nationals

Will Buck stop with Nationals?

December 09, 2013, 3:58am

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Greetings from the Hemisphere Ballroom, which functions as the media work room for the Winter Meetings. The lobby is starting to buzz and the work room is beginning to fill up with reporters, many of whom are finally arriving after having their flights from the great white - and icy - north delayed, postponed or canceled. I won't throw the fact that the weather forecaster on the local FOX affiliate told me it was going to be "really, really warm for December" here...

Comments

Tags:

john buck nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel wilson ramos winter meetings frontstory_nationals1

On rumors, mystery teams and improving the Nationals

December 08, 2013, 6:04am

Nationals

I'm sitting at Gate B-4 at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, having decided it's better to arrive early for a 1 p.m. fight with a wintry mix in the weather forecast than to risk getting shut out of my Airport FastPark, my preferred long-term parking destination for business excursions. Better safe than sorry, right? My friends who are trying to fly out of Reagan National or Dulles bound for Orlando (and, eventually, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., site of the annual...

Comments

Tags:

mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Source: Nats "very interested" in Eric O'Flaherty

December 08, 2013, 2:55pm

Nationals

Source: Nats "very interested" in Eric O'Flaherty

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Hello from the 2014 Winter Meetings, where the climate is slightly different than it is in the Washington D.C., area. I was lucky enough to make it down here with only a slight delay on my flight, but others leaving out of D.C. and other points north weren't so fortunate. People will still be rolling in throughout the night, meaning the crowd in the lobby at the Swan and Dolphin Resort isn't anywhere near its peak. I've got some minor news to pass along, which is...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko eric o'flaherty nationals winter meetings frontstory_nationals2

We're off for Orlando

December 07, 2013, 11:51pm

Nationals

Well, here we go. The most hyped four days of the offseason officially begin tomorrow, and so for myself and the rest of the MASNsports.com staff, it's off to Orlando today, a day ahead of the start of the Winter Meetings. Don't let the location of the meetings fool you, however. If I see sunlight for a total of 30 minutes during the entirety of the Winter Meetings, I'll consider it a victory. This isn't exactly the trip you take if you're interested in working on your tan or hitting the...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals winter meetings frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals2

Nationals sign Nate McLouth to two-year deal (updated)

December 06, 2013, 12:14pm

Nationals

Mike Rizzo got his experienced starter in Doug Fister earlier this week. Now he has his left-handed-hitting reserve outfielder in Nate McLouth. The Nationals have signed McLouth to a two-year contract, a source confirms, giving the Nats their fourth outfielder, one who can play any outfield spot and has a little bit of pop from the left side of the plate. FOXSports.com was the first to report the signing, and according to the Baltimore Sun, McLouth will get $10.75 million over the two-year...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nate mclouth nationals featured_sidebar

Bench roles starting to fall into place

December 07, 2013, 4:37am

Nationals

Robinson Cano. Huroki Kuroda. Scott Feldman. Curtis Granderson. Ryan Webb. J.P. Arencibia. Nate McLouth. Mike Napoli. Carlos Beltran. Most offseasons, that's a busy week when it comes to free agent signings. In the winter of 2013, however, that's just one day's worth of free agent action. All nine of the players listed above agreed to terms on contracts yesterday, crossing a handful more names off the list of available free agents going into the Winter Meetings. I texted a major league...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa jhonatan solano nate mclouth nationals sandy leon scott hairston tyler moore zach walters featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Where will Cano go? (Cano agrees to terms with Mariners)

December 06, 2013, 3:32am

Nationals

Where will Cano go? (Cano agrees to terms with Mariners)

Second baseman Robinson Cano, far and away the top free agent in this year's class, flew to Seattle yesterday and reportedly received a nine-year, $225 million deal from the Mariners, according to CBSSports.com. Anyone still want Cano coming to D.C. if it's at that price? The Mariners' offer is one that tops the Yankees' largest projected proposal to Cano by two years and $50 million, leaving Seattle with what's believed to be the top offer on the table by a wide margin. As of right...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals robinson cano featured_sidebar

On Espinosa's chances at cracking the Nats' roster

December 05, 2013, 3:37am

Nationals

On Espinosa's chances at cracking the Nats' roster

If you take the time to consider which players within the Nationals organization benefit most from this week's trade that brought Doug Fister to D.C. and shipped Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray to Detroit, there's no doubt that Danny Espinosa's name would be near, if not at, the top of the list. As of Monday morning, Espinosa sat behind Lombardozzi on the Nats' middle infield depth chart. Lombardozzi had established himself as a quality utility player on the major league roster,...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa nationals anthony rendon featured_sidebar ian desmond frontstory_nationals3

Weekly Wrap: Nats filling roster holes during week before Winter Meetings

December 06, 2013, 1:29pm

Nationals

Weekly Wrap: Nats filling roster holes during week before Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings are still a few days away. However, that didn't stop the Nationals from making moves and headlines this week. Heading into the offseason, the Nats were looking for a left-handed bat and possibly another starter to fill out the rotation. They got both in the past week. Today, former Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth signed a two-year deal with the Nats. On Monday, the Nats made a deal with the Tigers, bringing right-hander Doug Fister to D.C., for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite weekly wrap

LaRoche to participate in 2013 USO Holiday Tour

December 06, 2013, 5:01am

Nationals

LaRoche to participate in 2013 USO Holiday Tour

Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche will take part in the 2013 USO Holiday Tour led by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey. Joining him will be Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Bridget Kelly, former New England Patriots offensive tackle and three-time Super Bowl champion Matt Light, actor/comedian Thomas "Nephew Tommy" Miles, stars of A&E's hit reality show "Duck Dynasty" Jep and Willie Robertson and former correspondent on NBC's "The Voice"...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Some leftovers on Fister and a wild week

December 03, 2013, 8:19pm

Nationals

Some leftovers on Fister and a wild week

What an insane week this has already been in Major League Baseball. And we're only through Tuesday. The following deals all went down in the last two days (terms are according to various media reports): Jacoby Ellsbury turned in his Red Sox for some pinstripes, agreeing to a seven-year, $153 million deal with the Yankees. The Red Sox signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year, $8.25 million deal. The Rockies inked first baseman Justin Morneau to a two-year deal worth around $13 million....

