nationals

Nationals Chatter: Balfour possibly to D.C., Gonzalez gives back

January 21, 2014, 8:26am

We hope you're all recovering from the snowstorm and getting ready for NatsFest! In case you missed it, the Nationals could be looking to add another reliever with extensive closing experience. I know what you're thinking: "Why would the team add another closer when there are already three options on the team?" Insurance, that's why. * Last season, Nationals fans everywhere became captivated with the untucking fascination. To those that aren't familiar with the phenomenon, closer...

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Nats sign right-hander Clay Hensley to minor league deal

January 21, 2014, 1:19pm

Nationals

Nats sign right-hander Clay Hensley to minor league deal

The Nationals have added more bullpen depth, agreeing today with right-handed reliever Clay Hensley on a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Hensley, 34, last pitched in the big leagues in 2012, when he posted a 4.62 ERA in 60 games spanning 50 2/3 innings. Last year, Hensley split his time on a mound between the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and two Triple-A affiliates (of the Reds and Brewers). He pitched to a 0.63 ERA in 14 1/3 innings for Sugar Land, and...

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Take your pick

January 20, 2014, 7:57pm

Nationals

Three weeks from tomorrow, I'll board a flight to Orlando, hop in my rental car and drive to Space Coast Stadium, ready to kick off spring training. While the offseason has seemed like it's crawled by in some respects, it's also weird to think that my six weeks living out of a hotel in Melbourne, Fla., are almost here. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report by Feb. 13, although many choose to arrive days or even weeks earlier in order to pick up their throwing programs and get...

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Could another closer be joining Nats' bullpen?

January 20, 2014, 4:43am

Nationals

Could another closer be joining Nats' bullpen?

The Nationals already have a bullpen that features three relievers who have saved at least 32 games in a season. Could they be targeting one more? FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported yesterday that the Nationals are "in the mix" for reliever Grant Balfour, the 36-year-old Australian who saved 38 games for the Athletics last season and has posted an ERA lower than 2.60 each of the last four years. Balfour was close to signing a two-year, $15 million deal with the Orioles earlier this...

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More information on 2014 NatsFest

January 20, 2014, 5:30am

Nationals

Saturday is just a few days away, and it's officially the week of NatsFest! The event will be held at a new location this year, but Nationals fans can still expect to be treated to question-and-answer sessions with players, photo sessions with your favorite Nats, live demonstrations, games and more. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., (season ticket holders get in an hour early at 10 a.m.,) the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center will host fans, manager Matt Williams and a variety of players,...

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And then there were two

January 18, 2014, 4:08am

Nationals

The Nationals had a whopping 10 players eligible for arbitration this offseason, leaving assistant general manager Bryan Minniti, general manager Mike Rizzo and others with quite a lengthy to-do list when it came to finalizing contracts with these players for 2014 and possibly beyond. Minniti, Rizzo and company checked off most of the items on that list within the last handful of weeks, agreeing to one-year deals with left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, left-hander Ross Detwiler, right-hander...

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Lannan lands back in the NL East

January 19, 2014, 4:10am

Nationals

John Lannan has now been a part of three big league organizations. All three reside in the National League East. Lannan signed a minor league deal with the Mets yesterday, the team announced. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training. The Long Island native and former Nationals starter will now hope to land a spot in the Mets' starting rotation in spring training. Lannan went 3-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts with the Phillies last season, posting a 1.520 WHIP and a...

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Zimmermann on potential for long-term deal with Nats: "It's always a possibility"

January 17, 2014, 7:46am

Nationals

Zimmermann on potential for long-term deal with Nats: "It's always a possibility"

The Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract today, a deal that buys out Zimmermann's final two arbitration years and locks him in at salaries of $7.5 million for this year and $16.5 million for 2015. But before that deal was even discussed, Zimmermann and the Nationals talked about a long-term deal. During a phone conversation this afternoon, Zimmermann described those long-term contract talks as "preliminary" and said that he and the Nats were not close...

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Nats reach two-year deal with Zimmermann, one-year deal with Storen

January 17, 2014, 6:26am

Nationals

Nats reach two-year deal with Zimmermann, one-year deal with Storen

The Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, a source confirmed late this morning. The deal does not extend the length that the Nationals control Zimmermann, but it effectively buys out Zimmermann's final two years of arbitration and provides him a set salary through the 2015 season. Zimmermann will make $7.5 million in 2014 and $16.5 million in 2015, the source confirmed. The New York Post was first to report the Nats and Zimmermann...

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Some of this, some of that

January 17, 2014, 4:31am

Nationals

In case you missed it late last night, the Nationals agreed to terms with Ross Detwiler on a contract for the 2014 season, one that will pay the left-hander $3 million with a chance to earn $50,000 more if he throws 180 innings. That leaves seven arbitration-eligible Nats players without contracts at this point: Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Doug Fister, Wilson Ramos, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann. As I mentioned earlier in the week, expect a number of deals to come in a...

