nationals

Nationals beat Lannan in arbitration (updated)

February 02, 2012, 6:24am

Since 2006, the Nationals have undergone seven arbitration hearings, winning five of the seven disputes. After today, you can chalk up another win for the Nationals. One day after holding an arbitration meeting with pitcher John Lannan, it's being reported the Nationals won out, meaning the left-hander will earn the Nationals' offer of $5 million in 2012. The meeting was held Wednesday to determine whether the left-hander would earn $5.7 million he and his CAA representatives requested in...

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Nats sign Durbin; team's farm system rated No. 1

February 01, 2012, 9:20am

Nationals

Nats sign Durbin; team's farm system rated No. 1

The Nationals added another arm to their bullpen mix today, agreeing to a minor league contract with right-hander Chad Durbin, according to this tweet from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. No word on whether Durbin will get an invitation to spring training, but it's a good bet he'll be in the major league clubhouse when pitchers and catchers report to Space Coast Stadium on Feb. 19. The 34-year-old Durbin was 2-2 with a 5.53 ERA in 56 games for the Indians last season. In 12 major league seasons with...

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What if ... Jim Riggleman hadn't resigned?

January 31, 2012, 9:37am

Nationals

What if ... Jim Riggleman hadn't resigned?

Few personalities are as polarizing in recent Nationals history as Jim Riggleman. Depending on your point of view, he's either the underappreciated baseball lifer who presided over the infancy of the team's 2011 turnaround, or he's a self-centered egotist who put his personal goals over the team's. Regardless of which side of the fence you're on, it's hard to imagine a more surreal day than June 23, when Riggleman's abrupt and unforeseen resignation sucked the joy out of the Nats' 11th...

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Hernandez heading to Astros on minor league deal

February 01, 2012, 6:05am

Nationals

Hernandez heading to Astros on minor league deal

There's really nothing surprising about yesterday's news that right-hander Livan Hernandez had signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros, ending his latest tour of duty with the Nationals. The Nats have finally gotten to the point where there's sufficient depth in their starting rotation, and enough arms in the minor leagues, that they had no need for a 36-year-old control specialist who got by on guile. Make no mistake, Hernandez wanted to return - "Of course, why wouldn't I?"...

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Positionally, Werth is the center of attention

January 31, 2012, 7:08am

Nationals

Positionally, Werth is the center of attention

When the Nationals arrive at Space Coast Stadium in a few weeks, it will be without the usual uncertainty that has accompanied the team to Viera, Fla., in past spring trainings. Up and down the roster, there are more sure things than question marks. Rotation? So many legitimate starting pitchers that either Ross Detwiler or John Lannan will likely end up in long relief. Bullpen? So many arms that someone like Ryan Mattheus or Henry Rodguez could be squeezed out. Starting lineup? Pretty solid,...

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The Nationals and Selig's push to expand the playoff field

January 29, 2012, 12:15pm

Nationals

The tenure of Major League Baseball commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig has made one thing crystal clear: What Bud wants, Bud usually gets. Selig wants to implement his plan to expand the playoffs by one team in each league for the 2012 season. Never mind that the players' union isn't on board with the arrangement, citing the fact that the schedule is already set and would have to be changed to create space for an extra one-game playoff to determine the final four postseason teams from the...

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Rosenbaum sheds weight, builds confidence

January 28, 2012, 11:50am

Nationals

Rosenbaum sheds weight, builds confidence

Danny Rosenbaum was named the Potomac Nationals' Player of the Year at the team's 17th annual Hot Stove Banquet on Sunday night at the Hyatt Fairfax at Fair Lakes. The 24-year-old southpaw went 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 19 starts at Single-A Potomac. At Double-A Harrisburg, he was even better, tallying a 3-1 mark with a 2.29 ERA in six starts with 27 strikeouts. It was an impressive year at both stops, but Rosenbaum is not satisfied. "I want to get in better shape than I...

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What's left on Mike Rizzo's offseason to-do list?

January 27, 2012, 5:22am

Nationals

What's left on Mike Rizzo's offseason to-do list?

It's less than a month until pitchers and catchers report to Nationals spring training at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., but don't expect general manager Mike Rizzo to be any less diligent about adding to his roster or looking for creative ways to improve his ballclub between now and Feb. 19. "We're trying to improve ourselves in the rotation and in the bullpen and any other way we can, and we're certainly open-minded and we'll not stop working," Rizzo said Wednesday. "We're...

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Nationals will focus on prospect Skole's footwork in 2012

January 27, 2012, 1:38pm

Nationals

Single-A short season Auburn Doubledays manager Gary Cathcart raved about the progress he saw in Georgia Tech third baseman Matt Skole during his rookie campaign. The 2011 fifth-round selection certainly delivered at the plate, hitting .290 with 23 doubles, one triple, five homers and 48 RBIs in 72 games. Skole also concentrated on his fielding and overall defense, especially with the one-on-one coaching provided by Nationals infield coordinator Jeff Garber and others. Garber said Skole has a...

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Nationals to host Georgetown in exhibition game

January 27, 2012, 6:43am

Nationals

If you're heading down to sunny Florida to watch the Nationals during spring training, I'm jealous. I'm not going anywhere. But while I'm enjoying the winter winds of the mid-Atlantic, fans who do make the trek to Viera, Fla., will get the chance to see the Nationals take on Georgetown University's baseball team in an exhibition game Friday, March 2. The Nationals will serve as hosts and first pitch is slated for noon at Space Coast Stadium. This will be the second time the Nats and...

