nationals

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": A stocking full of Nationals goodies

December 16, 2019, 8:56am

Not a creature was stirring - except for the MASN staff, who have put together a holiday bonanza of "Nationals Classics" for your viewing pleasure. From first thing this morning through the midnight hour on Christmas night, we'll relive moments from each of the past eight Nationals seasons. You'll see so much baseball you'll think your long winter's nap lasted all the way to April. Included on this long list (we checked it twice) are extra-inning thrillers, eye-popping power displays and...

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Nats taking steps now to try to avoid World Series hangover

December 18, 2019, 6:19pm

Nationals

Nats taking steps now to try to avoid World Series hangover

Davey Martinez has experienced World Series hangover. Mike Rizzo has seen other clubs battle it after winning a title. So the Nationals manager and general manager are already trying to establish a tone that will combat the fatigue and malaise that inevitably follows a championship season. The key message they want to deliver to their players: Be ready to go right from day one of spring training, and place importance on winning games in March and April. Martinez knows firsthand how easy it is...

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Nationals announce 2020 minor league staff

December 19, 2019, 10:49am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced their Minor League managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2020 season on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Former Triple-A Fresno pitching coach Brad Holman will fill the role of Minor League pitching coordinator, the spot vacated by the promotion of Paul Menhart to Major League pitching coach. Michael Tejera moves from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Fresno, replacing Holman as...

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Healthy again, Scherzer will head to Florida in two weeks

December 17, 2019, 6:54pm

Nationals

Healthy again, Scherzer will head to Florida in two weeks

When last we saw him inside a ballpark, Max Scherzer was drenched in champagne and beer, his body and his mind completely exhausted after a gutsy Game 7 start to help lead the Nationals to their first World Series title. Scherzer, who pitched three days after receiving a pain-relieving injection in his neck that forced him to miss his scheduled Game 5 start, admitted that glorious night in Houston it would take some time to recover from all this. Not that much time, though, as the veteran...

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Now a Nat for life, Strasburg says D.C. has "become home to me"

December 17, 2019, 9:13am

Nationals

Now a Nat for life, Strasburg says D.C. has "become home to me"

Stephen Strasburg, like most every baseball-loving kid who grew up in San Diego, fell in love with Tony Gwynn. And not strictly for his performance on the field. Strasburg understood that Gwynn represented the Padres in every possible way. He was San Diego's Own, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire 20-year career with one franchise and remained closely connected with the franchise and the city until his death. Strasburg would never try to compare himself to his baseball hero, college coach,...

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Strasburg press conference today at Nationals Park

December 16, 2019, 6:02pm

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg last week decided to spend the rest of his career with the Nationals. Today he'll get a chance to explain why. Strasburg, who signed a seven-year, $245 million extension eight days ago at the start of baseball's Winter Meetings in San Diego, is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. today at Nationals Park to officially announce his side of the agreement. It has never been Strasburg's way to embrace the spotlight. And truth be told, he'd probably rather not have...

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Monday morning Nats Q&A

December 15, 2019, 6:51pm

Nationals

Well, it was an eventful week for the Nationals out in San Diego, where they were the center of attention at the Winter Meetings, with both positive and negative results. They re-signed Stephen Strasburg for seven years and $245 million. Then they watched Anthony Rendon leave for seven years and $245 million. Which leaves them in a bit of a predicament as they try to find some way to make up for his lost production, defense and overall presence. It won't be easy. There's plenty more going on...

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Rendon says he and Nats "just couldn't come to an agreement"

December 14, 2019, 8:18pm

Nationals

Rendon says he and Nats "just couldn't come to an agreement"

Anthony Rendon officially was introduced by the Angels on Saturday, donning a familiar red cap but with a halo surrounding a big A instead of the curly W he wore the last seven seasons. Yeah, it's going to take some time to get used to that image. As Rendon explained to reporters during his first news conference on the West Coast, it was the persistence of Angels owner Arte Moreno - who pulled agent Scott Boras aside last Sunday and made it clear he wanted the star third baseman to come to...

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With rotation shored up, Rangers on the rise

December 16, 2019, 5:49am

Nationals

With rotation shored up, Rangers on the rise

Anthony Rendon, are you paying attention? Do you think that you made a bad career decision? The Angels have third baseman Rendon, but the team that might have the best chance of beating the Astros in the American League West in 2020 is the Texas Rangers. Why? Because the Rangers are building a rotation this offseason, and their latest addition is Corey Kluber, the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner the Rangers got from Cleveland in a trade on Sunday. So, I wonder if Rendon, after...

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Enigmatic Taylor finds himself in familiar position this winter

December 13, 2019, 8:46pm

Nationals

Enigmatic Taylor finds himself in familiar position this winter

As things currently stand, there is no spot in the Nationals lineup for Michael A. Taylor. He would seem to fit in well as the club's fourth outfielder, one who is well-equipped to take over at any position if anyone else got hurt. Of course, all of that depends on the 28-year-old showing he can hit with consistency at the big league level. And if there are any doubts about his ability to do that, the Nats might be wise to see what kind of trade value he has. Any of this sound familiar? It's...

