nationals

More Buehrle talks on tap, Rizzo wary of going long-term with Wilson

December 06, 2011, 12:52pm

DALLAS - The Nationals haven't spoken today with the representatives for free agent Mark Buehrle, but Washington general manager Mike Rizzo believes his team is still firmly in the running for the veteran left-hander. More conversations between the two sides could be forthcoming tonight. "My sense is that, from the rumor mills, that he's narrowed it down to a select number of teams," Rizzo said of Buehrle. "No one's contacted me with that information. From my meeting with him, I don't...

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Nats again talking to Rays about B.J. Upton

December 06, 2011, 8:53am

Nationals

Nats again talking to Rays about B.J. Upton

DALLAS - Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Nationals' pursuit of a center fielder has taken them to conversations with the Tampa Bay Rays about B.J. Upton. Now this isn't the first time the Nats have entertained the notion of trading for Upton, who was one of their targets at the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The 27-year-old Upton has underperformed in St. Petersburg, where the emergence of outfielder Desmond Jennings has probably numbered his days. The Rays figure to sell high,...

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Slim and trim, Dmitri Young angling for another comeback

December 06, 2011, 7:59am

Nationals

Slim and trim, Dmitri Young angling for another comeback

DALLAS - Dmitri Young strolls through the Hilton Anatole lobby at the Winter Meetings, stopping to greet old baseball friends. An effervescent grin has replaced the frustrated scowl that Young wore as his major league career wore down, and he's a shade of his former self, having pared his more than 300-lb. frame down to a svelte 230 lbs. "Cap and gown," he cracks wise when asked when the last time he was at this weight. The 38-year-old Young last played in 2008 for the Nationals, when...

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Everyone wants to talk to Nats about depth in minor leagues (updated with Gardner note)

December 06, 2011, 6:37am

Nationals

Everyone wants to talk to Nats about depth in minor leagues (updated with Gardner note)

DALLAS - Back in 2008, after his last draft as general manager of the Nationals, Jim Bowden spoke glowingly about the waves of talent that would start lapping at the shores of the Anacostia River a few years down the road. It was easy to brush off Bowden's claims as the eternal hope of an eternally optimistic baseball executive saddled with a moribund club, but there were whispers that the addition of scouting whiz Mike Rizzo from Arizona in 2005 was paying tangible dividends, even if the best...

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Dueling reports: Have Nats offered sixth year to Wilson?

December 05, 2011, 4:27pm

Nationals

Dueling reports: Have Nats offered sixth year to Wilson?

DALLAS - Less than 24 hours ago, it appeared that the Nationals were done with their pursuit of free agent lefty C.J. Wilson, whose asking price of $120 million spread over six seasons seemed a little too rich for even the Nats' deep wallets. Now, according to a report by MLB Network Radio's Jim Duquette - a former Orioles executive who still has strong contacts in the game and hosts a daily late-morning talk show on Siriux/XM - the Nationals have increased their contract offer to Wilson by...

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Davey Johnson on rotation, Marrero, DeRosa, Darvish, Detwiler

December 05, 2011, 2:24pm

Nationals

Davey Johnson on rotation, Marrero, DeRosa, Darvish, Detwiler

DALLAS - Nationals skipper Davey Johnson spoke to media members at the Winter Meetings on Monday afternoon, tackling a number of topics, from whether he thinks the team will find the center fielder it's seeking to whether he could go into the 2012 season with his present starting rotation. * Johnson said he would be fine with Jayson Werth, who played right field last year in his first season on D.C., starting in center field should the Nationals come up empty in their search for someone to...

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Could batting stance change get Bryce Harper to Nationals early this season?

December 06, 2011, 4:51am

Nationals

Talk at the Winter Meetings regarding the Nationals outfield has general manager Mike Rizzo considering putting veteran Jayson Werth in center field. Werth enjoyed playing the spot in limited duty last season and did well defensively. If the Nationals cannot get Denard Span or B.J. Upton through a trade and their other center field options dry up, one possibility could be to move Werth there for 2012. This also could mean that No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper would be the Nationals right fielder...

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Off to the lobby, in search of Nats news

December 06, 2011, 4:04am

Nationals

Off to the lobby, in search of Nats news

DALLAS - Welcome to the second day of baseball's Winter Meetings, which may or may not be the day someone besides the Marlins and Dodgers decides to join the fray with a significant free agent acquisition. Maybe even a trade. I'm not sure what to make of this year's edition of the meetings, which have been threadbare on actual news - unless you reside in the lands of art deco and Hollywood dreams - and chocked full of lobby walking. And I do mean walking. From the media room to the main...

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Johnson wants Rizzo to keep open mind on Bryce Harper

December 05, 2011, 1:56pm

Nationals

Johnson wants Rizzo to keep open mind on Bryce Harper

DALLAS - Like general manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals skipper Davey Johnson wants to give Bryce Harper a chance to compete for a spot on the team's 25-man roster out of spring training. But there are obstacles stacked against the organization's future centerpiece, not the least of which are the facts that he's only 19 and has never played above Double-A. So in speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings on Monday afternoon, Johnson had this message for his GM: Please keep an open...

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On first day in Dallas, Rizzo and Nationals lay some groundwork

December 05, 2011, 12:05pm

Nationals

DALLAS - Mike Rizzo's shopping list hasn't changed, and he's spent most of his day in his suite on the fifth floor of the Hilton Anatole laying the groundwork for moves that may or may not come to fruition during the remainder of baseball's Winter Meetings. He's met with two agents representing free agents, though he declined to say whether the Nationals have extended a formal offer to either. Rizzo and the Nationals' brain trust have also spoken to a pair of teams about trade...

