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Span more comfortable, confident entering his second spring with Nats

February 06, 2014, 4:17am

When Denard Span showed up to NatsFest last year, he says he walked into the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and immediately felt somewhat out of place. Span had just been acquired by the Nationals in a trade with the Twins - the only organization he had ever known - two months prior, and had yet to meet the vast majority of his teammates and coaches. The then-28-year-old was plenty friendly and accommodating to fans and reporters that day, but he says it wasn't too comfortable of an...

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Weekly Wrap: Almost to Viera

February 06, 2014, 11:06am

Nationals

Heard there was a big sporting event this past week? I'm kidding - of course, I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, and as many have said, I found it really hard to get into. I'm sure I'd be thrilled if I were a Seahawks fan. However, at the end of the game, only one thing had me really excited, and that's that baseball is right around the corner. In less than a week, Nats spring training will be under way, with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 13. Recently picked up by the Nationals,...

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Nats sign catcher Koyie Hill to minor league deal

February 05, 2014, 5:59am

Nationals

Nats sign catcher Koyie Hill to minor league deal

The Nationals have increased the competition for their backup catcher job, signing veteran Koyie Hill to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Hill, 34, has played in parts of 10 big league seasons, seeing time with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Cubs and Marlins. He appeared in 18 games with Miami last season, hitting .155 with a .373 OPS in 58 at-bats. A career .206 hitter, Hill had his best big league season in 2009, when he posted a .636 OPS in 83 games with...

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Washington Nationals announce 2014 NATITUDE Flex Packs

February 06, 2014, 4:44am

Nationals

Beginning today at 10:00 a.m., the Washington Nationals will once again offer popular NATITUDE Flex Pack ticket packages for the upcoming season, allowing fans to select four games among five affordable packs and receive a fifth game FREE. The 2014 Flex Packs allow fans to secure seats to some of the hottest games of the season, including the March 29 exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers, before single game tickets go on sale to the general public. Nationals fans can choose from the...

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A quick check on what's left on the market

February 05, 2014, 4:41am

Nationals

A quick check on what's left on the market

Even though we're around a week away from the start of spring training, there are still a handful of big names left out there on the free agent market, guys that can make a significant impact on a team. Starters A.J. Burnett, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo are still without a team for the 2014 season. Closer Fernando Rodney will bolster the back of some team's bullpen and add some flair to the ninth inning. First baseman/DH Kendrys Morales, right fielder Nelson Cruz and...

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Developer pulls out of plan to rehab Fort Myers stadium for Nats spring training

February 04, 2014, 11:24am

Nationals

Developer pulls out of plan to rehab Fort Myers stadium for Nats spring training

Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Nationals' plan to move their spring training base to Fort Myers is in jeopardy. This time, the Nats' hopes of becoming the third major league club to train in Fort Myers were dealt a blow because the developer the team and the city hoped would foot the bill for renovations at City of Palms Park has pulled out of the project, deeming it too costly. According to this article in Florida Today, Fort Meyers Mayor Randy Henderson is no longer...

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Williams on what Espinosa must do in spring to reach his potential

February 03, 2014, 4:00am

Nationals

Williams on what Espinosa must do in spring to reach his potential

Last night featured a lopsided, less-than-thrilling game, a mediocre batch of commercials and an overall boring night on Super Bowl Sunday. Bring on baseball season. We've talked a lot this offseason about Danny Espinosa and how he might fit into the Nationals' plans for 2014. General manager Mike Rizzo says that he feels Espinosa could be valuable to the Nats as a reserve middle infielder, given his defensive ability. Espinosa says he's been told he'll be given a chance to win his...

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Now fully healthy, Solis open to whatever comes this year (Baker to Marlins)

February 04, 2014, 4:18am

Nationals

Now fully healthy, Solis open to whatever comes this year (Baker to Marlins)

Scan the list of left-handed pitchers that the Nationals have invited to big league camp this spring and you see a wide variety of names. You have your established starter in Gio Gonzalez. You have your veteran reliever in Jerry Blevins. You have a possible swingman in Ross Detwiler. You have a number of guys with experience at Triple-A now competing for big league jobs in Xavier Cedeno, Tyler Robertson and Danny Rosenbaum. You have a former top prospect who has dropped in many evaluators'...

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Plenty of new faces competing for bench roles in 2014

February 02, 2014, 4:44am

Nationals

Plenty of new faces competing for bench roles in 2014

Super Bowl Sunday might be the biggest day of the football calendar, but to me, it always serves as a reminder that baseball is just around the corner. There's just one more football game remaining this winter, one more major sporting event left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training and we start the transition towards the warmer-weather sports. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the heck out of Super Bowl Sunday and all that comes with it (except that the NFL forces...

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Washington Nationals 2014 group theme nights calendar

February 04, 2014, 10:06am

Nationals

Washington Nationals fans will be able to take advantage of an exciting lineup of group theme nights throughout the 2014 season, including the return of the ever-popular Pups in the Park, Scout Day and Youth Baseball and Softball Day games. The 2014 group theme night calendar includes: * DECA Day - April 10: All local members of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) are invited to the 2nd Annual DECA DAY at Nationals Park. Guests will enjoy a pregame educational event and...

