nationals

Would Strasburg be open to following in Zimmerman's footsteps?

February 26, 2012, 11:54am

VIERA, Fla. - From the time he was drafted in 2005, Ryan Zimmerman spoke of wanting to play his whole career in Washington. Because he grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., and played college baseball at the University of Virginia, he said playing at Nationals Park felt like an extension of his familiar surroundings. During the press conference Sunday to announce his six-year, $100 million contract extension, Zimmerman mentioned how rare it is for players in this era to spend their entire careers...

Comments

Tags:

nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

With long-term security, Zimmerman can be a Nat for life

February 26, 2012, 10:23am

Nationals

With long-term security, Zimmerman can be a Nat for life

VIERA, Fla. - Stability and security meant more to Ryan Zimmerman than dollars and cents, so when the third baseman and the Nationals were hammering out what turned out to be a six-year extension to his current contract, the only stumbling block was something that's usually a deal-breaker for general manager Mike Rizzo: a no-trade clause. As Rizzo negotiated with Zimmerman's agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, last week, as talks stretched into the weekend, past the Saturday morning deadline...

Comments

Tags:

mike rizzo nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

Harper gets to face other first-rounder in live BP

February 26, 2012, 11:34am

Nationals

Harper gets to face other first-rounder in live BP

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper, the top overall pick in the 2010 draft, drew a first-round pick from the 2009 draft as his opponent during Sunday's first day of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Just not that first-rounder. Instead of hitting against right-hander Stephen Strasburg - a possibility when the groups of hitters and pitchers were posted Friday morning - the 19-year-old phenom faced closer Drew Storen, who was picked 10th by the Nationals in the first round of...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper drew storen nationals pete kerzel spring training stephen strasburg featured_sidebar

Durbin and Fulchino looking to make presence felt in Nationals' camp; update on Purke

February 26, 2012, 7:19pm

Nationals

A couple of right-handers with a ton of experience are looking to break through and get the last one or two slots in the Nationals' bullpen this spring. Former UConn Husky Chad Durbin, who pitched with the Cleveland Indians in 2011, and spent the three previous seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is off to a good start at camp with the Nationals. "(Durbin) looked outstanding, he looked like he had done it before," Menhart said. "He throws nothing straight. He can get that ball...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr houston astros jeff fulchino nationals paul menhart matt purke frontstory_nationals2

DeRosa celebrates 37th birthday by facing Strasburg

February 26, 2012, 11:07am

Nationals

DeRosa celebrates 37th birthday by facing Strasburg

VIERA, Fla. - For his 37th birthday, Mark DeRosa got an unusual present: an opportunity to face hard-throwing right-hander Stephen Strasburg during the first session of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Working in a hitting group with Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina, DeRosa was the only person to get a ball cleanly out of the infield, grounding a changeup in the hole between first and second. Other than that, only Ankiel made contact during Strasburg's 10 minutes on the...

Comments

Tags:

craig stammen gio gonzalez mark derosa michael morse nationals pete kerzel rick ankiel spring training stephen strasburg featured_sidebar

Teammates say franchise cornerstone earned long-term security

February 26, 2012, 5:36am

Nationals

Teammates say franchise cornerstone earned long-term security

VIERA, Fla. - As news of Ryan Zimmerman's long-awaited, long-term extension with the Nationals passed through the Space Coast Stadium clubhouse Sunday morning, the third baseman's teammates spoke of how much Zimmerman deserved the security afforded by the deal, which could keep him in a Washington uniform through 2020. "I think that's great. I think it's showing that the Nationals, the Lerner family is trying to bring a winning ballclub here to D.C. for a long time," said left fielder...

