nationals

Lerner suggests Harper unlikely to re-sign with Nationals

December 07, 2018, 12:17pm

The odds of Bryce Harper re-signing with the Nationals once he became a free agent always felt long, not with some of baseball's most iconic and cash-infused franchises certain to be involved in a bidding war for a 26-year-old seeking the biggest contract in American sports history. But it wasn't until today that a prominent member of the Nationals front office explicitly put into words the expectation that Harper will be playing elsewhere in 2019. Mark Lerner, the Nationals' managing...

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With deals coming fast and furious, Winter Meetings convene in Las Vegas

December 09, 2018, 3:02pm

Nationals Orioles

With deals coming fast and furious, Winter Meetings convene in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS - Why wait until the Winter Meetings? Baseball's Winter Meetings will go on this week at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, even though the deals have been coming fast and furious since the offseason began, especially with teams in the National League East. The Cardinals have traded for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The Red Sox have signed Nathan Eovaldi and pitcher Carlos Carrasco has signed an extension to stay in Cleveland. Former Oriole Jonathan Schoop signed with the...

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Corbin and Nationals hoping for happy marriage

December 07, 2018, 10:05am

Nationals

Patrick Corbin could have waited until the Winter Meetings. He could have waited out the market like most free agents do, made prospective teams come to him to make their case for his services and then finally make his selection in January. Such is the luxury afforded the top free agent pitcher of the offseason, but Corbin didn't feel the need to do any of that. He had his agent, John Courtright, contact the clubs interested in him - three that we know of for sure: the Nationals, Phillies and...

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Bourque's transition to bullpen goes well

December 06, 2018, 3:11pm

Nationals

Bourque's transition to bullpen goes well

Right-hander James Bourque spent his first few seasons in the system as a starter. But last season, he was moved to the bullpen. Bourque, 25, pitched well at the University of Michigan and caught the eye of the Nationals' area scout. In the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, the Nats selected the right-hander in the 14th round. But early on as a starter, he recorded a 5.05 ERA in 40 starts over two seasons for low Single-A Hagerstown. The Nats then decided to move Bourque from starter to reliever...

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Harper decision will have domino effect on rest of outfield

December 04, 2018, 10:11am

Nationals

Harper decision will have domino effect on rest of outfield

There are any number of significant factors the Nationals have to consider in deciding how much they're willing to offer Bryce Harper to stay in D.C. long term. These are huge questions that impact the franchise both on and off the field for years. There's a seemingly smaller question, though, that should not be forgotten: What would re-signing Harper do to the rest of the Nationals' outfield? It's actually not an insignificant question, because there's a real domino effect to it that...

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Nationals agree to terms with Patrick Corbin

December 07, 2018, 7:24am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a six-year contract with All-Star left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Corbin, 29, joins the Nationals after going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA and 246 strikeouts in 33 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. He set career marks in nearly every category in his sixth professional season, including ERA, strikeouts, games started, innings pitched...

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Press conference today at Nationals Park

December 06, 2018, 10:34am

Nationals

It's been a while since the Nationals held an offseason press conference on South Capitol Street. The last one came more than a year ago, when Davey Martinez was introduced as the club's seventh manager in 14 seasons. None of last year's player acquisitions warranted a full-scale press conference at the ballpark. So today represents a significant moment for the Nats, who have announced a 12:30 p.m. press conference at Nationals Park for what at this point the club is only saying is "a major...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": A little bit of something for everyone

December 04, 2018, 8:09am

Nationals

One of the great things about being a baseball fan is the fact that the game offers something for every fan, no matter your rooting interest, whether you prefer to see offense or pitching or how invested you are in the game. That's the overriding theme for this week's array of "Nationals Classics" on MASN: We've got something for everyone. You like late heroics? We've got shining examples of how bats and gloves can make the difference between winning and losing. You prefer pitching...

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Answering the questions raised by the Corbin signing

December 04, 2018, 8:04pm

Nationals

Answering the questions raised by the Corbin signing

The Nationals' signing of Patrick Corbin to a six-year, $140 million deal came in fast and furious Tuesday afternoon, the kind of head-spinning transaction that was felt across baseball. It also produced no shortage of follow-up questions. Now that we've had some time to digest the news, let's see if we can come up with some answers to those questions ... Did the Nationals really need to spend so much money for a No. 3 starter? Yes. First of all, let's not diminish Corbin by referring to...

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Nats land top free agent pitcher Corbin for $140 million

December 04, 2018, 11:15am

Nationals

Nats land top free agent pitcher Corbin for $140 million

The Nationals have agreed to terms with left-hander Patrick Corbin on a six-year, $140 million deal, according to a club source, landing the biggest free agent pitcher on the market to go along with the already formidable (and expensive) one-two punch of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The signing is still contingent upon Corbin passing a physical, according to the source, but once it becomes official he'll become the first big-name free agent to sign this winter. He should provide a...

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Justin Miller excited to be back with Nationals for 2019

December 04, 2018, 7:57pm

Nationals

After pitching only in the minor leagues in 2017, right-hander Justin Miller made a return to the major leagues with the Nationals last season and did quite well. In 51 games, Miller went 7-1 with a 3.61 ERA and two saves. In 52 1/3 innings, he struck out 60 batters and walked 17. In his three seasons with Detroit and Colorado, Miller combined for a total of five wins and one save over 88 1/3 frames. On Sunday at Nats Winterfest, Miller said he was thankful for his season and do have an...

