nationals

Barrett takes first step toward completing three-year journey back

February 15, 2019, 10:50am

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It was just a 15-minute bullpen session, and he was just one of four pitchers in the last of six groups to take the mound over the last two mornings at Nationals camp. This is the most routine and mundane of activities, and just about every pitcher who went through the drill treated it as such. None of those pitchers, though, had to endure what Aaron Barrett did over the last three years just to get back on that mound this morning. It's quite possible no pitcher in...

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Martinez's plan for catchers and No. 5 starters

February 15, 2019, 8:57am

Nationals

Martinez's plan for catchers and No. 5 starters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Most teams have to find ways to give their No. 1 catcher days off without losing too much in production. Davey Martinez is going to have to find ways to play two No. 1 catchers as much as possible this season. The Nationals' winter acquisitions of Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki leave their manager in an enviable position. Few teams can boast two front-line catchers of this stature, but general manager Mike Rizzo felt it was the smart play after seeing minimal production from...

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Hellickson glad to be back, hopes to pitch deeper into games

February 15, 2019, 4:49am

Nationals

Hellickson glad to be back, hopes to pitch deeper into games

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Hellickson knew he pitched well for the Nationals last season. He knew he was sick of bouncing around from team to team every year. He knew the Nats wanted another accomplished starter for the back of their rotation. Hellickson's return to Washington made all the sense in the world. But he, like so many other free agents during this winter of discontent, had to sit at home and wait for the call. "I really wasn't expecting this offseason to be like last, but it...

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Scherzer speaks out on baseball's growing free agency issue

February 14, 2019, 3:23pm

Nationals

Scherzer speaks out on baseball's growing free agency issue

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer had been through this before, four winters ago, and though his free agency saga still ended with a huge contract from a franchise he embraces, he also knew the process took longer and included more frustrating developments than he believed it should have included. So when the subject of Bryce Harper's ongoing slog through free agency comes up, Scherzer has no trouble speaking both passionately and intelligently about the situation. And what does he have to...

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The spring plan for Kendrick and Zimmerman

February 14, 2019, 11:17am

Nationals

The spring plan for Kendrick and Zimmerman

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals most definitely did not report for spring training last year with a fully healthy roster. Adam Eaton and Daniel Murphy were still rehabbing from major knee surgeries. Joe Ross had only recently resumed throwing after Tommy John surgery. Koda Glover had to be shut down with shoulder soreness. The team that reports to camp this spring appears to be in much better physical shape. All 15 pitchers slated to throw in this morning's position groups did so without...

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Highlights from today's opening workout

February 14, 2019, 9:47am

Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The first workout of the spring featured an extended "Circle of Trust," some serious talk, some laughter, a moment of silence, a bunch of bullpen sessions, and plenty of grunts and curse words out of Max Scherzer. Suffice it to say, the Nationals ran through the full gamut during the nearly two-hour session outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, and there was an extra bounce in their steps. "I got here a little early because I was ready, biting at the bit,"...

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In NL East arms race, Mets and Nationals have the upper hand

February 13, 2019, 5:32am

Nationals

The National League East is an arms race, at least with the Nationals and the Mets. The Nationals, who missed the postseason in 2018, traded Tanner Roark and added Patrick Corbin and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez to a rotation led by Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. And, as good as the Nationals rotation is, the Mets rotation has fewer questions. The Mets' offseason focused on fixing their bullpen. Atlanta didn't add to a rotation that helped the Braves win the division next year. The Braves might...

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After first winter in D.C., Strasburg hopes he's found key to puzzle

February 13, 2019, 10:41am

Nationals

After first winter in D.C., Strasburg hopes he's found key to puzzle

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg stayed in Washington this winter for the first time in his career. Yes, as alluring as San Diego may be, Strasburg didn't want to uproot his family for only a few months. "When you have a family and the kids start to get older, you want to establish roots," said the father of two young girls. "It's kind of hard to be bi-coastal every year, so we stayed on the East Coast this year." Which was no big deal for Strasburg, provided he had access to a...

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First workout schedule, plus uniform number changes

February 13, 2019, 1:46pm

Nationals

First workout schedule, plus uniform number changes

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After Wednesday's soft landing start to spring training, camp really opens for business this morning. Pitchers and catchers reported for duty Wednesday, but all they did was take their physicals and in a few cases play some light catch in the rain just outside the clubhouse. That will change today when the entire group takes the field together and holds its first official workout. It'll help that it's supposed to be 75 degrees and partly cloudy after Wednesday's...

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With one eye on Harper, Eaton focused on healthy 2019

February 13, 2019, 9:33am

Nationals

With one eye on Harper, Eaton focused on healthy 2019

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Adam Eaton could've dodged the question, insisted he's not paying attention to the never-ending Bryce Harper saga. That would be disingenuous, though. Everyone knows Eaton's status with the Nationals is directly tied to Harper's status with the Nationals. So the veteran outfielder isn't trying to pretend it's no big deal. "It affects me, for sure," he said this morning inside the Nationals clubhouse. "Definitely affects me. I train to play 162. That's all I can...

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Gott traded to Giants for cash considerations

February 13, 2019, 6:22am

Nationals

Gott traded to Giants for cash considerations

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Trevor Gott already knew he wouldn't be reporting to Nationals spring training this morning with the rest of the club's pitchers. Now he knows he'll be reporting to the other side of the country. The Nats traded Gott to the Giants for cash considerations today, officially ending the reliever's disappointing stint with the organization five days after he was removed from their 40-man roster. Gott had been designated for assignment Friday when the Nationals needed to...

