nationals

Some surprising pitching news within the division

December 15, 2012, 6:02am

Given we currently have a free agent market in which Anibal Sanchez, a pitcher coming off a nine-win, 3.86-ERA season, can land a five-year, $80 million deal, it's shocking that the Mets aren't willing to offer R.A. Dickey the two-year, $26 million extension he's seeking. Instead, the Mets are on the verge of dealing the Cy Young Award-winning knuckleballer to the Blue Jays, according to reports, for top catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and other pieces. I guess this is the move you make...

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A new twist in the LaRoche talks (plus an international signing)

December 13, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

Yesterday, I wrote about the possible ripple effects of Josh Hamilton leaving the Rangers, and specifically how that could impact Adam LaRoche's chances of re-signing with the Nationals. Well, it's happened. Hamilton has left the Rangers. Hamilton has agreed to a whopping five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, according to reports. This gives the Angels one of the most lethal offensive trios in recent memory, with Hamilton joining Albert Pujols and Mike Trout near the top of the...

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Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013

December 13, 2012, 5:09pm

Nationals

Source: Daubach to manage Potomac, Keister to Hagerstown in 2013

The Nationals will announce their 2013 minor league coaching staff and coordinators later today. A club source told MASNsports.com that the biggest changes are two managerial promotions at the Single-A level. Brian Daubach moves from low Single-A Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac as manager, while Tripp Keister steps up from the Gulf Coast League Nationals to manage the Suns. Hitting coach Mark Harris has been promoted from Hagerstown to Potomac. Former Potomac manager Brian Rupp moves to...

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The market is starting to play out

December 14, 2012, 6:01am

Nationals

We all know about the so-called "Madden curse," where some football fans believe that a player landing on the cover of the popular "Madden" video game will lead to that player getting injured or having a sub-par season the following year. Does the curse apply to baseball video games, as well? Nationals fans should hope not. Bryce Harper is one of the candidates to grace the cover of "MLB 13: The Show," and the 20-year-old outfielder apparently has already taken part in a campaign shoot...

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Nationals announce 2013 minor league managers, coaches and coordinators

December 14, 2012, 5:18am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today named their minor league managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2013 season. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. The Nationals promoted two managers within their system, elevating Brian Daubach from Single-A Hagerstown to High-A Potomac and Tripp Kiester from the Gulf Coast League...

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You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft

December 13, 2012, 9:28am

Nationals

You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft

For the most part, Nationals fans who treat the First-Year Player Draft in June like it was Christmas Day have not had to wait long to open their first present. Since their arrival in D.C. from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have traditionally drafted pretty high, the reward for usually finishing low in the standings. Take away their choice of Miami Gardens, Fla., prep outfielder Chris Marrero with the 15th selection in the 2006 draft and last year's selection of California...

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Weekly Wrap

December 13, 2012, 4:10pm

Nationals

A week removed from the Winter Meetings, the biggest news out of the Nationals organization is the lack of news. The Nats still have yet to make moves involving Michael Morse and/or Adam LaRoche, who Byron Kerr compares here. Where LaRoche will land for the 2013 season is uncertain, although the Nats said at the Winter Meetings that they were confident he would be back in D.C. Yesterday, the Angels announced that they had reached an agreement on a five-year, $125 million contract with...

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Kimball felt "back to normal" with repaired shoulder in AFL

December 12, 2012, 5:44pm

Nationals

Kimball felt "back to normal" with repaired shoulder in AFL

Although Cole Kimball is always a fierce competitor when he takes the mound, the Nationals told the right-handed reliever that his innings in the Arizona Fall League were more important than the numbers. But if you know Kimball, and if you remember how he pitched for the Nationals in his short 2011 stint, he is never satisfied with just pitching. He wants to go out and win every time. Kimball pitched in 15 innings over 11 games for the AFL's Salt River Rafters, compiling a 4.80 ERA. He...

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What is LaRoche waiting on?

December 12, 2012, 5:19am

Nationals

According to the latest odds put out by the sports book Bovada, the Nationals are tied with the Tigers and Dodgers at 17/2 as the favorites to win the 2013 World Series. I tweeted out that information last night, only to have about five people respond telling me to stop being a jinx. If the Nats lose 100 games next season, you'll know who to blame. I made an appearance on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN last night (you can catch the video of my call-in here), and during the...

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Some of this, some of that

December 13, 2012, 6:12am

Nationals

If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...

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Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist

December 11, 2012, 5:49am

Nationals

Garcia's long journey to the majors takes another twist

If you knew the name of Christian Garcia a year ago, you either are borderline fanatical about the Nationals' minor league system or you are somehow related to the right-handed pitcher. At this time last year, Garcia had wrapped up his first season in the Nationals' organization, appearing in 10 games at short-season Single-A Auburn and one game at Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia pitched well in 2011, posting a 2.66 ERA. He still was pretty low on the organizational depth chart, but at least...

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Tale of the tape: LaRoche vs. Morse

December 11, 2012, 4:37am

Nationals

If Adam LaRoche re-signs with the Nationals, does that mean Michael Morse will be traded? With Denard Span in center field, Bryce Harper in left and Jayson Werth in right, is Morse the first baseman? If that is the case, is LaRoche gone? These questions have been in play for what seems like almost a month, as teams expressed interest in Morse and LaRoche sought a long-term contract from the Nationals and others. Here is a quick look at the tale of the tape: (We see this comparison all the...

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Nats pitchers Detwiler and Stammen to travel on USO holiday tour

December 11, 2012, 7:30am

Nationals

Nats pitchers Detwiler and Stammen to travel on USO holiday tour

Washington Nationals pitchers Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen will join Washington Capitals forward Matt Hendricks, critically-acclaimed country music singer Kellie Pickler and comedian/CBS "Excused" host Iliza Shlesinger on the 2012 USO holiday tour led by the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey. General Dempsey will lead the group on a seven-day, four-country tour to military venues. Detwiler and Stammen recently concluded their 2012 season with the...

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For Rizzo and Nats, patience preferred over spendthrift ways

December 08, 2012, 9:02am

Nationals

For Rizzo and Nats, patience preferred over spendthrift ways

If you're not an aficionado of Rotisserie League Baseball - yes, capitalized and trademarked, to distinguish it from the generic and bastardized forms of fantasy sports not invented by founding father Dan Okrent - you might be wondering why the Nationals are being so frugal when they've obviously got money to spend and needs to fill. The $13 million they shelled out for one year of Dan Haren is way less than the $100 million-plus that Zack Greinke will command, and it's not like the...

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Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing

December 10, 2012, 5:03am

Nationals

Comparing Haren with the guy he'll be replacing

I'm back from my mini-vacation through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, three states that I hadn't ever visited prior to last week. I ate lots of fantastic food, heard some excellent live music and drank one or two adult beverages. I could say that I'm happy to now be home, but that would be a bit of a lie, and I wouldn't dare lie to you fine folks. While I was gone, the Nationals' signing of Dan Haren became official. Both the veteran right-hander and his new team claim that...

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

December 08, 2012, 7:45pm

Nationals

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

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,...