nationals

It is interesting down the road

January 04, 2020, 1:57pm

The Orioles' neighbors to the south are one interesting baseball team right now. They lost Bryce Harper to a division rival, failed to win their division, yet won the World Series. They overcame a poor bullpen by using their starters in relief at times in October. They got clutch offense late throughout the month and won it all. This after a terrible start to the season that produced 93 wins eventually - a total that would not have been enough to make the postseason in the American League. A...

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Nats have options, versatility around the infield

January 03, 2020, 5:42pm

Nationals

Nats have options, versatility around the infield

Here, 5 1/2 weeks before pitchers and catchers are due to report for spring training, is what the Nationals don't have: a viable replacement for Anthony Rendon. Here, though, is what they do have: a whole lot of versatility and a whole lot of options across the infield. Friday's signing of Starlin Castro to a two-year, $12 million deal (pending physical) created even more options for the Nats as they try to figure out how to align their infield come opening day. If the season began today (and...

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Source: Nats sign infielder Castro to two-year deal

January 03, 2020, 12:55pm

Nationals

Source: Nats sign infielder Castro to two-year deal

The Nationals added another piece to their ever-changing infield puzzle this afternoon, signing the versatile Starlin Castro to a two-year, $12 million contract that doesn't prevent them from continuing to pursue star third baseman Josh Donaldson. The deal, which is pending a physical, was confirmed by a source familiar with the terms after first being reported by The Athletic. Castro, 29, is a four-time All-Star who first made a name for himself as the Cubs' potential long-term shortstop,...

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Harris doesn't shy from role in Game 7, thrilled to join Nats

January 03, 2020, 11:59am

Nationals

Harris doesn't shy from role in Game 7, thrilled to join Nats

Will Harris could've let the memory of Game 7 linger, could've decided the best way to forget about the championship-changing home run he surrendered was to get as far away from the two teams that were involved in that moment. But that's not Harris' style. When the Nationals came calling this winter, and certainly when they offered a three-year, $24 million deal to the man who gave up the homer that won them the World Series, he didn't hesitate to embrace the idea. "Everybody I talked to...

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Three-year deal for Harris is worth the risk for Nationals

January 02, 2020, 9:03pm

Nationals

Try to forget for a moment the name of the reliever the Nationals just signed, who he previously pitched for and what happened the last time he took the mound. Instead, just look at his numbers over the last five seasons and how he ranks among the 119 big league relievers who have made at least 200 appearances during that time frame: * 2.36 ERA, third best (behind Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman) * 0.987 WHIP, fourth best (behind Kenley Jansen, Roberto Osuna and Andrew Miller) * 2.72 FIP,...

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Source: Nats signing reliever Will Harris to three-year deal

January 02, 2020, 5:41pm

Nationals

Source: Nats signing reliever Will Harris to three-year deal

In their quest to fix the most notable hole in an otherwise talented and deep roster, the Nationals have signed the veteran reliever who gave up the home run that propelled them to their first World Series title only nine weeks ago. Will Harris, the former Astros right-hander who threw the pitch that Howie Kendrick clanked off the foul pole at Minute Maid Park in Game 7, has agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Nationals, a source familiar with the terms confirmed tonight. The...

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Nationals agree to terms with right-hander Will Harris

January 03, 2020, 9:54am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a three-year contract with right-handed pitcher Will Harris on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Harris, 35, joins the Nationals after going 4-1 with four saves and a 1.50 ERA in 68 games for the Houston Astros in 2019. He struck out 62 batters, walked 14 and posted a .196 opponents' batting average in his eighth Major League season. Harris' 1.50 ERA (10 ER/60.0 IP) led American...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Multiple walk-offs and a dinger-less win

December 30, 2019, 10:24am

Nationals

Ringing out the old the other night got the MASN staff in the mood to set the wayback machine to some dates well in advance of the Nationals' current perch on the Major League Baseball throne. Some of them, in fact, reach back to the club's inaugural season in the District. While the Nats teams of the oughts and early teens didn't experience the level of success the 2019 version enjoyed, they each had talented players and could show flashes of brilliance on the diamond. Through it all, of...

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First 2020 Nationals Q&A

January 02, 2020, 5:03am

Nationals

Happy new year! It's a brand-new year, and even though we're basking in the achievement of a World Series victory - and will be for some time - the Nationals are not too far from getting down to the business of baseball again. By mid-February, pitchers and catchers will report to FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla., for spring training. Position players will follow (at least those who don't report early) and workouts will commence. So in the theme of all things new,...

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When do the Nationals address Rizzo's contract status?

December 29, 2019, 10:45am

Nationals

His offseason isn't over by a longshot. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo still has much left to do. There's a hole at third base after Anthony Rendon bolted for big bucks in Disneyland as a free agent. There's work to finish in the bullpen, probably with a reliable arm that can get outs in crunch time. There may be the need for a second baseman to spell Howie Kendrick. Ryan Zimmerman needs to be re-signed or else Rizzo can add a first baseman to his offseason shopping list. But there's...

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Where does Carter Kieboom fit best in Nationals infield?

