nationals

Ranking the Nats' remaining offseason priorities (updated)

November 15, 2013, 4:07am

Who misses Mauro Gomez already? I know I do. I had trouble sleeping last night, knowing he won't be a part of Nationals spring training in a few months. I'll never forget the time that Gomez was claimed off waivers in September and then didn't appear in a single game for a Nationals affiliate. Or the time he didn't get an at-bat within the organization before deciding to go play in Japan. Memories that will last a lifetime. When the Nationals' 2013 season came to a close, it was clear...

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Weekly Wrap: Vacancies emerge in Nationals organization

November 15, 2013, 5:46am

Nationals

With the offseason comes trade rumors, waiver news and coaching staff shakeups. The Nationals have experienced all three this week. Both Trent Jewett and Roy Clark left the Nats organization this week to pursue different opportunities. Clark, the Nats' former assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel, has joined the Dodgers, and former third base coach Jewett is now the bench coach of the Seattle Mariners. As it is only November, many offseason trade rumors will...

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Werth finishes 13th in NL MVP voting

November 14, 2013, 2:07pm

Nationals

Had the Nationals put together a stronger season than they did, and had Jayson Werth not missed a month with a hamstring injury, the veteran outfielder might very well have played a major factor in the National League MVP voting. Instead, Werth finished 13th in the NL MVP vote, which was won by Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen. Werth received 20 points overall, and the highest he came in on any ballot was seventh. The Nats right fielder posted a strong .318/.398/.532 slash line with 25...

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Nationals Youth Baseball Academy nearing completion in D.C.

November 14, 2013, 10:40am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is well under construction, with three baseball fields and an 18,000 square foot training facility nearing completion at Ward 7's Fort Dupont Park in Washington, D.C. Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, principal owner and chairperson of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, made the announcement from the construction site on Thursday. "Major League Baseball and the city decided that there was a need for a baseball academy of some sort in the...

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Thoughts on how Zimmermann could impact Nats' offseason plans

November 14, 2013, 5:06am

Nationals

Thoughts on how Zimmermann could impact Nats' offseason plans

While Jordan Zimmermann tied for the National League lead in wins this season and led the majors in ERA at one point about midway through the 2013 campaign, I guess he still has a little ways to go before he starts getting truly appreciated and known by those outside the D.C. area. For at least the first few hours after the NL Cy Young Award results had been posted on the Baseball Writers' Association of America Web site last night, Zimmermann's last name was spelled incorrectly. This...

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Nats request release waivers on Mauro Gomez

November 14, 2013, 11:03am

Nationals

Nats request release waivers on Mauro Gomez

The Nationals announced today that they have requested release waivers on corner infielder Mauro Gomez, who has told the team that he plans to play the 2014 season in Japan. Gomez, 29, never actually played a game in the Nationals' system. The Nats claimed him off waivers from the Blue Jays back on Sept. 5 of this year. Last season, Gomez hit 29 homers for Triple-A Buffalo, tying Nationals infielder Zach Walters for the home run lead among all Triple-A players. Gomez and Walters won't get...

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Roy Clark leaves Nationals for Dodgers

November 12, 2013, 11:52am

Nationals

A day after losing their third base coach, the Nationals have lost a key member of their front office. Roy Clark, who has served as assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel for the last four years, has left the organization to take a position with the Dodgers, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. Update: A source with knowledge of the situation has confirmed that Clark is leaving the Nationals and that he is indeed joining the Dodgers. In Los Angeles, Clark will...

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A hodgepodge of morning notes (instant update)

November 13, 2013, 4:00am

Nationals

A hodgepodge of morning notes (instant update)

The Manager of the Year awards were handed out last night, and they went to Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle and the Indians' Terry Francona, giving both men their first such honor. Hurdle received 25 of the 30 possible first-place votes for National League Manager of the Year after leading the Pirates to their first above-.500 record since 1992. Pittsburgh finished the regular season with 94 wins and then beat Cincinnati in the Wild Card play-in game before losing to the Cardinals in the...

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Zimmermann finishes seventh in NL Cy Young voting

November 13, 2013, 2:29pm

Nationals

Zimmermann finishes seventh in NL Cy Young voting

The Nationals had Gio Gonzalez finish third in the National League Cy Young voting last season. This year, Jordan Zimmermann was the top vote-getting Nats hurler, and he came in seventh. Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, to no one's surprise, took home his second Cy Young award in dominating fashion. Zimmermann received six third-place votes and three fifth-place votes. He finished the season with 19 wins, tied with Adam Wainwright (the Cy Young runner-up) for most in the National...

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Catching up on another possible offseason need

November 12, 2013, 5:02am

Nationals

Catching up on another possible offseason need

Down the stretch this season, the Nationals leaned heavily on catcher Wilson Ramos, who was finally healthy after missing most of the 2012 season with a knee injury and then twice landing on the disabled list due to hamstring problems in the first half of the 2013 campaign. If Ramos can stay healthy in 2014 (and, yes, that's a big if), he'll likely see a large portion of the playing time yet again. After all, the guy did slug 14 homers and drive in 53 runs over the final three months of the...