Comments

Tags:

drew storen ian desmond michael morse nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Caught in numbers crunch, Bernadina doesn't seem concerned

February 25, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Caught in numbers crunch, Bernadina doesn't seem concerned

VIERA, Fla. - If Roger Bernadina is concerned that he might get squeezed out of the Nationals' outfield picture, he isn't letting on. In previous years, Bernadina came to camp with an opportunity to win a spot on the 25-man roster. This year, his biggest challenge might be staying with the organization. The Nationals will carry either four or five outfielders, depending on whether manager Davey Johnson goes with six or seven infielders. Either way, it will be tough for Bernadina to break...

Comments

Tags:

nationals pete kerzel roger bernadina spring training featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman on long-term deal: "It's a relief" (updated with terms)

February 26, 2012, 3:35am

Nationals

Zimmerman on long-term deal: "It's a relief" (updated with terms)

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman entered the Nationals' clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium around 8:10 a.m. Sunday and tried to get to his locker without any fanfare. Fat chance. He almost made it to his stall in the far corner next to the showers. But a few yards away, he was intercepted by teammate MIchael Morse, who offered a congratulatory high five to celebrate the third baseman's new long-term extension with the Nationals. Terms and length of the contract are unknown, and Zimmerman said...

Comments

Tags:

featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals nationals ryan zimmerman spring training frontstory_nationals1

Johnson focuses on newcomers, impressed by hitters' progress in first workout

February 25, 2012, 10:55am

Nationals

Johnson focuses on newcomers, impressed by hitters' progress in first workout

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson has run enough spring trainings to be able to appreciate both the excitement that accompanies the first day of full-squad workouts and the need to wisely use the time available during spring to learn as much as he can about his players, both old and new. The newcomers got the bulk of Johnson's attention Saturday, when the Nationals held their first full-squad workout. While most of his regulars were grouped together at one field, Johnson hung out...

Comments

Tags:

andres blanco anthony rendon carlos rivero davey johnson jarrett hoffpauir mark teahen nationals pete kerzel spring training tyler moore featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Deal is done between Zimmerman, Nationals

February 26, 2012, 3:06am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman this morning agreed to a long-term extension with the Nationals, according to a baseball source. Terms and length of the deal are not yet known. Check back for more details as they become available.

Comments

Tags:

nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training

Zimmerman, Nationals move closer to long-term extension

February 25, 2012, 6:20pm

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman and the Nationals moved closer to hammering out a contract extension late Saturday night, resolving some "last significant issues" that were holding up a deal, general manager Mike Rizzo said. The Nationals are hopeful that a deal can be announced Sunday. "We don't have a deal done, but we've made significant progress tonight," Rizzo said shortly before 11 p.m. "We feel good about it and optimistic that we can reach an agreement, but there's some small...

Comments

Tags:

mike rizzo nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Could Harper hit against Strasburg on Sunday?

February 25, 2012, 10:24am

Nationals

Could Harper hit against Strasburg on Sunday?

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper mashed a couple of pitches over the fence in right-center field during his first live batting practice session of spring training on Saturday. But he was quick to point out that the long home runs came off a spring training instructor - or what manager Davey Johnson has called "dead arm pitchers," who threw today instead of his regular hurlers, who got the day off from throwing. And then there were the gusty 20-25 mph winds, blowing out, which helped lift balls...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper nationals pete kerzel spring training stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals to host Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic on April 3

February 25, 2012, 11:04am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team will return to Nationals Park for the second annual Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic following the Nationals-Red Sox exhibition game on Tuesday, April 3. The softball team will take the field to face a group of D.C.-area celebrities in a free post-game event to help celebrate the start of the 2012 baseball season. This unique team is made up of veterans and active duty service members from across the United States...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Strasburg to make Nats' first home start of spring

February 25, 2012, 9:59am

Nationals

Strasburg to make Nats' first home start of spring

VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will start the Nationals' home exhibition opener against the Astros on March 4, with Gio Gonzalez making his first start for the club two days later when the Nats travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to visit the Braves, manager Davey Johnson said Saturday. Johnson's announcement completed the first turn of the rotation through Grapefruit League play, and the manager also outlined a tentative schedule of the starting pitchers in camp who will...