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko doug fister nationals frontstory_nationals3

Nationals launch "Week of Giving" initiative

December 04, 2013, 10:21am

Nationals

In an effort to spread holiday cheer throughout the D.C. region, the Washington Nationals will participate in a series of community events that make up the team's "Week of Giving" beginning next Monday, December 9 through Saturday, December 14. During the week, Nationals players and front office staff will partake in activities aimed at giving back to the local community while celebrating the spirit of the holidays. To start off the week of events, Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler* and...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Mike Rizzo discusses the Doug Fister trade

December 03, 2013, 7:28am

Nationals

Mike Rizzo discusses the Doug Fister trade

Reporters didn't get a chance to discuss the Doug Fister trade with Mike Rizzo last night because Rizzo had previous obligations, but we were able to fire questions at the Nationals general manager just a bit ago during a conference call. Rizzo said that the Nationals had been talking with the Tigers about a possible trade for a starting pitcher dating to just before the general managers meetings in November, and they initially "kicked the tires" on three of Detroit's right-handed options...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko doug fister mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Fister on joining Nats: "There's a lot of excitement for me"

December 03, 2013, 12:27pm

Nationals

Fister on joining Nats: "There's a lot of excitement for me"

Since July 2011, Doug Fister has been with the Detroit Tigers, a team that made the postseason in each of the last three years and made it to the World Series in 2012. He's built friendships there and has pitched in a strong starting rotation. The 29-year-old is now eager to have some of those same experiences in D.C. Fister found out last night that he had been traded to the Nationals, who will now be his third organization in six major league seasons. Both he and fellow Tigers right-hander...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko doug fister nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Fister deal signals Tigers are in cost-cutting mode

December 03, 2013, 4:32pm

Nationals Orioles

Fister deal signals Tigers are in cost-cutting mode

The Nationals have added pitcher Doug Fister as the No. 4 starter to their rotation. And while the debate about whether or not they have the best rotation in the National League, there's one question that remains: How did they get one of the American League's top pitchers for a utility infielder (Steve Lombardozzi), a lefty reliever (Ian Krol) and a low-level prospect (Robbie Ray)? The answer is that the Tigers are in a cost-cutting mode. And even though they have one of the most generous...

Comments

Tags:

doug fister frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 mel antonen nationals

Day-after reactions to the Fister deal

December 02, 2013, 7:39pm

Nationals

By now, we've all had time to digest last night's trade that brought right-hander Doug Fister to the Nationals and sent infielder Steve Lombardozzi, and left-handers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray to the Tigers. Now let's break it down a bit more. There are certainly some Nationals fans who are sad to see Lombardozzi go, given that he's a local kid who has made an impact for the last few seasons and has done everything that's been asked of him, including learning new positions, without a single...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko doug fister ian krol nationals robbie ray steve lombardozzi featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

With Fister added, what's left to do to solidify roster?

December 03, 2013, 7:52am

Nationals

With Fister added, what's left to do to solidify roster?

The Nationals acquired a frontline starter in right-hander Doug Fister on Monday, and now turn their sights on the rest of the 25-man roster. It appears now that the starting rotation is almost set for 2014, with Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Fister the top four. Where does this leave Ross Detwiler? Nationals executive vice president Mike Rizzo said it is not so much about Detwiler as it is that the Nats now have options for that spot this season, where they didn't...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr doug fister mike rizzo nationals frontstory_nationals2

Nats sign Ohlendorf to one-year deal, tender eight players contracts (updated)

December 02, 2013, 7:09pm

Nationals

Nats sign Ohlendorf to one-year deal, tender eight players contracts (updated)

The Nationals announced tonight that they've agreed to terms with right-hander Ross Ohlendorf on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration, and have tendered contracts to all eight of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. Ohlendorf posted a 3.28 ERA in 60 1/3 innings last season, pitching both out of the bullpen and in a starting role. He will serve as valuable rotation depth and, in theory, could compete for the fifth spot in the Nationals rotation, if Ross Detwiler isn't healthy in...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ross ohlendorf frontstory_nationals3

Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers for Lombardozzi, Krol, Ray (updated)

December 02, 2013, 3:23pm

Nationals

In search of another starter, the Nationals have been linked to Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer for months. Turns out, it's another Tigers right-hander that the Nats have brought on in a trade. The Nats have acquired 29-year-old righty Doug Fister from Detroit tonight in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi, left-handed reliever Ian Krol and left-handed pitching prospect Robbie Ray. "This is an exciting day for the Washington Nationals," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko doug fister nationals featured_sidebar ian krol robbie ray steve lombardozzi frontstory_nationals3

Nats sign Manny Delcarmen to minor league deal

December 02, 2013, 1:45pm

Nationals

Nats sign Manny Delcarmen to minor league deal

The Nationals have added another bullpen option, signing right-handed reliever Manny Delcarmen to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training, a source confirmed. Delcarmen was a second-round pick of the Red Sox in 2000, and he played a fairly large role in Boston's 2007 World Series champion team, posting a 2.05 ERA in 44 games. The 30-year-old right-hander last appeared in the majors in 2010, posting a 4.99 ERA and 1.471 WHIP in 57 games between the Red Sox and...