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Tweeting his way to a hitting lesson with Ryan Zimmerman

November 12, 2013, 4:34pm

Nationals

Tweeting his way to a hitting lesson with Ryan Zimmerman

During the 2013 season, we gave Nationals fans the chance to earn points for interacting with us on social media through our "Touch 'Em All" social rewards program. The top 10 finalists would have the chance to meet Ryan Zimmerman, with one lucky fan being selected to win a private hitting lesson with the third baseman. Fingers flew over keyboards, Instagam pictures were posted and MASN Nationals postgame memes were shared on Facebook. Each month, top followers on our social media accounts...

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Jewett joins Mariners (updated)

November 11, 2013, 1:15am

Nationals

It turns out that new Nationals manager Matt Williams might need to tweak his coaching staff a little more than we originally thought. The Nats have granted permission for third base coach Trent Jewett to interview for the Mariners' bench coach position under new manager Lloyd McClendon, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Jewett was expected to return to the Nats as third base coach, but when McClendon was hired as the new skipper in Seattle, Jewett's name immediately began being...

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Giolito and Johansen worked on repeating deliveries at instructional league last month

November 08, 2013, 11:28am

Nationals

Giolito and Johansen worked on repeating deliveries at instructional league last month

Right-handers Lucas Giolito and Jake Johansen made positive progress last month at the fall instructional league conducted by the Nationals in Viera, Fla. This week they completed a strength and conditioning camp at the same location. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams said both looked very good in their workouts and pitching performances during the October instructional league. "Well, I think they are really on the right track heading forward," Williams said. "They both...

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Taking a look at the latest Nats rumor

November 10, 2013, 5:18am

Nationals

Just a couple of days after Denard Span was named the Nationals' recipient of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award, there's a report that the Nats might be open to trading their speedy center fielder. According to CBSsports.com's Jon Heyman, officials from competing teams say that the Nats "appear willing" to listen to offers for Span, who hit .279/.327/.380 this season and was a finalist for a Gold Glove this season after going the entirety of the 2013 campaign without allowing...

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Lookin' at some lefties

November 09, 2013, 3:07am

Nationals

General manager Mike Rizzo has admitted that he erred when he decided to put just one left-hander in the Nationals bullpen going into the start of the 2013 season. Rizzo and the Nationals looked around for left-handed relievers last winter, but instead of adding a new face or retaining Sean Burnett, Michael Gonzalez or Tom Gorzelanny, they opted to break camp with starter-turned-reliever Zach Duke as their lone southpaw in the 'pen. That didn't exactly work out as planned. Duke pitched to...

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The cost to acquire a starter

November 08, 2013, 4:31am

Nationals

Want to add a free agent starter this offseason? You're going to have to back up a few Brinks trucks to land your guy. Or maybe a few dozen. FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that free agent righty Ervin Santana is seeking more than $100 million on a five-year deal, while right-hander Ricky Nolasco is looking for a five-year contract worth $80 million. This is the same Ervin Santana who pitched to a 5.16 ERA and allowed a whopping 39 home runs, most in the major leagues, in 2012....

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Souza collects two hits but Mesa falls 6-4

November 06, 2013, 9:32pm

Nationals

Souza collects two hits but Mesa falls 6-4

Mesa relinquished a 4-0 lead and fell to Glendale, 6-4 on Wednesday in Arizona Fall League play. After Nationals prospect Robert Benincasa got through the seventh unscathed, the Solar Sox bullpen fell apart, surrendering six runs in the final two frames. Benincasa threw a scoreless inning, allowing just one hit and a walk. Benincasa's ERA is 4.00 in nine Arizona outings. Here is more on his season. Right fielder Stephen Souza Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Center fielder Brian...

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What could a long-term deal for Desmond look like?

November 07, 2013, 5:38am

Nationals

What could a long-term deal for Desmond look like?

This season, Ian Desmond made $3.8 million in what was his first year of salary arbitration, ranking him 17th among major league shortstops when it came to 2013 salary. Through the arbitration process, Desmond's salary will likely almost double in 2014, as another strong season (which included his second straight Silver Slugger Award and being named a finalist for a Gold Glove) leaves him in line for another hefty raise. MLBTradeRumors.com's Matt Swartz has projected that Desmond will earn...

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Weekly Wrap: Williams takes over, Desmond continues to shine on national stage

November 07, 2013, 6:23pm

Nationals

Although the offseason is in full swing, the Nationals have continued to make national headlines with the hiring of a new manager and a shortstop being recognized for his bat. While the Nats had been expected to hire Matt Williams, he was officially introduced last Friday. On Wednesday, Ian Desmond was honored with his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award. While those were the biggest stories around the Nats this week, there are many other headlines that you may have missed. Go to...

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Ian Desmond wins second straight Silver Slugger award (updated)

November 06, 2013, 1:48pm

Nationals

Ian Desmond wins second straight Silver Slugger award (updated)

For the second straight season, Ian Desmond has been selected as the top offensive shortstop in the National League by managers and coaches. Desmond won the 2013 Silver Slugger Award among NL shortstops after hitting .280 with a .331 on-base percentage, a .453 slugging percentage, 20 home runs and 80 RBIs this season. Desmond beat out the Rockies' Troy Tulowkitzki, the Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez and the Brewers' Jean Segura for the award. Desmond led all National League shortstops in total...