nationals

Why the Nats keep finding themselves in need of catchers

January 30, 2021, 10:04am

The Nationals' acquisition Thursday evening of Alex Avila was no surprise. Which is to say, we'd known for months they were going to need to acquire a catcher from outside the organization to replace Kurt Suzuki and share the job with Yan Gomes. Whether it was Avila or one of the other available free agents, the Nats had to get themselves another catcher this winter, one way or the other. Why? Because they didn't feel like they had a viable in-house candidate for that job. And truth be told,...

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Daniel Murphy, hitter extraordinaire, announces retirement

January 29, 2021, 11:49am

Nationals

Daniel Murphy, hitter extraordinaire, announces retirement

Daniel Murphy, owner of the highest batting average and second-highest OPS in Nationals history, announced his retirement Friday, bringing an end to a 12-year career that peaked just as he was about to come to Washington and thus made him a significant part of club lore. "This is a beautiful game, and I really just feel humbled and blessed that it let me jump on the ride for a little bit," Murphy told SNY in announcing his decision to retire. "It's beautiful. It can teach you about so many...

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Cavalli cracks MLBPipeline.com's top 100 prospects list

January 28, 2021, 7:12pm

Nationals

Cavalli cracks MLBPipeline.com's top 100 prospects list

Some - maybe not much, but some - was made a little over a week ago when the Nationals did not have a single prospect land in Baseball America's top 100 prospects list. They were the only major league team to not have at least one prospect ranked by the publication. But on Thursday night, another highly regarded source for baseball prospect news came out with its own top 100 rankings, and this time, the Nationals were not shut out. Right-hander Cade Cavalli found himself as the 99th overall...

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Is the Nationals' 2021 roster now in place?

January 28, 2021, 7:38pm

Nationals

They got the first baseman they needed. They got the corner outfielder they wanted. They got the No. 4 starter they desired. They got the left-handed reliever they coveted. They brought back the face of the franchise for another season. And now they got the No. 2 catcher they were lacking. The Nationals went into the offseason with a clear checklist, and though it took a while for the wheels to get into full motion, they've now checked off every box on the list, capped by Thursday evening's...

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Nationals tab veteran Avila for No. 2 catching job

January 28, 2021, 1:51pm

Nationals

The Nationals appear to have found their backup catcher, one who has a prior relationship with three-fifths of their rotation. Alex Avila, the 12-year veteran of five organizations (most extensively the Tigers), has agreed to a one-year deal with the Nats, a source familiar with the contract confirmed. Avila, who turns 34 on Friday, still needs to pass a physical before the transaction is official. In their search for a catcher to replace Kurt Suzuki, the Nationals had no shortage of options...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Hitting the home stretch of the offseason

January 24, 2021, 8:52am

Nationals

Who's ready to turn the page to the 2021 season? Well, in just a few weeks (pandemic willing, mind you), spring training will be upon us. There are few words more glorious to a baseball-starved fan than "pitchers and catchers report." Well, "full-squad workout" and "Play ball!" are pretty close. While we wait for things to get underway in West Palm Beach, Fla., MASN will continue to feed your baseball jones with "Nationals Classics" from days past. This week's offerings include a...

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On Lester's durability, pickoff issues and need for good defense

January 27, 2021, 6:53pm

Nationals

On Lester's durability, pickoff issues and need for good defense

Some more thoughts on and from Jon Lester, the newest member of the Nationals rotation, who was formally introduced Wednesday during a Zoom session with reporters ... * The best thing Lester has going for him is durability. He made at least 31 starts every season from 2008-19, and he made all 12 of his scheduled starts last season. Lester has been on the injured list only three times in the last 13 years, and none of them was a prolonged stint. He missed 19 days with a back strain in 2011, he...

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Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"

January 27, 2021, 1:25pm

Nationals

Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"

He's won three championships for two iconic franchises, started Game 1 of the World Series, appeared in Game 7 of the Fall Classic and pitched in a bunch of postseason clinchers. He beat cancer. He's made nearly $200 million in career earnings. He'll never have to buy anyone another drink in Boston or Chicago (though he actually did buy a whole lot of people drinks in Chicago after the 2020 season). Jon Lester, suffice it to say, doesn't need to prove anything to anybody at this point in...

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On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing

January 26, 2021, 6:29pm

Nationals

On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing

Some assorted news and notes for you on this Wednesday morning ... * Much has been made of Brad Hand's diminished fastball velocity last season, and it has been presented as perhaps cause for concern as the left-hander joins the back end of the Nationals bullpen. But is this anything to actually worry about? First, let's look at the numbers. Hand's four-seam fastball averaged 92.7 mph in 2019. It then dropped to 91.4 mph last season. That's not nothing. And yet, it should be noted hitters...

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My 2021 Hall of Fame ballot

January 26, 2021, 12:02pm

Nationals

There's no greater privilege in this business than serving as a Hall of Fame voter. And there's no greater feeling than seeing one of baseball's greatest get the news of his election, knowing you played a small role in making it happen. So it's always disappointing to put the time and effort into voting in a given year and then find out nobody was elected. Unfortunately, it does happen from time to time. Not by design, but by a confluence of events including an excess number of players...

