nationals

Finding free agents who want to be in D.C. a far cry from three years ago

December 08, 2012, 7:45pm

What a difference a year makes. Or three years. Remember those days when free agents shied away from D.C. as a preferred destination? Zack Greinke turned down the Nationals a couple of years back (that worked out for him with the Dodgers this year, but that is not my point). There were a few seasons where high-priced free agents couldn't be persuaded to consider the Nationals. Not anymore. After two miserable seasons, the Nationals grabbed Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with the...

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Detwiler, Nationals "remember how it feels" to lose Game 5, fuels hunger for 2013

December 07, 2012, 8:59am

Nationals

The Nationals made a big splash this week at baseball's Winter Meetings, agreeing to a one-year deal with former Angels right-hander Dan Haren. Haren arrives with 119 career victories as a three-time All-Star, and would solidify one of the best starting rotations in baseball. With Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler already in the fold, the Nationals were looking for a fifth starter to help them match up against any scenario and in any series. With Haren in...

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"Talented workhorse" Haren passes physical, thrilled to join stacked rotation

December 07, 2012, 12:21pm

Nationals

"Talented workhorse" Haren passes physical, thrilled to join stacked rotation

If Dan Haren has hip and back problems that threaten his career and scare off potential employers, it's news to the right-hander, whose one-year, $13 million deal with the Nationals became official Friday after he passed the physical performed earlier in the week. "I'm 100 percent confident I'll be healthy this year and I feel I'll be able to contribute at a high level," he told reporters during a conference call Friday afternoon. Haren admits to dealing with a nagging hip problem, but...

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Nats officially announce signing of Dan Haren

December 07, 2012, 9:03am

Nationals

Nats officially announce signing of Dan Haren

We're still awaiting word on the results of right-hander Dan Haren's physical before his one-year, $13 million deal with the Nationals becomes official. Haren was supposed to fly into Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, then undergo a physical yesterday. Coincidentally, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo departed the Winter Meetings in Nashville on Wednesday afternoon - a full day before most teams' executives - and returned to D.C. While it's doubtful the Nationals would have...

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Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Dan Haren on one-year deal

December 07, 2012, 10:05am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Dan Haren. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. A 10-year veteran, Haren is 119-97 with a 3.66 ERA in 296 games/286 starts with the Angels, Diamondbacks, A's and Cardinals. In 2012, he went 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts in his final season with Los Angeles (AL). Regarded as one of MLB's most consistent performers,...

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Putting a bow on Nats' 2012 Winter Meetings (with video)

December 06, 2012, 7:17am

Nationals

Putting a bow on Nats' 2012 Winter Meetings (with video)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - They have a giant podium set up here in the Winter Meetings media work room at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Attached are a few tables, and there are five long rows of chairs facing the podium, about 150 chairs in all. This set-up is here in order to give teams a platform to announce major signings, trades or news which often breaks at the Winter Meetings. During the four days at this year's Winter Meetings, the podium was used twice: to announce the...

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Weekly Wrap: Winter Meetings

December 06, 2012, 6:33pm

Nationals

The 2012 Winter Meetings have come to a close. During a week of rumors, trade news and meetings, the Nationals agreed to terms with another starter in Dan Haren, formerly of the Angels, and re-signed Zach Duke. All buzz this week was covered by MASN's Dan Kolko. In case you missed any Winter Meetings news, here's a recap of the week. Monday, Dec. 3 The week of Winter Meetings was kicked off with trade rumors surrounding Adam LaRoche, Sean Burnett and Michael Morse, who Rizzo spoke about...

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Rosenbaum and Kobernus excited to be selected in Rule 5 draft, thankful to Nats

December 06, 2012, 6:56am

Nationals

Rosenbaum and Kobernus excited to be selected in Rule 5 draft, thankful to Nats

Former Nationals prospects Danny Rosenbaum and Jeff Kobernus knew the Rule 5 draft was was today at 10 a.m. Eastern time (7 a.m. Pacific time in California, where Kobernus is). And around that time they both considered the possibility of being picked up by another team, but did not let it dominate their thoughts. Then the calls came in. Kobernus, a second baseman, got his 15 minutes after the hour from his agent. He'd been taken by the Red Sox, and was later dealt to the Tigers. "I...

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Video: Analyzing a now less-stocked Nats farm system

December 05, 2012, 11:02pm

Nationals

Video: Analyzing a now less-stocked Nats farm system

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The 2012 Winter Meetings are almost complete, and just as I've gotten comfortable navigating my way through the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center (which feels like it's a town in and of itself), it's time to leave. During their time in Nashville, the Nationals got a fifth starter in Dan Haren, and we might have word as early as this afternoon on whether Haren passed his physical and will officially join the Nats' starting staff. They also got a left-handed...

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Nats lose Rosenbaum, Kobernus in Rule 5 draft (updated with quotes)

December 06, 2012, 5:11am

Nationals

Nats lose Rosenbaum, Kobernus in Rule 5 draft (updated with quotes)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nationals have had two of their players selected within the first seven picks of the Rule 5 draft. Left-hander Danny Rosenbaum was selected by the Rockies with the third pick. Rosenbaum is a 25-year-old left-hander, who went 8-10 with a 3.94 ERA at Double-A Harrisburg last season. He had a very strong first half of the year, but dropped off significantly after the All-Star break, going 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA. With his departure, the Nats now have even less pitching depth...

