nationals

Dan Haren agrees to terms on one-year deal with Nats (updated)

December 04, 2012, 6:19am

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nationals have found a fifth starter, but as we expected, the pitcher they added has credentials that elevate him beyond how you'd typically picture a No. 5 guy. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Nats have signed right-hander Dan Haren to a one-year, $13 million deal. The contract is pending a physical. Update: I've gotten confirmation from a Nats source that the team has agreed to terms with Haren. The deal is not finalized yet, the source cautioned,...

Comments

Tags:

dan haren dan kolko nationals winter meetings frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Detwiler fine with being No. 5 if Haren is No. 4

December 04, 2012, 8:10am

Nationals

Detwiler fine with being No. 5 if Haren is No. 4

Right-hander Dan Haren fits into the ideal mold of what Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks for in a starting pitcher. At 6-foot-5 and 215 lbs., Haren will be an imposing veteran presence on the mound in Nationals Park, and be a perfect complement to the Nats' already lethal rotation. Haren would match left-hander Ross Detwiler as the tallest of the five starters: Stephen Strasburg is 6-foot-4, Gio Gonzalez is 6-foot, Jordan Zimmermann is 6-foot-2 and Detwiler is 6-foot-5. Detwiler...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dan haren gio gonzalez nationals ross detwiler stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Rizzo, Nats will work to restock starting pitching depth, too

December 04, 2012, 8:04am

Nationals

Rizzo, Nats will work to restock starting pitching depth, too

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - When teams make a major move, there's often a minor transaction that accompanies the bigger, flashier one. Often, it happens days, even weeks after the headline-grabbing news, and it's relegated to much smaller type - or barely noticed at all. By agreeing to terms with right-hander Dan Haren on a deal reportedly worth $13 million for one year, the Nationals solved one of the major items on general manager Mike Rizzo's checklist for the Winter Meetings. Assuming he passes...

Comments

Tags:

dan haren frontstory_nationals2 mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel zach duke

Bernadina to represent Netherlands in World Baseball Classic

December 03, 2012, 12:24pm

Nationals

Bernadina to represent Netherlands in World Baseball Classic

Nationals outfielder Roger Bernadina will play for his native Netherlands in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in March beginning in Japan and Taiwan. In 2012, Bernadina hit .291 with 15 stolen bases in 2012, and continued to be a critical utility player for Davey Johnson, as the Nationals won their first ever NL East title. In a release, World Baseball Classic, Inc. today announced the final pool compositions, which include qualifier winners Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei and Spain, and the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals roger bernadina

Despite rumors, a Greinke deal doesn't seem feasible

December 04, 2012, 3:49am

Nationals

Despite rumors, a Greinke deal doesn't seem feasible

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - I'm interested in seeing what this morning's cab ride over to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center has in store for me. My cab driver yesterday morning asked me whether I was a part of the Southwest Poultry Farmers convention that apparently is in town. I wish. If I get bored talking about pitching in the next three days here in Nashville, maybe I can find that gathering and talk some poultry. When it comes to pitching, the biggest name on the free agent...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals winter meetings zack greinke featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nats unlikely to re-sign Burnett, plus Duke notes (and a cool link)

December 03, 2012, 1:45pm

Nationals

Nats unlikely to re-sign Burnett, plus Duke notes (and a cool link)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sean Burnett has been a hot name since becoming a free agent. One report has eight teams in the mix for the left-handed reliever. The Nationals are one of the teams that have interest in Burnett, but given the way the market has played out so far, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo says he doesn't expect to have Burnett back in D.C. next season. "We like Sean, we'd like to bring him back, but it has to make sense for us," Rizzo said. "Right now, I don't see a fit,...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mike rizzo nationals sean burnett zach duke featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Rounding up the first day of the Winter Meetings

December 03, 2012, 4:17pm

Nationals Orioles

Rounding up the first day of the Winter Meetings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Thoughts of the biggest stories on the first day of the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center and Hotel. * The Yankees announced that third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have surgery on his left hip and miss the start of the 2013. It's the same story as last season, when he had surgery on his right hip and didn't return until May 8. A-Rod will be out longer this time. The Yankees aren't sure how they will replace A-Rod, but it appears that it will not...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche frontstory_nationals4 frontstory_orioles4 mel antonen nationals orioles winter meetings

If Orioles want to talk trade, Rizzo will listen

December 03, 2012, 1:39pm

Nationals

If Orioles want to talk trade, Rizzo will listen

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nationals may be located just 35 miles from the Orioles, but that distance along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway might as well be a chasm that can't be crossed when it comes to trade talks between the neighboring teams. The Nationals haven't made a deal with the Orioles since arriving in D.C. from Montreal before the 2005 season. The last deal of substance between the clubs came on March 13, 1996, when the Expos shipped outfielder Tony Tarasco - now the Nats' first...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals2 mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel winter meetings

Nationals agree to terms with left-hander Zach Duke

December 03, 2012, 2:18pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent left-handed pitcher Zach Duke on a one-year contact. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. A 2009 National League All-Star, Duke is 49-74 with a 4.52 ERA (530 ER/1054.2 IP) in 189 games/168 starts spanning eight big league seasons with Washington, Arizona and Pittsburgh. He has twice posted a double-digit win total (11 in 2009, 10 in '06) and thrice (2006,...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Rizzo talks Morse, LaRoche, search for an "impactful" starter (updated)

December 03, 2012, 12:55pm

Nationals

Rizzo talks Morse, LaRoche, search for an "impactful" starter (updated)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Speaking with reporters about half an hour ago in his suite at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said that he's gotten "a lot" of interest in left fielder/first baseman Michael Morse. "He's drawn interest," Rizzo said. "We've fielded calls for him. We've not made one call about him. We've fielded a lot of calls, and you can see the reason why. He's a middle-of-the-lineup hitter that puts up big numbers. He...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko michael morse mike rizzo nationals featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_nationals1

NatsFest to be held Jan. 26 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

December 03, 2012, 7:27am

Nationals

NatsFest to be held Jan. 26 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - You wanted Nationals news from the Winter Meetings? OK, mark your calendars for Saturday, Jan. 26 and the return of NatsFest, which will be bigger and better than ever after the best season in team history. For the first time, this all-day celebration of all things curly and W will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which will become the center of the D.C. baseball universe from noon-4 p.m. Activities will include live batting cages, exclusive Q&A...