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Nationals agree to terms with left-hander Jon Lester

January 27, 2021, 11:13am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with three-time World Series Champion and five-time All-Star left-handed pitcher Jon Lester on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Lester, 37, joins the Nationals after six seasons with the Chicago Cubs in which he went 77-44 with a 3.64 ERA in 171 starts. He won double-digit games and made at least 31 regular season starts in five of the six seasons...

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Newly signed Hand comfortable with any late-inning role

January 26, 2021, 9:18am

Nationals

Newly signed Hand comfortable with any late-inning role

Though he was the consensus best reliever available on the free agent market this winter, Brad Hand spent 2 1/2 months waiting to learn where he would pitch in 2021. Chalk it up to this most unusual offseason across baseball, and it's understandable, though no less nerve-wracking for the players involved. Early in the process, though, Hand knew the Nationals were among the teams interested in him. And over the last couple of weeks, he said, they stepped up their efforts before finally sealing...

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Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?

January 25, 2021, 6:30pm

Nationals

Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?

Hall of Fame election day should be an enjoyable event. We should spend our time celebrating the careers of the greatest players baseball has to offer and engaging in spirited but friendly debates about those players who didn't get enough votes to make it to Cooperstown. Unfortunately, this probably isn't going to be one of those election days. For a number of reasons, this could wind up being the most depressing one of these we've had in a while. The year-long pandemic, of course, has made...

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Patrick and Jen Corbin surprise Youth Baseball Academy families with shopping spree

January 26, 2021, 7:48am

Nationals

Patrick and Jen Corbin surprise Youth Baseball Academy families with shopping spree

The holidays have passed and the calendar has turned to 2021, but that doesn't mean one has to lose his or her spirit of giving. Especially during these uncertain times. Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin and his wife, Jen, certainly took that to heart as they recently surprised six families from the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy with a Macy's shopping experience via Zoom. In case you may have missed it or forgotten, the Youth Baseball Academy safely returned to play by opening a modified...

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With four late-inning arms, Nats have plenty of relief options

January 24, 2021, 6:13pm

Nationals

With four late-inning arms, Nats have plenty of relief options

A few national baseball writers referred to Brad Hand as the Nationals' "new closer" upon reporting his contract agreement Sunday night. Don't be so sure about that. Though Hand certainly is going to end up closing some games for the Nats this season, that's not technically the role the club has in mind for him. It's safe to say Davey Martinez will use Hand whenever the matchup is in his favor, whether that comes in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning. Some managers and some teams think...

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Nationals bolster bullpen with top available lefty Hand

January 24, 2021, 3:24pm

Nationals

The Nationals have known all winter they needed an experienced left-hander for their bullpen, someone who could be counted upon to get big outs late in games. They're going to wind up getting the best one available. The Nats are in agreement with veteran reliever Brad Hand on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, pending a physical, a source familiar with the signing confirmed. Once the deal becomes official, the Nationals will have added one of baseball's best lefty relievers over the last...

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Nationals agree to terms with left-hander Brad Hand

January 26, 2021, 7:00am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Brad Hand on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Hand, 30, joins the Nationals after going 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA and a Major League-leading 16 saves in 2020. He struck out 29 batters while walking just four in 22.0 innings pitched across 23 outings. Hand posted a 0.77 walks/hits per innings pitched, a .169 opponents' batting average and...

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Bell-Zimmerman combo at first base could work nicely for Nats

January 23, 2021, 1:35pm

Nationals

Bell-Zimmerman combo at first base could work nicely for Nats

What kind of production can the Nationals expect from their first basemen in 2021? Would they be satisfied with 30 homers, 99 RBIs, a .305 batting average, .390 on-base percentage and .997 OPS? Because that's what you get when you combine Josh Bell's 2019 numbers against right-handers and Ryan Zimmerman's 2019 numbers against left-handers. Yep, if Bell took all the at-bats against righties and Zimmerman took all the at-bats against lefties, they'd have combined for a .997 OPS across exactly...

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Zimmerman not back for "victory lap," believes he can help

January 23, 2021, 10:05am

Nationals

Zimmerman not back for "victory lap," believes he can help

Ryan Zimmerman was close to 100 percent confident all along he'd return to play for the Nationals this year after opting out of the 2020 season. But his motives weren't personal, and they weren't about ensuring his career didn't end without playing one more season for the only franchise he's ever known. "Me coming back this year was in no means for a victory lap sort of thing. I think you guys know me better than that," the 36-year-old first baseman said today during a Zoom session to...

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Davey Johnson back home after hospital stint with COVID-19

January 22, 2021, 7:25pm

Nationals

Davey Johnson back home after hospital stint with COVID-19

Former Nationals manager Davey Johnson was hospitalized this week with COVID-19 but was back at his Florida home resting comfortably Friday evening, according to a message from his wife to the Mets' longtime public relations director. Word of Johnson's illness first became public Friday afternoon when Ken Davidoff of the New York Post sent him a text message seeking his thoughts on Hank Aaron following the Hall of Famer's death. Johnson, 77, replied to Davidoff: "Loved him. Can't talk, in...