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Nationals host auditions for 2012 Nat Pack

January 27, 2012, 6:34am

Nationals

Did you apply to be a part of the Nat Pack? Are you a die-hard Nationals fan, the kind who bleeds red, err ... red, white and blue, and doesn't mind dancing in front of a huge crowd? If so, and you submitted an application to join the Nationals' fun-loving, baseball-rooting crew, the Nationals are inviting candidates to the first day of 2012 Nat Pack auditions to be held Saturday, Jan. 28. The auditions take place from 10 a.m.-noon and will be held at Nationals Park. Each participant will...

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McCatty: Lidge is "not afraid when he is out there"

January 26, 2012, 9:24am

Nationals

McCatty: Lidge is "not afraid when he is out there"

The Nationals announced Thursday they have signed two-time All-Star reliever Brad Lidge to a one-year contract. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said Lidge brings a lot to help make the bullpen better. Lidge comes in with 223 saves and 26 wins in 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros and was a National League All-Star in 2005 and 2008. "The guy obviously has a real good track record," McCatty said. "A guy that can be in the bullpen and not only still has...

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Nationals add Lidge to bullpen mix on one-year deal

January 26, 2012, 6:44am

Nationals

Yesterday, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he had a few more roster "tweaks" in mind before players started reporting to spring training in Viera, Fla. Well, the tweaking is under way. The Nationals have signed former Phillies closer Brad Lidge, adding the right-hander to an already-crowded bullpen picture. Lidge gets a one-year deal for $1 million. The 35-year-old Lidge was 0-2 with a 1.40 ERA and one save in 25 games after rehabbing from a rotator cuff injury in his throwing...

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Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Brad Lidge

January 26, 2012, 6:52am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed relief pitcher Brad Lidge on a one-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. One of the game's most accomplished active relievers, Lidge is 26-31 with 67 holds, 223 saves and a 3.44 ERA (227 ER/594.0 IP) in 592 career games/one start. In 10 seasons with the Phillies (2008-11) and Astros (2002-07), Lidge has fanned over 31 percent of all batters...

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Give him the ball, but Gonzalez would rather listen than mentor

January 26, 2012, 6:06am

Nationals

Give him the ball, but Gonzalez would rather listen than mentor

When the Nationals traded four top prospects to the A's in exchange for Gio Gonzalez last month, general manager Mike Rizzo talked about the effect the 26-year-old left-hander would have on the Washington rotation. Despite his relative youth, four major league seasons - and three spent primarily as a starting pitcher for the team that gifted "Moneyball" to the game - are more than right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, whose promising careers were interrupted by Tommy John...

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New Nat Gio Gonzalez eager to get to work

January 25, 2012, 1:06pm

Nationals

New Nat Gio Gonzalez eager to get to work

First impressions from Gio Gonzalez's introductory press conference: This guy is going to be a lot of fun to be around. Gonzalez is well-spoken, excitable and has his own knack for thoughtful commentary - all of which will play well in the Nationals' clubhouse. On Wednesday afternoon, the Nationals finally got around to introducing Gonzalez, who was acquired last month in a six-player swap that cost Washington four of its top prospects. Gonzalez flipped between sounding like a kid who's...

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Rizzo: Nationals were "very close" to signing Prince Fielder before bowing out

January 25, 2012, 12:39pm

Nationals

If Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was upset at not landing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, he masked the disappointment well. Speaking after the Nationals introduced left-hander Gio Gonzalez to the media Wednesday afternoon, Rizzo said the Nationals had done their best to come to terms with Fielder, who agreed to a nine-year, $214 million deal. Rizzo even hinted that the Nationals were "very close" to signing Fielder. "Does Prince Fielder help any club he's with? There's...

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Some leftovers from Mike Rizzo

January 25, 2012, 1:42pm

Nationals

A few leftovers from Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo after today's press conference to introduce left-hander Gio Gonzalez: * Whether Bryce Harper does enough to break spring camp with the major league club will be one of the biggest stories in the Grapefruit League starting next month. Manager Davey Johnson has gone on record as saying he thinks the 19-year-old outfielder can handle big league pitching now, while Rizzo seems to think the top prospect, who has played less than half a...

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"Mr. Consistency" Erik Arnesen ready for longer look at Triple-A

January 24, 2012, 7:39pm

Nationals

"Mr. Consistency" Erik Arnesen ready for longer look at Triple-A

With the trade of a pair of top pitchers in the Nationals' system (Brad Peacock and Tom Milone), there will be roster availability at Triple-A Syracuse in 2012 for starting pitchers. One of the hurlers who will get an extended look in spring training to fill the void is right-hander Erik Arnesen. Arnesen blazed through Double-A last season, going 8-4 with a 2.43 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 26 games, including 16 starts. He was called up to Syracuse late in the campaign, going 0-2. You really...

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What if ... Smiley Gonzalez hadn't turned out to be Carlos Alvarez?

January 24, 2012, 10:03am

Nationals

What if ... Smiley Gonzalez hadn't turned out to be Carlos Alvarez?

When baseball wags talk about a "player to be named later" - and really, shouldn't it be "player to be named," since you're already talking about something that will happen in the future? - they mean an asset in a trade that's yet to be determined. In Washington, that nomenclature has a totally different meaning, since the Nationals have had to deal with the subterfuge and deception that actually caused them not to know the name of a Dominican teenager to whom they gave a $1.4 million...