Comments

Tags:

nationals nationals buzz natsfest pete kerzel frontstory_nationals2

Market for LaRoche could be starting to thin out

December 03, 2012, 6:20am

Nationals

Market for LaRoche could be starting to thin out

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Adam LaRoche won't be going to Boston. And as a result, there's a feeling his chances of returning to the Nationals are increasing. The Red Sox are closing in on a deal with catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli, according to multiple reports. While pen might not have been put to paper on a deal just yet, Napoli is expected to ink a three-year contract today. Napoli has caught for much of his career, but he's played more first base in recent years. It's expected that he'll...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

The latest on LaRoche, Burnett (Nats re-sign Duke)

December 03, 2012, 11:05am

Nationals

The latest on LaRoche, Burnett (Nats re-sign Duke)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As is seemingly always the case at the Winter Meetings, negotiations for a certain player have taken a bit of a surprise turn. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com has cited an MLB executive on a team that's interested in Adam LaRoche as saying that the Orioles are in on LaRoche "hard." The Orioles weren't expected to be one of the major players for LaRoche given their reluctance to hand him a three-year deal when they offered him a contract in the winter of 2010. Also, the O's...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko nationals sean burnett zach duke featured_sidebar winter meetings frontstory_nationals1

Velocity jump helped Erik Davis secure 40-man roster spot

December 02, 2012, 7:07pm

Nationals

Velocity jump helped Erik Davis secure 40-man roster spot

Right-hander Erik Davis was thrilled to get the call that he had been added to the 40-man roster last week and he is primed to take another step forward towards the Nationals in 2013. "It was huge for me," Davis said. "I was down in the Dominican Republic when I found out. One of our coaches called me in from shagging batting practice. Obviously, I knew that day was the deadline for that stuff to happen. The emotions just kind of overcame me and it was a dream come true." Davis said while...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr drew storen erik davis nationals frontstory_nationals2

Lannan gets a chance to start anew

December 01, 2012, 6:49am

Nationals

John Lannan has had a rough 2012 from a professional standpoint. The 28-year-old left-hander went into spring training battling for a spot in the major league rotation. He ended up losing that battle, and then requested a trade only to have that request denied. The guy who had twice been the Nationals' opening day starter and had 128 major league starts under his belt found himself riding buses and taking the mound in front of miniscule crowds at Triple-A Syracuse. Lannan came up to make...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko john lannan nationals frontstory_nationals1

Auction of rare baseball experiences benefiting Stand Up To Cancer debuts today on MLB.com

December 03, 2012, 10:17am

Nationals Orioles

Auction of rare baseball experiences benefiting Stand Up To Cancer debuts today on MLB.com

Major League Baseball and its 30 Clubs have organized a charity auction benefiting Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), announced today as a part of the annual Baseball Winter Meetings. The initiative was inspired by the numerous cases of public relations officials in the sport who have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years. The auction, which begins today and will be live on MLB.com until Thursday, December 6th at 11:59 p.m. (ET), features more than 70 unique experiences and items donated by the...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release Orioles News Release nationals orioles

Trade talks could start to center around Espinosa

December 03, 2012, 4:25am

Nationals

Trade talks could start to center around Espinosa

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - I woke up this morning feeling like I'd gotten a nice workout in yesterday. I hadn't been to the gym or gone on a run, however. I'd just spent the day navigating the massive Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, walking what felt like the two miles from the media work room to the lobby, and then eventually turning around and walking right back in the other direction. My legs should be prepared for even more of that drill today, as the Winter Meetings are set to...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon dan kolko danny espinosa nationals steve lombardozzi featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nationals ring in 2013 season with return of NatsFest on Jan. 26

December 03, 2012, 7:07am

Nationals

Following the most memorable season in team history, the Washington Nationals invite fans across the region to reignite their Natitude for 2013 at NatsFest, taking place for the first time ever at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The fun-filled baseball festival will be held at the spacious Convention Center in order to allow more fans than ever to celebrate the return of baseball alongside select Nationals players, coaches and team personnel. Open to...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Filling the left-handed void in the Nationals' bullpen

December 02, 2012, 2:13pm

Nationals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Since there's a dearth of left-handed relief pitching available on the free agent market, the Nationals are going to have to be creative when finding southpaws to round out their bullpen. Sean Burnett is angling for a four-year deal, which only works against his return and complicates general manager Mike Rizzo's to-do list at the Winter Meetings. Right now, the prospects of Burnett re-signing and the available left-handers present a bit of a conundrum for the Nationals....

Comments

Tags:

michael gonzalez nationals nationals buzz pete kerzel sean burnett tom gorzelanny zach duke winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Morse could be Nats' ticket to another starter

December 02, 2012, 2:11pm

Nationals

Morse could be Nats' ticket to another starter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - My flight out of BWI this morning was delayed nearly two hours, getting my 2012 Winter Meetings off to a stellar start. The fun began early this year. I'm now all checked into my hotel and set up here at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the site of the meetings. Only a little over 12 hours until things really start getting under way. There are a number of free agent starting pitchers on the market who could be in play for the Nationals in the coming days...