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Nats avoid arbitration, agree to terms with Ross Detwiler (updated)

January 16, 2014, 5:31pm

Nationals

Nats avoid arbitration, agree to terms with Ross Detwiler (updated)

The Nationals have agreed to terms with left-hander Ross Detwiler on a contract for the 2014 season, avoiding salary arbitration. Per the New York Post, Detwiler will make $3 million this season, with a $50,000 bonus if he reaches 180 innings. Update: A source familiar with the contract confirms that Detilwer will make $3 million this season, a raise over the $2.34 million he made in 2013. Detwiler has gone 18-29 with a 3.79 ERA over 85 big league appearances (69 starts). He was a solid...

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Weekly Wrap: Early moves make for slow start to 2014

January 16, 2014, 12:22pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Early moves make for slow start to 2014

Nationals fans: You've had plenty to be pleased with this offseason. While other major league rosters and rotations are still completely up in the air, the Nats have been receiving national praise for their offseason moves, most of which came very early in the offseason. As we look toward NatsFest (Look for me at the MASN booth!), at which many players will make an appearance, the biggest question for the Nats is who the fifth starter will be. The question is certainly not a bad one to have,...

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How Kershaw's deal might impact Zimmermann

January 16, 2014, 4:14am

Nationals

How Kershaw's deal might impact Zimmermann

We now live in a world in which a major league player will make more than $30 million per season. Despite that remarkable fact, you won't find many people around baseball who feel the Dodgers overpaid yesterday when they gave left-hander Clayton Kershaw a seven-year, $215 million deal, one that is far and away the richest contract for a pitcher in major league history. Kershaw's average annual salary of $30.7 million is also the highest ever for any player, regardless of position. Kershaw...

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MLB clubs approve expanded instant replay (plus Henry Rodriguez note)

January 16, 2014, 11:02am

Nationals

MLB clubs approve expanded instant replay (plus Henry Rodriguez note)

All 30 Major League clubs have approved expanded instant replay, which will be in effect for the 2014 regular season, as well as the postseason. Both the Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires Association have also given their consent to the game's new instant replay protocols. Not only is the list of plays subject to review now longer, but managers will have the ability to challenge at least one play a game, as well. In addition, clubs will now be allowed to show...

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Washington Nationals announce 2014 NatsFest details

January 16, 2014, 10:07am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today released new details about 2014 NatsFest, taking place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on Saturday, January 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Season Plan Holders will have exclusive access to the event for an entire hour (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.) before NatsFest opens to the general public at 11:00 a.m. For more information on becoming a Season Plan Holder and receiving exclusive benefits like this, visit nationals.com/2014. More than 20...

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One area Harper should look to improve in 2014

January 14, 2014, 3:21am

Nationals

One area Harper should look to improve in 2014

Bryce Harper has done some pretty impressive things early in his major league career. Not many players can say that they hit 42 home runs and posted an OPS higher than .830 over their first two big league seasons. Harper did that before turning 21, and he did it while spending the first month of his rookie season in the minors and then missing significant time in 2013 due to a knee injury. Harper is a special talent. We know this. That said, entering Harper's third season in the majors,...

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Update on Nats' eight remaining arbitration-eligible players

January 15, 2014, 4:02am

Nationals

Update on Nats' eight remaining arbitration-eligible players

Eight Nationals players filed for salary arbitration last night, bringing us closer to the deadline for players and the team to reach terms on a contract for the 2014 season. Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Ross Detwiler, Doug Fister, Wilson Ramos, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann all officially filed for arbitration, which really was a procedural move. They had all been tendered contracts for 2014 in December, ensuring that they'll be with the Nationals this upcoming season....

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Nationals extend affiliation with Double-A Harrisburg

January 15, 2014, 8:46am

Nationals

The Nationals this afternoon announced that they have extended their affiliation with Double-A Harrisburg for four more years through the 2018 season. "Our partnership with Harrisburg and the Senators dates back more than 20 years, and it is with that history in mind that we are excited to sign on with them for another four," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a team-issued release. "Harrisburg is an Eastern League gem, and we are proud to continue our association with a team, and...

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Nationals Chatter: Gonzalez honored, trio of Nats model for Team USA

January 14, 2014, 7:39am

Nationals

While most of the sporting news in the D.C. area was focused on the Redskins' new coach, life still went on with the Nationals. Congratulations to Jay Gruden on the new gig. Really, I'm happy for you, but we're here to talk baseball. And by baseball, I mean no Alex Rodriguez conversations. He's banned from this entry. We're talking good, clean topics this week. See what I did there? * It was almost a year ago that Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez was honored by his hometown, Hialeah, Fla....

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Nats agree to terms with Stephen Strasburg, avoiding arbitration

January 10, 2014, 3:54pm

Nationals

Nats agree to terms with Stephen Strasburg, avoiding arbitration

The Nationals announced tonight that they've agreed to terms with right-hander Stephen Strasburg, avoiding arbitration. It's a one-year deal for Strasburg, which really just serves as a procedural move. The 25-year-old is under team control through the 2016 season, but through the arbitration process, his yearly salaries over the remainder of his deal will be negotiated between his agent and the Nats, with a hearing with an arbiter looming if the two sides cannot settle on terms. Strasburg...