qualifying minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft. I'll miss the various onion jokes that were tossed around when Solano delivered for the Nats in 2012 and 2013 - that Solano had peeled off another hit or that he was cooking up a good game. Best of luck to the...

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Nationals add Cole, Grace, Difo and Goodwin to 40-man roster

November 20, 2014, 12:18pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole, infielder Wilmer Difo, outfielder Brian Goodwin and left-handed pitcher Matt Grace and added them to the team's 40-man roster. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cole, a fourth-round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, was rated by industry expert Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Nationals minor league system prior to...

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Time to finalize the 40-man

November 20, 2014, 3:14am

Nationals

Over the last week, we've seen the Nationals make a couple of moves that cleared up space on the team's 40-man roster. Left-hander Matt Purke was released, and then subsequently re-signed to a minor league contract. That series of moves opened up a spot on the 40-man. On Tuesday, catcher Jhonatan Solano was also released, leaving the Nats with 38 players on their 40-man roster. And with today being the reserves deadline - the last chance for teams to add minor leaguers that are eligible for...

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Nats release Jhonatan Solano

November 18, 2014, 5:21pm

Nationals

The Nationals have released catcher Jhonatan Solano, according to the team's transactions page, clearing another spot on the team's 40-man roster. Solano appeared in 36 big league games between the 2012 and 2013 seasons, and impressed in his first taste of major league action, hitting .314/.351/.571 in 37 plate appearances in 2012. He hit two homers and drove in six when helping to fill in for an injured Wilson Ramos that year. But Solano hit just .214 at Triple-A Syracuse in 2013, and had a...

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Nationals holiday gift packs go on sale today

November 19, 2014, 6:24am

Nationals

Racing President Tom holiday ornament included with each order Washington Nationals fans will once again have the opportunity to give the gift of baseball this upcoming holiday season when Holiday Gift Packs go on sale today, Wednesday, November 19. For a limited time, fans can purchase the Memorial Pack or the Jefferson Pack, each featuring tickets to three of the hottest matchups of the 2015 season. Every order will also include one FREE Racing President Tom holiday ornament, creating the...

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Nats re-sign Purke to minor league deal (updated with quotes)

November 17, 2014, 11:05am

Nationals

Nats re-sign Purke to minor league deal (updated with quotes)

Three days after releasing Matt Purke, the Nationals announced that they have re-signed the left-hander to a minor league deal and invited him to major league spring training. Releasing Purke allowed the Nats to remove him from their 40-man roster. This is good news that the Nationals can still have Purke in the organization as he completes his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old Purke was limited to eight starts in 2014, going 1-6 with an 8.04 ERA. His career has been...

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Interesting happenings within the division

November 18, 2014, 5:20am

Nationals

Interesting happenings within the division

There are days during the winter months when nothing really happens in the baseball world. There are, in fact, many such days. Rumors might spread, various free agent names might be kicked around and potential trades might be tossed out there, allowing fans and media members to speculate about what might go down. But often, days at a time go by without any real news breaking. Yesterday was not one of those days. The Blue Jays swooped in to sign catcher Russell Martin to a monster five-year, $82...

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Nationals announce additions and promotions within scouting staff

November 19, 2014, 5:33am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced additions and promotions within their Major League and amateur scouting departments. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The Nationals hired Mike Cubbage and Terry Wetzel as Special Assistants to the President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. In a continued expansion of their amateur scouting operation, the Nationals added Brandon Larson and Scott Ramsay, who take over newly created...

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Some Monday morning notes

November 17, 2014, 5:25am

Nationals

For anyone who watched the Redskins game yesterday, I'm sorry. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I flipped the game on for about 45 seconds, watched the Redskins offense turn a first-and-goal into a missed 47-yard field goal and that was about all I needed to see. This was the team's effort coming out of a bye against a previously one-win Buccaneers squad. In their last 10 seasons, the Skins have had six sub-.500 campaigns and have gone 63-91. Let's compare that to what the Nationals have...

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Turning our attention back to the bench

November 16, 2014, 4:54am

Nationals

As it stands right now, the Nationals appear to have at least three, and possibly four, of their bench spots for 2015 accounted for. Kevin Frandsen avoided arbitration the other day, signing a $1 million contract for next season, with another $300,000 in incentives possible. He'll be back as the team's versatile, do-everything right-handed bat. Frandsen can play first, second, third or left field, and is always eager to put on the catching gear and catch a bullpen session when needed. Jose...

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More roster moves coming

November 15, 2014, 6:22am

Nationals

Yesterday's decision by the Nationals to release oft-injured left-hander Matt Purke took some fans by surprise. Purke was a third-round pick out of TCU in 2011. He was given a big league deal out of college. He was handed a $4.2 million contract. I get it; it's news when a player like that is released. The Nationals took a chance on Purke in the draft, selecting a player who had battled a shoulder injury while in college, and it didn't pan out. This is a team that has made similar draft...

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Get your baseball fix with two "Nationals Classics" this week

November 14, 2014, 9:11am

Nationals

This past weekend, the Washington D.C., area saw the area's first few snowflakes. Personally, the snow and frigid temperatures have left me feeling a little sad and missing the warm temperatures of the summer. With summer comes baseball games virtually every day. If the weather has you feeling a little down, don't fret. You have a few opportunities to catch a pair of "Nationals Classics" games. Here's what's on deck this week: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m.: On May 28, 2005, the...

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Frandsen re-signs with Nationals (updated)

November 14, 2014, 3:46am

Nationals

The Nationals have re-signed one of their top bench performers from 2014, re-upping with Kevin Frandsen on a one-year, $1 million deal for 2015, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. Per Crasnick, the deal also contains incentives that could pay Frandsen an additional $300,000. Frandsen hit .259/.299/.309 with the Nats in 2014, hitting one home run and driving in 17. Frandsen was the Nats' top pinch-hitter this season, delivering 11 pinch-hits, which tied for 10th-most in the National League...