Comments

Tags:

chien-ming wang craig stammen davey johnson gio gonzalez matt purke nationals pete kerzel ross detwiler spring training stephen strasburg tom gorzelanny yunesky maya featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Zimmerman, Nats still talking, getting "creative" on no-trade provision

February 25, 2012, 9:13am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Nats still talking, getting "creative" on no-trade provision

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman's representatives continue to discuss a contract extension with the Nationals even after a Saturday morning deadline for a resolution passed, and the third baseman said a no-trade clause is "the only thing" that stands between himself and a deal with the team. "Something creative to ensure me that I will be here, because that's the reason I'm signing the deal here," Zimmerman said Saturday afternoon after the Nationals had completed their first full-squad...

Comments

Tags:

mike rizzo nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Baseball America's Callis believes Rendon in D.C. some time in 2013

February 25, 2012, 3:57am

Nationals

Baseball America's Callis believes Rendon in D.C. some time in 2013

Baseball America had Nationals Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon ranked in the top 20 of their best 100 prospects list for 2012. Harper at No. 1 is pretty obvious, but executive editor Jim Callis believes Rendon probably deserves a top 10 ranking. "We have him No. 19 on our top 100, I think that is 10 spots too low," Callis said. "I am probably the biggest Rendon fan outside of the Nationals (front office)." Callis said Rendon may not hit as many home runs as Harper, but he still has the...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon bryce harper byron kerr nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals2

Zimmerman: Talks will go "right down to the last minute, I guess" (updated)

February 25, 2012, 4:13am

Nationals

Zimmerman: Talks will go "right down to the last minute, I guess" (updated)

VIERA, Fla. - It's less than an hour before Ryan Zimmerman's self-imposed deadline to have a contract extension in place, and the Nationals third baseman sounds as if he's prepared to wait right until the team's first full-squad workout to see if a deal will be done. Asked after he arrived in the clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium at 8:10 a.m. Saturday if he had an update, Zimmerman shrugged and said, "Right down to the last minute, I guess." Otherwise, it was a pretty normal morning for...

Comments

Tags:

mike rizzo nationals pete kerzel ryan zimmerman spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Jackson will get nod in Nationals' Grapefruit League opener

February 24, 2012, 9:23am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson, the most recent starting pitcher to join the Nationals, will start the team's March 3 Grapefruit League opener against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., manager Davey Johnson said Friday. "I talked to him in throwing drills and he was up for that," Johnson said. Jackson, like the rest of the pitchers in camp, will take the next two days off from throwing activities before pitching live batting practice Monday, Johnson said. The right-hander, who signed a one-year...

Comments

Tags:

davey johnson edwin jackson john lannan jordan zimmermann nationals pete kerzel spring training featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

Meet Joe Namath, Nats' top prospect

February 25, 2012, 4:25am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - No one can say the Nationals aren't displaying a wicked sense of humor as full-squad workouts commence at Space Coast Stadium. Top prospect Bryce Harper arrived at the clubhouse Saturday morning to find he'd been a victim of a well-played prank. Instead of the nameplate above his locker stall reading, "Bryce Harper 34," as it did when he left after Friday's workouts, it read, "Joe Namath 12," with the appropriate Nationals curly W logo to the left and the Major League...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3 nationals pete kerzel spring training

Sturdier Mattheus ready to shoulder heavier workload

February 24, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals

Sturdier Mattheus ready to shoulder heavier workload

VIERA, Fla. - One of the inherent flaws in the bullpen that Davey Johnson inherited last season was the inability of Nationals relievers to work more than an inning at a time on a regular basis. The manager was saddled with a group that wasn't capable of longer outings - or, in some cases, pitching on successive days. At the end of last season, and through the offseason, Johnson preached to anyone who would listen about the need for durable arms that could be stretched out and used...