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What the Nationals still need to address this offseason

December 12, 2019, 2:12pm

Nationals

Baseball's offseason, believe it or not, is already halfway complete. The regular season ended 2 1/2 months ago. Pitchers and catchers report in two months. For the Nationals, of course, this offseason has been much shorter to date. One of the downsides of going to the World Series is the delayed start to the winter, leaving much to be done in a compressed window. The Nats have already done a lot to prepare for 2020. They re-signed Stephen Strasburg, Howie Kendrick, Yan Gomes and Javy Guerra....

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Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft

December 12, 2019, 8:24am

Nationals

Nats lose pitching prospect Sharp to Marlins in Rule 5 draft

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals lost right-hander Sterling Sharp to the Marlins in this morning's Rule 5 draft, ending a wildly eventful Winter Meetings with the departure of a promising-but-raw pitching prospect. Sharp was the third player selected overall in the Rule 5 draft, which gives clubs the opportunity to acquire prospects from other organizations who were left off their 40-man rosters this winter. The caveat: Any drafted players must remain on their new club's major league roster for the...

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How will Rendon be remembered in D.C.?

December 11, 2019, 8:49pm

Nationals

SAN DIEGO - When Bryce Harper departed 9 1/2 months ago, Nationals fans directed their ire at the star outfielder, blaming him for turning down the club's best offer and accepting a then-record-setting deal with one of their most hated rivals. And when Harper made his return to D.C. in a Phillies uniform five weeks later ... well, those fans left no doubt about how they'll forever feel about one of the best players in team history. When Anthony Rendon departed Wednesday night, fans seemed to...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Early walk-offs and a K-heavy performance

December 06, 2019, 9:10am

Nationals

We don't have a long list of "Nationals Classics" airing on MASN this week, but two of the three games went extra innings and ended in Washington walk-offs, while the third featured a strikeout-hunting hurler who reached a major milestone. Who doesn't like a walk-off, especially when it's the Nationals doing the celebrating? Our two games featuring bonus baseball sent fans home happy from RFK Stadium in the team's formative years. Sandwiched between the two games offering late heroics is...

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Source: Rendon heads to Angels for $245 million

December 11, 2019, 5:49pm

Nationals

Source: Rendon heads to Angels for $245 million

SAN DIEGO - In the end, Anthony Rendon chose to switch coasts and switch leagues but still manage to stay out of the spotlight he strives to avoid by signing with a franchise that already has two of the game's biggest stars on its roster. Rendon agreed in principle to a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels tonight, according to a source familiar with the terms, ending his time with the Nationals after seven spectacular seasons and one World Series title that sealed his legacy in...

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Addition of Rendon gives Angels powerful lineup, but they still need pitching help

December 12, 2019, 4:56am

Nationals

Addition of Rendon gives Angels powerful lineup, but they still need pitching help

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals lost another home-grown superstar and the Angels have another superstar in their lineup. And it looks as though there are going to be plenty of 13-11 games next season in Anaheim. Anthony Rendon, a free-agent third baseman whose late-inning postseason heroics helped the Nationals win the World Series, has signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Last offseason, the Nationals lost outfielder Bryce Harper, who signed a $330 million contract...

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Satisfied with No. 5 starter options, Nats focused on relievers

December 11, 2019, 2:40pm

Nationals

Satisfied with No. 5 starter options, Nats focused on relievers

SAN DIEGO - With Stephen Strasburg officially back for the long term, the Nationals know they'll enter the 2020 season with the same starting quartet that was instrumental in their World Series victory. Strasburg rejoins Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez as a formidable foursome that will again serve as the backbone of this roster. What about the final spot in the rotation? That's very much up for grabs at the moment, and it appears it will remain that way heading into...

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With or without Rendon, Nats have infield spots to fill

December 10, 2019, 10:24pm

Nationals

With or without Rendon, Nats have infield spots to fill

SAN DIEGO - Whether or not Anthony Rendon re-signs with them, the Nationals are going to need to address other needs across their infield this winter. It's a complicated puzzle with several moving parts. But all paths ultimately lead to the same place: Multiple transactions necessary to fill out their entire infield before spring training. If they had to fill out a lineup card today, the Nationals would know they had Trea Turner at shortstop. They could pencil the recently re-signed Howie...

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Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

December 11, 2019, 10:04am

Nationals

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are shuffling three of their coaches to new positions for the 2020 season, with Tim Bogar taking over as bench coach, Chip Hale moving to third base coach and Bob Henley switching to first base coach. Every member of Davey Martinez's World Series winning staff returns next season, with one exception: Pat Roessler has been hired as assistant hitting coach, replacing Joe Dillon, who accepted the lead hitting coach's job with the Phillies last month. That means three...

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Rizzo wants to improve bullpen now, not next summer

December 10, 2019, 3:36pm

Nationals

Rizzo wants to improve bullpen now, not next summer

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals won the World Series despite boasting - if that's the proper word for it - the majors' worst bullpen during the regular season. They managed to pull that remarkable feat off thanks to two key developments along the way: The acquisition of Daniel Hudson at the July 31 trade deadline, and the willingness of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin to make a combined seven relief appearances in between their respective starts during the postseason. Somehow, it...