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Nationals agree to terms with Doug Fister (Brown signs with Red Sox)

February 01, 2014, 3:47am

Nationals

The Nationals announced this morning that they have agreed to terms with right-hander Doug Fister on a contract for 2014, avoiding arbitration. Update: The New York Post reports that the Nats and Fister agreed to a one-year, $7.2 million deal. The Nationals had offered Fister $5.5 million through the arbitration process and Fister had countered at $8.5 million. Fister, who went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 2013, made $4 million last season. Fister was acquired by the Nats in a December trade...

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On Matt Williams' approach to spring training

January 31, 2014, 4:30am

Nationals

On Matt Williams' approach to spring training

In many ways, Davey Johnson was a players' manager. One of those ways was that he ran a pretty laid-back spring training, in which early workouts usually were complete well before noon and veterans often weren't required to go on the long road trips. Things will probably be a bit different under new Nationals manager Matt Williams. Williams said at the Winter Meetings in December that he had the first 25 days of spring training totally mapped out. At NatsFest last weekend, Williams noted...

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Counting down to opening day via Instagram

January 31, 2014, 6:55am

Nationals

Counting down to opening day via Instagram

I'm sure you're counting down the days until opening day, but if not, let me remind you there are only two more months! That's right. Just two months until the Nationals begin their season in New York. We took to Instagram yesterday, asking fans to submit their #TBT, "Throwback Thursday," pictures of their favorite memories from Nats Park. We saw awesome pictures of fans' experiences, and although it was difficult, we narrowed it down to five of our favorites. Check out the photos...

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Nats announce 2014 promotional schedule

January 30, 2014, 10:26am

Nationals

The Nationals released their 2014 promotional schedule today, which is highlighted by seven (yes, seven) bobblehead giveaways, kids socks, a blanket and a garden gnome featuring the likeness of Jayson Werth. I'm still not quite sure what to make of the garden gnome idea, but I am impressed by the creative concept. You don't see too many garden gnomes handed out at ballparks these days. Of the seven bobblehead giveaways this season, at least five will be of Nats players. Jordan Zimmermann,...

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Weekly Wrap: Two more weeks

January 30, 2014, 6:26pm

Nationals

Well, now that NatsFest is over, we can officially begin our countdown to the baseball season. First step: Exactly two weeks until pitchers and catchers report. Pretty soon, Dan Kolko will be heading down to Viera, Fla., for spring training, trading in the cold for Florida weather and baseball. I'm not saying I'm jealous of the weather he'll experience, but I'm also not ruling out sneaking down to Florida by stowing away in Kolko's luggage. NatsFest was such a great event, and I had a...

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Nationals Park welcomes country music star Jason Aldean's "2014 Burn It Down" tour on Friday, July 25

January 31, 2014, 4:02am

Nationals

Multi-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean announced today that he will perform at Nationals Park - home of the Washington Nationals - on Friday, July 25, 2014 as part of his "2014 Burn It Down" tour. Red-hot duo Florida Georgia Line and breakthrough artist Tyler Farr are also on the bill. Tickets and parking will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 7 at 10:00 a.m., online at nationals.com/jasonaldean or LiveNation.com and by phone at 888.632.6287. Nationals Season Plan Holders...

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Strasburg sets his personal goals for 2014, plus minor league note

January 30, 2014, 4:12am

Nationals

Strasburg sets his personal goals for 2014, plus minor league note

The 2013 season was a big one for Stephen Strasburg in a few ways. Obviously, it was the first time Strasburg had pitched a full season in the big leagues, a milestone that he had a right to be proud of. Despite a couple of injuries that caused him to miss a few starts along the way, Strasburg still hit the 30-start mark and finished with a career-high 183 innings pitched. He only won eight games on the season and finished with a losing record, but Strasburg posted an impressive 3.00 ERA,...

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One possible late addition to the bench (Tracy signs with Angels)

January 29, 2014, 4:01am

Nationals

One possible late addition to the bench (Tracy signs with Angels)

When assessing the depth on the Nationals' roster at this point, there's one area where it seems that the team is lacking a proven backup option - the corner infield spots. Yes, Tyler Moore will enter spring competing for a spot on the 25-man roster, and he can back up Adam LaRoche at first base. Yes, Ryan Zimmerman will be asked to play a little bit of first base this year, as well. Yes, Jamey Carroll has experience playing third base, and both general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Matt...

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Detwiler's mindset: I've won a rotation spot before, I can do it again

January 28, 2014, 3:57am

Nationals

Detwiler's mindset: I've won a rotation spot before, I can do it again

If Ross Detwiler had his choice, I'm sure he'd prefer to walk in on day one of spring training and know that a spot in the Nationals starting rotation was being set aside just for him. Detwiler isn't scared of a little competition, but if the options are having a starting spot with your name written on it or needing to battle for that spot, it would probably be nice to know that you had a little job security. That's only natural. That's not how things will go this spring,...

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That's a wrap: One last look at NatsFest

January 28, 2014, 9:44am

Nationals

That's a wrap: One last look at NatsFest

NatsFest on Saturday was a blast. We had so much fun meeting Nationals fans at the MASN booth, where we had photo shoots with players, trivia sessions and prize giveaways. By the time more than 8,400 Nats fans left the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, we had given away signed gear from Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span and Drew Storen. We also awarded fans with posters, Nats bags and shirts, and we even hooked up some lucky fans with suite tickets. For a full recap,...