nationals

Previewing tonight's Cy Young Award announcement

November 13, 2018, 7:22pm

Max Scherzer tonight could become only the fifth pitcher in history to win his fourth Cy Young Award, only the third in history to win three in a row. But don't get your hopes up too much, because the odds are heavily stacked against the Nationals right-hander. Even though Scherzer arguably was better in 2018 than he was when he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2016 and 2017, Jacob deGrom was even better this season and is decidedly favored to be revealed as the winner during...

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The Soto-AcuÃ±a rivalry is just getting started

November 12, 2018, 5:57pm

Nationals

The Soto-AcuÃ±a rivalry is just getting started

Ronald AcuÃ±a Jr. had the higher batting average (barely) and slugging percentage (by a lot). Juan Soto had the higher on-base percentage (by a lot) and OPS (barely). Soto was the more consistent hitter throughout his rookie season, never posting an OPS lower than .800 in any single month. AcuÃ±a was the more explosive hitter during stretches of his rookie season, producing a brilliant August in which he hit .336 with 11 homers and a 1.103 OPS. AcuÃ±a was the better defensive outfielder...

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Instructional league wrap-up: infielders Monasterio and Sanchez

November 14, 2018, 1:59am

Nationals

Instructional league wrap-up: infielders Monasterio and Sanchez

The Nationals like what they have seen from a pair of infielders from Venezuela in their system. Second baseman Andruw Monasterio came over from the Chicago Cubs late last season in the trade for Daniel Murphy. The 21-year-old from Caracas played 13 games for high Single-A Potomac. Nationals hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich laid eyes on him there and worked with him at instructional league. He was impressed with the youngster. "He has a lot of ability, things he does well, certainly a good...

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Soto finishes runner-up to AcuÃ±a for NL Rookie of Year

November 12, 2018, 1:44pm

Nationals

Soto finishes runner-up to AcuÃ±a for NL Rookie of Year

Juan Soto's remarkable season, though historic for a teenager, wasn't quite good enough to merit Rookie of the Year honors. Soto finished runner-up to the Braves' Ronald AcuÃ±a Jr., who tonight was revealed the winner of the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Award in a race that was awfully close on paper but wound up more lopsided in actual balloting. AcuÃ±a received 27 of 30 first-place votes and 144 total points, with Soto receiving two first-place votes and 89 total points to...

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Harper, as expected, declines Nationals' qualifying offer

November 12, 2018, 9:26am

Nationals

Bryce Harper has declined the qualifying offer extended to him 10 days ago, an expected move that now ensures the Nationals will get draft-pick compensation if the star outfielder signs with another club this winter. The Nationals extended the offer - one year for $17.9 million, a figure predetermined by Major League Baseball - as required Nov. 2, then technically had to wait 10 days before Harper was required to make his decision. Not that his decision was ever in doubt. Harper, who made...

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"Harper's Bazaar" already proceeding as expected

November 11, 2018, 6:12pm

Nationals

"Harper's Bazaar" already proceeding as expected

Bryce Harper hasn't yet decided where he's going to play in 2019, and as far as we know, he hasn't even really begun talking to potential suitors in order to decide where he's going to play in 2019. Yet it feels like he's been a free agent far longer than the two weeks he's actually been on the open market because there's been a steady stream of Harper news making the rounds ever since the World Series concluded and the offseason officially began. This has produced no shortage of...

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Nats again will be seeking a backup first baseman

November 10, 2018, 6:47pm

Nationals

Nats again will be seeking a backup first baseman

It has become something of an annual tradition for the Nationals: find a left-handed bat who can back up Ryan Zimmerman at first base and take over on a regular basis if (and when) the veteran starter gets hurt. Clint Robinson held that job in 2015-16. Adam Lind did it in 2017. Matt Adams became the guy in 2018. And now the Nats find themselves once again looking for someone to fill that secondary-yet-important role. It's kind of a tricky thing, because ideally the player who holds this role...

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Despite losing streak, Salt River closer to clinching division title

November 12, 2018, 4:05am

Nationals

Despite losing streak, Salt River closer to clinching division title

Salt River has lost three in a row, but still has a 1 1/2-game lead over the Mesa Solar Sox for the East Division lead in the Arizona Fall League. Mesa defeated Salt River 7-2 in the Military Appreciation Game on Saturday. Carter Kieboom was the designated hitter and went 1-for-5. He is hitting .284. Catcher Tres Barrera went 0-for-4 and is batting .243. Left-hander Jordan Mills struck out three batters over two innings, allowing no runs on one hit with no walks and a balk. His ERA is...

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Looking at the market for lefty relievers

November 09, 2018, 11:22am

Nationals

Looking at the market for lefty relievers

The Nationals have acquired two players so far this offseason, and both were right-handed relievers: Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough. In doing so, they began to address one of their areas of need, restocking a bullpen that was turned over by trades this summer and free agency once the season ended. The Nats' bullpen makeover isn't complete yet, though. They may still be in the market for another right-hander who can join Rosenthal and Barraclough in setting up closer Sean Doolittle. And...

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Not many quality catchers available this winter

November 08, 2018, 12:06pm

Nationals

Not many quality catchers available this winter

If there's only one move the Nationals are 100 percent guaranteed to make this winter, it's the acquisition of a catcher. You can argue they can get by with in-house options at other positions, but you can't argue they can do it behind the plate. The only catchers currently on the organization's 40-man roster are Spencer Kieboom, Pedro Severino and Raudy Read. None is a viable No. 1 catcher in the big leagues to begin the 2019 season. (You could make a case none is really an ideal No. 2...