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Nationals and Entercom announce 2019 spring training radio broadcast schedule and new radio show on 106.7 The Fan

February 13, 2019, 10:20am

Nationals

Single game tickets are on sale now for the third season of Nationals Spring Training at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches! For fans who are unable to make the trip to West Palm Beach, Entercom station 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) in Washington D.C., the flagship station of the Washington Nationals, will broadcast a total of eight Nationals Spring Training matchups. The radio broadcast schedule includes the March 25 exhibition game against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. Please see the...

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Live from West Palm Beach, it's reporting day

February 12, 2019, 6:18pm

Nationals

Live from West Palm Beach, it's reporting day

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - And a very pleasant good morning to you from the Sunshine State! Yes, the day has come at last. After a long, cold winter of discontent, the Nationals officially are reporting for spring training. Which means your trusty beat writer has reported as well. This is my third spring in West Palm Beach, which of course followed 12 springs in Viera. Some of the routine stays the same year to year, and yet there are always new twists and turns and changes to keep you on your...

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Barrett, C. Kieboom, Garcia headline non-roster invitees to camp

February 12, 2019, 10:57am

Nationals

Barrett, C. Kieboom, Garcia headline non-roster invitees to camp

The Nationals have announced 18 non-roster invitees to spring training, including two of their top infield prospects and a pitcher trying to return to the majors for the first time 2015 after a myriad of injuries. The two infield prospects - Luis Garcia, 18, and Carter Kieboom, 21 - both figure to get a lot of playing time around the diamond at various positions. Garcia, who has played shortstop, second base and third base, slashed .298/.335/.406 with seven homers and 46 RBIs for low Single-A...

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Doolittle garners league-wide respect as Nats closer

February 13, 2019, 1:57am

Nationals

Doolittle garners league-wide respect as Nats closer

It is impressive to see the respect Nationals closer Sean Doolittle gets on a national stage. The latest MLB.com list of the top relievers in the game on the "Right Now!" segment has him at No. 2 behind currently unsigned free agent Craig Kimbrel. 1. Craig Kimbrel, Free Agent 2. Sean Doolittle, Washington Nationals 3. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers 4. Edwin DÃaz, New York Mets 5. Blake Treinen, Oakland Athletics 6. Felipe VÃ¡zquez, Pittsburgh Pirates 7. Chad Green, New York Yankees 8....

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Spring training storylines as Nats prepare to report

February 11, 2019, 7:00pm

Nationals

Spring training storylines as Nats prepare to report

This is it, folks: It's the final day of the offseason. After 4 1/2 months waiting for Bryce Harper to make his decision, the Nationals finally are ready to report for spring training, with Harper ... er, well, even though that decision still hasn't been made, Nats pitchers and catchers still are going to report tomorrow morning in West Palm Beach, Fla. One of these days - hopefully soon, but honestly who really knows? - Harper will officially be a Giant or a Phillie or a White Sox or a...

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Nationals announce 2019 non-roster invitees

February 12, 2019, 11:21am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced their non-roster invitees to 2019 Spring Training on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Invited to camp were right-handers Henderson Ãlvarez, Aaron Barrett, Scott Copeland, Wil Crowe, J.J. Hoover and Ronald PeÃ±a; left-hander Vidal NuÃ±o; catchers Tres Barrera and Taylor Gushue; infielders Luis Garcia, Carter Kieboom, JosÃ© Marmolejos, Jake Noll, Matt Reynolds, Brandon Snyder and...

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Despite lack of roster holes, Nats could add more players this spring

February 10, 2019, 7:42pm

Nationals

Despite lack of roster holes, Nats could add more players this spring

The Nationals are better positioned than most clubs as the countdown to spring training reaches its final days. Having addressed all of their major needs during the offseason - most of those coming early in the offseason, for that matter - they'll gather in West Palm Beach with no gaping roster holes. But does that mean the Nats are going to sit idly by while everyone else signs all of the remaining free agents after camp opens? Perhaps not. There's the Bryce Harper situation, of course, and...

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Is there a pre-spring favorite in the NL East?

February 09, 2019, 7:33pm

Nationals

Is there a pre-spring favorite in the NL East?

There hasn't been a legitimate, down-to-the-wire pennant race in the National League East more than a decade now, not since the Phillies hung on to top the Mets during the final weekend of the 2008 season. The division hasn't been decided by fewer than seven games since 2012, when the Nationals finished four games ahead of the Braves (but were never seriously threatened in September). Is this the year that finally changes? There's certainly an argument right now that the NL East is the best...

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Rendon approaching class of his own and big contract in 2020

February 10, 2019, 5:32pm

Nationals

Rendon approaching class of his own and big contract in 2020

With Bryce Harper possibly moving on in free agency, the strategy of how to stop the Nationals offense may now turn toward third baseman Anthony Rendon. That's because his slugging percentage has gone up in each of his last three seasons: .450 to .533 to .535. In the last two seasons, he has combined for 49 homers and 192 RBIs in 283 games. But he also has hit consistently: .301 and .308 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. A better than .900 OPS demonstrates how lethal he has been in the Nats...