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Pursuit of Corbin underscores Nats' desire for elite rotation

December 03, 2018, 5:31pm

Nationals

Pursuit of Corbin underscores Nats' desire for elite rotation

Their rotation already features two of the most expensive pitchers in baseball history, and now the Nationals are making a push to add a third high-priced arm. This doesn't necessarily seem to fit in with the prevailing wisdom in Major League Baseball circa 2018. Teams around the sport are de-emphasizing the classic workhorse starter, investing more in deep bullpens and even eschewing starters altogether in favor of one-inning openers designed to take advantage of lefty-righty matchups right...

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Kendrick expects to be ready for start of spring training

December 02, 2018, 8:21pm

Nationals

Kendrick expects to be ready for start of spring training

It's been more than six months since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon on a fluke play in left field at Nationals Park, and Howie Kendrick is just now starting to run on an anti-gravity treadmill. That's not necessarily cause for concern. Kendrick insisted he's on schedule in his rehab program from the major injury. His foot feels normal, and he doesn't find himself favoring or thinking about it when he goes through various motions. But Kendrick also knows he still has several more...

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Rendon, Nationals plan to keep talking extension

December 02, 2018, 10:13am

Nationals

While the rest of the baseball world tries to figure out where Bryce Harper is going to play in 2019, astute Nationals fans know an equally important question is where Anthony Rendon is going to play in 2020. Eligible for free agency next winter, Rendon now faces the same dilemma Harper faced last winter. In Harper's case, there was never a doubt he'd play out the season and test free agency. In Rendon's case, the process might well be different. The Nationals and Rendon have engaged in...

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Fedde on potential spot in rotation: "It's everything"

December 02, 2018, 8:32am

Nationals

Fedde on potential spot in rotation: "It's everything"

With left-hander Gio Gonzalez gone and right-hander Joe Ross returning from injury, the door is wide open for right-hander Erick Fedde to take advantage and grab one of the remaining spots in the Nationals rotation for 2019. The focus for Fedde in the offseason is figuring out a way to be durable enough to make it through an entire season. So his plan is to add weight and add muscle. "Offseason plans are usually the same. It's always been put on weight, put on weight for me," Fedde said...

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Carter Kieboom on playing second base: "They have that trust in me"

December 02, 2018, 6:58am

Nationals

Carter Kieboom on playing second base: "They have that trust in me"

Carter Kieboom was able to play second base once a week during the Arizona Fall League this year after playing shortstop exclusively in his entire professional career. Kieboom said at Nationals Winterfest he understands the Nats think very highly of him to fast track him a bit, working at another position and getting a shot to play against the best in the AFL. "It always feel good when you receive that sort of positive attention," Kieboom said. "I think as a player that's kind of what you...

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Foot healthy again, Doolittle can focus on home repair

December 02, 2018, 7:08am

Nationals

Foot healthy again, Doolittle can focus on home repair

Sean Doolittle is spending much of his time right now watching do-it-yourself videos on YouTube. He and his wife, Eireann Dolan, recently bought their first house, and that of course has led to home improvement projects. It's not exactly Doolittle's specialty, but he was proud to point out some dried caulk still on the side of his shoe when he met with reporters at Nationals Winterfest. "I'm getting better," he said. "I still would not say I'm handy." That Doolittle's offseason focus...

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Lilliquist on Scherzer's homers, Strasburg's velocity dip and more

December 01, 2018, 12:03pm

Nationals

Lilliquist on Scherzer's homers, Strasburg's velocity dip and more

Each winter, Max Scherzer vows he can be better. Well, Nationals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist has something he thinks the three-time Cy Young Award winner can do to improve. "He can keep the ball in the ballpark a little better," Lilliquist said yesterday at Nationals Winterfest. "He got hurt with a lot of bad breaking balls in kill counts last year. So that's going to be an area we're going to really put a thumb on in spring training. We've got to execute (with two strikes). Scherzer...

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Zimmerman optimistic he'll finish career with Nationals

December 01, 2018, 10:51am

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman was drafted by the Nationals in 2005. He made his major league debut that fall. He signed a five-year extension with them in 2009. He signed a $100 million extension with them in 2012. There's been no reason to question his contract status with the organization since. But that long-term deal was going to expire eventually, and that time is finally drawing near. Zimmerman is set to make $18 million in 2019. He has no guarantees after that, only an $18 million club option for 2020...

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Hardworking Soto gets head start on offseason improvements

December 01, 2018, 10:05am

Nationals

Hardworking Soto gets head start on offseason improvements

What does Juan Soto do for an encore after a rookie season that obliterated records for offensive production by a teenager? The now 20-year-old has a simple plan for making sure he isn't bitten by a sophomore slump: Keep working hard and try not to change what brought him such instant success in the major leagues. "I think, do my routine, and no change," Soto said Saturday at Nationals Winterfest. "If that worked, I got to keep going until I (retire)." Soto tied teammate Bryce Harper for...