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If Nats want to upgrade second base, plenty of options

November 07, 2018, 6:50pm

Nationals

If Nats want to upgrade second base, plenty of options

Do the Nationals need to acquire a starting second baseman? The answer depends on your view of several players. Do you believe Howie Kendrick will come back strong from a ruptured Achilles tendon and be able to play second base at a big league level at 35? Do you believe Wilmer Difo can develop into a more consistent offensive and defensive threat? Do you believe Carter Kieboom is going to be ready to ascend from the farm system sometime in 2019 and take over as the long-term answer at the...

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Instructional league wrap-up: hitters Antuna, Garcia and Harrison

November 09, 2018, 2:25am

Nationals

Instructional league wrap-up: hitters Antuna, Garcia and Harrison

We have more updates from instructional league workouts as we turn the spotlight to the hitters. Shortstop Yasel Antuna, the Nationals' No. 8-rated prospect according to MLB.com, is recovering from Tommy John surgery, which could keep him out for about one year. Nationals hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich said Antuna did some stretching and strength training, but no baseball-related activities yet. Antuna, 19, played 87 games for low Single-A Hagerstown this summer before being shut...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": A no-no, near perfection and a journeyman's immortality

November 05, 2018, 5:37am

Nationals

What's the most memorable moment in Nationals history? Now that the Nats have been around and making memories since 2005, there are a bunch to choose from. Maybe it's Jayson Werth's walk-off home run that gave the Nationals life in the 2012 National League Division Series. Or Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout game (which I was lucky enough to see as a fan, the only game I attended in the stands that season). Not all momentous Nationals moments involve the Nationals, mind you. Sometimes, it's the...

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Free agent starting pitchers who could interest Nats

November 06, 2018, 8:19pm

Nationals

Free agent starting pitchers who could interest Nats

We've spent most of the offseason to date looking at players who already were on the Nationals' roster this year and could return next year. But now that free agency has begun, we'd be remiss if we didn't start looking at players from other clubs who could find their way to Washington in 2019. The Nationals have several needs - starting pitching, catcher, second baseman, relief pitching, backup first baseman - but let's start today with the most significant (and priciest) position. The...

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Salt River on hot streak, in first place in Arizona Fall League

November 07, 2018, 3:13am

Nationals

Salt River on hot streak, in first place in Arizona Fall League

Don't look now, but the Nationals' entrant in the Arizona Fall League is rolling. The Salt River Rafters have won four games in a row and have a three-game lead atop the East Division. The Rafters are 15-8, tied for the best record in the AFL with the Peoria Javelinas. There are only seven games remaining until the league championship on Saturday, Nov. 17. Salt River faces Peoria tonight in a showdown of the two best teams, then the Rafters have a day off Thursday. Leading the way is the...

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How much money do the Nats have to spend this winter?

November 05, 2018, 7:05pm

Nationals

How much money do the Nats have to spend this winter?

How much money do the Nationals have to spend this winter? It seems like a simple question, but the answer isn't even close to simple. Major League Baseball payroll calculations have become far more complicated than they used to be, thanks to the luxury tax (officially known as the competitive-balance tax), deferred salaries and bonus clauses that are cropping up more and more in players' contracts. But we're going to do our best to try to figure this one out here, because it's kind of an...

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Soto, Scherzer are finalists for Rookie of Year, Cy Young awards

November 05, 2018, 11:50am

Nationals

Soto, Scherzer are finalists for Rookie of Year, Cy Young awards

We won't know for another week if either won, but now we do know both Max Scherzer and Juan Soto were among the top three vote-getters for the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards. Finalists for the four major Baseball Writers' Association of America awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) were revealed this evening, setting the stage for the announcements of all the winners next week. Voting among active BBWAA members (two from each National League...

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Max Scherzer, Juan Soto named 2018 BBWAA award finalists

November 06, 2018, 7:09am

Nationals

Max Scherzer, Juan Soto named 2018 BBWAA award finalists

The finalists for the annual Baseball Writer's Association of America awards were announced Monday on MLB Network, and the Washington Nationals have two players among the honorees. Right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer is one of the finalists for the 2018 National League Cy Young award and left fielder Juan Soto is a top three finisher for the 2018 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award. Scherzer is up against strong competition for the award, facing off against New York Mets right-handed...

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Ex-Nats manager Johnson on Today's Game Era ballot for Baseball Hall of Fame

November 06, 2018, 5:14am

Nationals

Ex-Nats manager Johnson on Today's Game Era ballot for Baseball Hall of Fame

When the Winter Meetings convene next month in Las Vegas, a committee of baseball writers and historians will vote on a slate of candidates that could land a second former National in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Nationals manager Davey Johnson is one of 10 names appearing on the Today's Game Era ballot that will be considered and voted upon on Dec. 9. Any candidate receiving votes on 75 percent of the ballots cast by the 16-member Today's Game Era Committee will earn election into the...

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After "smooth" rehab, Rosenthal excited to join Nationals

November 05, 2018, 6:49am

Nationals

As much as doctors, trainers and pitching coordinators have fine-tuned the rehab process from Tommy John surgery to the point some just believe it's now routine, there are always a few surprises along the way. A hiccup, or even a setback. Maybe a few moments of trepidation from a pitcher who begins to doubt he'll be able to make it all the way back. Trevor Rosenthal insists he experienced none of that. Yes, he's surprised by it. But the veteran reliever, who just signed as a free agent with...