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Rizzo: Don't expect Nats to bid on Prince Fielder

December 05, 2011, 12:35pm

Nationals

Rizzo: Don't expect Nats to bid on Prince Fielder

DALLAS - Prince Fielder at first base with a curly W on his cap? Don't expect the Nationals to make a move on the biggest - literally and in terms of potential impact - free agent on the market. In an exclusive interview with MASNsports.com at the Winter Meetings, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Fielder isn't on the team's radar right now and that he's content to go into spring training with Adam LaRoche as the club's starting first baseman. "Right now, we feel very set at...

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Marlins' "Reyes"-ing the bar in the NL East?

December 05, 2011, 7:58am

Nationals

Marlins' "Reyes"-ing the bar in the NL East?

With the news that the Miami Marlins have pried shortstop Jose Reyes away from his previous team, the New York Mets, and other teams, and the announcement of the signing of free agent closer Heath Bell, it's certainly raised eyebrows at Nationals Park and in Dallas at the Winter Meetings. Reyes reportedly has signed a six-year guaranteed deal worth up to $106 million with Miami. Reports also say that Hanley Ramirez has agreed to move to third base, making the left side of the Marlins infield...

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Red Sox eyeing pitching, could offer Nats Kalish, Reddick

December 05, 2011, 5:25am

Nationals

Red Sox eyeing pitching, could offer Nats Kalish, Reddick

DALLAS - The Nationals' search for a center fielder who can hit leadoff may lead to Boston, where the Red Sox could be willing to part with an outfielder in exchange for a pitcher. New Boston general manager Ben Cherington is dangling Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick in hopes that he can pry an arm from the Nationals, according to a major league source. Kalish is a 23-year-old left-handed hitter who reached the majors in 2010 and hit .252 with hour homers and 24 RBIs and stole 10 bases in 53...

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Nix signs with Phillies, Riggleman to manage Reds' Double-A team (updated)

December 04, 2011, 3:08pm

Nationals

Nix signs with Phillies, Riggleman to manage Reds' Double-A team (updated)

DALLAS - Just like last year, the Winter Meetings aren't waiting until their official Monday start for player news, and one of the first tidbits from the Hilton Anatole came in the form of reports that the Nationals have lost a guy off the bench they had hoped to re-sign. According to multiple media outlets, the Phillies have agreed to a two-year major league deal with outfielder Laynce Nix, ending the powerful left-handed hitter's tenure in D.C. after just one season. Nix, 31, posted career...

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Is balance of power shifting toward D.C. in NL East?

December 05, 2011, 4:26am

Nationals

Is balance of power shifting toward D.C. in NL East?

DALLAS - Is the balance of power in the National League East shifting? The Nationals came to the Winter Meetings with money to spend and holes to fill, guaranteeing that general manager Mike Rizzo will be among the more popular executives at the Hilton Anatole. Last night, the newly christened Miami Marlins landed their second huge free agent of the offseason, agreeing to a six-year, $106 million deal for shortstop Jose Reyes, who joins ex-Padres closer Heath Bell (three years, $27 million)...

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Balking at Wilson's asking price, Nats ready to move on

December 04, 2011, 7:51pm

Nationals

Balking at Wilson's asking price, Nats ready to move on

DALLAS - Looks like the Nationals, like most of baseball, are balking at the notion of paying left-hander C.J. Wilson north of $100 million to solidify their rotation. A source at the Winter Meetings told me tonight that the Nats are moving their focus to the other two top free agent pitchers, lefty Mark Buehrle and right-hander Roy Oswalt. This is typical of baseball's biggest offseason gathering: A free agent shoots for the moon, teams bristle at his asking price and the clubs move on to...

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Hector Nelo hits 100 mph, Nationals believe he has "best arm" in system

December 02, 2011, 4:33pm

Nationals

Right-hander Hector Nelo was able to display command of his mid-90s fastball and showed some positives from his other offerings in a solid first campaign with the Single-A Potomac Nationals last season. Nelo went 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 36 games in 2011, taking over the closer role when Patrick Lehman was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. Nelo had 18 saves in 41 1/3 innings, striking out 35 and allowing just 11 total earned runs. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris was...

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Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 1: Bryce Harper

December 01, 2011, 2:18am

Nationals

Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 1: Bryce Harper

"You want to talk Bryce? He is sitting right here", then-College of Southern Nevada coach Tim Chambers said to me over the phone a couple of years ago. Bryce Harper was getting ready for his first and only season of collegiate baseball for the Las Vegas-based junior college and regularly sat in his coach's office talking baseball or reading books. That day, Harper was reading a biography of Willie Mays. He was pleasant, positive and soft-spoken. Harper would talk about baseball and his...

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How close are the Nationals to developing their own leadoff center fielder?

November 28, 2011, 7:13pm

Nationals

With Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings beginning Monday in Dallas, it is no secret the Nationals have a starting pitcher and leadoff hitter as their two priorities. How difficult will it be to solve both of those issues next week in Texas? It probably will not be an easy task to complete for many teams, not just the Nationals, because the Michael Bourns are not available as free agents. When you look at the Nationals' system, there are some bright stars in the future waiting in...

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What will go down at the Winter Meetings?

November 30, 2011, 7:30am

Nationals

What will go down at the Winter Meetings?

We're just days away from the start of baseball's annual Winter Meetings, the time when we click on the burners and watch as the Hot Stove ignites, giving teams a chance to build their rosters for the upcoming season. The Nationals are certainly no exception. After a third-place finish and an 80-81 record, fans are hoping 2012 will see the team take the next step, possibly earning their first postseason berth since moving to Washington. There's a lot of potential in our nation's capital,...