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Winter Meetings are over, but there's still work to be done

December 06, 2012, 6:16am

Nationals Orioles

Winter Meetings are over, but there's still work to be done

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Winter Meetings are over. The Orioles continue to look for a bat and pitching. The Nationals need a lefty reliever and a decision from first baseman Adam LaRoche. Here's what the other American League East and National League East teams are doing: * Yankees: Strange how quiet they were at the meetings, considering they need a catcher, third baseman, DH and right fielder. "Patience is a good thing,'' Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. "We have plenty of time.'' * Red...

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Nats still searching for some starting depth

December 05, 2012, 3:36pm

Nationals

Nats still searching for some starting depth

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A number of Nationals executives have bolted town, content to take care of any lingering business in D.C. with the Winter Meetings set to wrap up tomorrow morning. One area they'll still look to tackle from back home is starting pitching depth. In addition to reaching some sort of resolution with Adam LaRoche and searching for a left-handed reliever, general manager Mike Rizzo is still on the lookout for a starter that the Nats can stash at Triple-A to provide insurance...

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Burnett signs with Angels, Howell talks could heat up (Nats confident on LaRoche)

December 05, 2012, 12:58pm

Nationals

Burnett signs with Angels, Howell talks could heat up (Nats confident on LaRoche)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sean Burnett has found a new home. Burnett has agreed to terms on a two-year with the Angels, according to multiple reports. The left-handed reliever, who spent the last 3 1/2 seasons with the Nationals, will get just under $9.5 over the two years, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. The contract includes a club option for a third year. Update: It's actually two-year, $8 million deal, according to the L.A. Times. Those terms are a bit surprising considering the...

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Nationals all but done at Winter Meetings (updated with more Johnson quotes)

December 05, 2012, 10:19am

Nationals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - With nearly their entire roster in place for the 2013 season, the Nationals have all but wrapped up their Winter Meetings. General manager Mike Rizzo has taken a flight back to D.C., along with a good number of Nationals executives, and after taking part in a luncheon with members of the local media, manager Davey Johnson is heading out, as well. The Nationals traded for center fielder Denard Span last week, re-signed left-handed reliever Zach Duke on Monday and agreed to...

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While waiting for the first domino to fall in Nashville ...

December 05, 2012, 12:48pm

Nationals Orioles

While waiting for the first domino to fall in Nashville ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - We don't know where Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke are going to wind up next season. We don't know if there is going to be a blockbuster three-team trade or not. So on another slow news day at the Winter Meetings, here are answers to the questions that linger in the hotel corridors: * Is the pace of transactions slower than the normal winter meetings? Without a doubt, that's true. Most of the transactions have been predictable and there have been no blockbusters, such as...

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Bank on LaRoche and Rizzo finally finding their way to an agreement

December 05, 2012, 11:23am

Nationals

Bank on LaRoche and Rizzo finally finding their way to an agreement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mike Rizzo has departed the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center and Resort, leaving first baseman Adam LaRoche to ponder the Nationals' two-year contract offer. LaRoche remains in his Kansas home, perhaps whiling away the Winter Meetings in a hunter's blind and wondering why he can't garner anything more substantial than a two-year deal after winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger for a team that won more games than any other in the major leagues. But what looks...

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So what's left on the docket?

December 04, 2012, 9:48pm

Nationals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today marks Day 3 of the baseball Winter Meetings, the last full day we'll have here in Nashville. I'm starting to get a little misty. I'll miss this place so. Sunlight, sleep and athletic activity are all overrated, anyway. Tomorrow's action consists mostly of the Rule 5 draft and some minor wrap-up stuff, leaving the next 24 hours or so as the main chance for teams to improve their rosters before heading back home. Obviously, it's possible deals get done as teams...

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Nats comfortable with current bench construction

December 05, 2012, 7:42am

Nationals

Nats comfortable with current bench construction

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - During his group sitdown with reporters yesterday afternoon, Nationals manager Davey Johnson was asked if he feels there will be a lot of competition for spots on his bench in 2013, with guys like Corey Brown and Eury Perez now having some major league games under their belts. "Well, I'm going to act like there is," Johnson said, cracking a smile. Johnson didn't mean that as a shot at Brown, Perez or others within the organization who have worked their way up through...

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Rizzo confirms Haren deal in place, plus LaRoche update (with video)

December 04, 2012, 12:57pm

Nationals

Rizzo confirms Haren deal in place, plus LaRoche update (with video)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed the team has a deal in place with free agent starter Dan Haren, but he wasn't willing to delve into too many details on the arrangement with the veteran starter just yet. Rizzo and the Nats will wait on Haren to complete a physical before discussing his health and how he could impact the team. Haren will fly to D.C. tomorrow and if everything goes well, Rizzo said they should have everything wrapped up with the 33-year-old...

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Davey talks LaRoche, starting catching job, high expectations and more

December 04, 2012, 10:42am

Nationals

Davey talks LaRoche, starting catching job, high expectations and more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Davey Johnson just spent about half an hour talking with reporters here at the Winter Meetings, addressing topics ranging from Adam LaRoche to Mark DeRosa's karaoke skills to Danny Espinosa's job security to how to turn the Cubs around. I'm not exactly sure why Johnson was asked about the Cubs, but he was. Here are some quick hits from Johnson's session with the media, with expanded quotes to come in a bit: * After a 98-win season in 2012, the Nationals will go into...