December 27, 2019, 10:20am

Nationals

Few players will have a microscope trained on them in spring training like Carter Kieboom, who will get a laser focus usually not afforded rookies. It will take another move and several weeks to determine exactly what role Kieboom will have with the Nationals in 2020, and in that way alone, the upcoming camp will be a lot like Kieboom's first on the major league side last spring. Back then, he would have made Crash Davis proud by spouting the appropriate cliches about being happy to have...

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Why Nats need to find a veteran catcher behind top tandem

December 24, 2019, 3:00pm

Nationals

Why Nats need to find a veteran catcher behind top tandem

When the Nationals re-signed catcher Yan Gomes to a two-year, $10 million contract in late November, it assured them of retaining their productive tandem behind the plate for at least another season. Gomes rejoined Kurt Suzuki, who is entering the final campaign of a two-year, $10 million deal inked last offseason. That's two catchers who the veteran Nationals pitchers love throwing to, two guys who hold their own with the leather and were surprisingly productive at the plate last season,...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Key moments from the best season ever

December 23, 2019, 10:11am

Nationals

The champagne (if you've got any left after October's revelry) will taste just a little sweeter this New Year's in Nats nation. Whatever else might have been going on in the world and our individual lives over the year that is now coming to a close, we will look back on 2019 with delight as we recall the way the Nationals' refusal to give up made hearts and pride swell in the District, Northern Virginia and the Maryland suburbs. The "Nationals Classics" lineup over the next seven days...

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How well is Taylor suited to be a fourth outfielder?

December 23, 2019, 5:56am

Nationals

How well is Taylor suited to be a fourth outfielder?

Even if math isn't your strong suit, it's easy to see that Michael A. Taylor is the odd man out in the Nationals outfield. Contract status, defensive prowess and previous production dictate that Juan Soto will start in left field in 2020, with Victor Robles in center and Adam Eaton in right. So where does that leave Taylor, who was tendered a contract last season and lost his arbitration hearing against the Nationals, who paid him $3.25 million in 2019 instead of the $3.5 million he sought?...

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Was 2019 a one-time thing or the start of something even bigger?

December 22, 2019, 8:37pm

Nationals

Was 2019 a one-time thing or the start of something even bigger?

The 2019 season was a long time coming for the Nationals. After eight years as contenders, after 15 years in the District, after 51 years as a franchise and after 95 years without a World Series title in D.C., this Nats club was the one that finally broke through and hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy. Along the way, the members of this championship team won over everyone's heart, forever etching their place in Washington sports history. No matter what happens for the next 95 years, the...

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How the Nationals depth chart looks at this point

December 21, 2019, 8:07pm

Nationals

We've talked a lot about what the Nationals still need to do this winter to get their roster back into full form, whether that includes the re-signing of players who helped them win the World Series or the addition of newcomers who could help offset the losses of key figures. But what do the Nats already have internally to address any positions of need? If they had to take the field today - and thank God they don't - what would their roster look like? Even if they didn't have to cobble...

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Will new reliever rule keep Nats from adding another lefty?

December 20, 2019, 8:21pm

Nationals

Will new reliever rule keep Nats from adding another lefty?

It feels like the Nationals have perpetually been searching for a left-handed reliever who can consistently get left-handed hitters out. Because they have. Sure, there have been a few guys over the years who have been successful: Mike Gonzalez in 2012, Matt Thornton in 2014, Sean Burnett and Sean Doolittle over multiple years. But there have been far more failures than successes in this department: Enny Romero, Sammy SolÃs, Tim Collins, Tony Sipp, Matt Grace, Dan Jennings, Tom Gorzelanny,...

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How far are Nats willing to go to sign Donaldson?

December 19, 2019, 8:20pm

Nationals

How far are Nats willing to go to sign Donaldson?

The Nationals are interested in Josh Donaldson, this much we know. But how far are they willing to go to try to lure the top remaining free agent third baseman to D.C. in the hope he can fill the very large hole created by Anthony Rendon's departure? Donaldson won't come cheap. That has become obvious. The veteran slugger, who turned 34 last week, appears likely to get a four-year deal for something in the vicinity of $100 million. That's a steep price for any player at his age. Here's the...

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Nationals make few changes to minor league staffs

December 19, 2019, 11:34am

Nationals

The Nationals are retaining the vast majority of their minor league coaches from this season, but several will be in new roles in 2020. Among the changes announced by the club today: Longtime Double-A Harrisburg manager Matt LeCroy is shifting to a roving position as quality control coordinator, Triple-A Fresno pitching coach Brad Holman is taking over as minor league pitching coordinator and Billy Gardner becomes LeCroy's replacement as the manager in Harrisburg. Most everyone returns intact...

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Lefty Abad reportedly signs minor league deal with Nats

December 19, 2019, 6:57am

Nationals

Lefty Abad reportedly signs minor league deal with Nats

The Nationals will extend spring training invitations to a swath of players who sign minor league contracts this winter, and among those players will be a veteran reliever who previously pitched for the organization. Left-hander Fernando Abad has agreed to terms with the Nats on a minor league deal, according to The Athletic. The 34-year-old will compete with countless others in West Palm Beach, Fla., who hope to secure the one or two spots on the opening day roster that figure to be up for...