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Nats face arbitration deadline with three key players

January 11, 2018, 5:58pm

There has been precious little news this winter, but there was some news yesterday with Edwin Jackson's return on a minor league deal. And there will be news today. Not huge news, but at this point, who are we to complain? Today marks the deadline for all major league clubs and all arbitration-eligible players to either agree to terms on their 2018 contracts or else formally file competing offers to league headquarters, which then will set arbitration hearing dates to settle their cases. What...

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Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue

January 11, 2018, 12:17pm

Nationals

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue

We have more insight from Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera on the battery of Nationals pitchers and catchers employed in the Arizona Fall League this season. Right-hander Dakota Bacus appeared in eight games and 10 1/3 innings for the Solar Sox. Although he logged a 5.23 ERA in Arizona, he had an amazing year through two levels for the Nationals. Bacus combined to go 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA with five saves between high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg over 23 games. He struck...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Harper and Trout put on a show in L.A.

January 10, 2018, 7:53am

Nationals

As we continue our Throwback Thursday posts, we'll defer to Bob Carpenter and his handy-dandy scorebook for this week's memorable moment from last season. We rarely get to see two of the best players in baseball go head to head, with Bryce Harper playing in the National League East and Mike Trout in the American League West. But the stars aligned - so to speak - in 2017 as the former MVPs met in, where else, the City of Angels for a two-game set. And, boy, did they put on a show from the...

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Thursday morning Nats Q&A

January 10, 2018, 7:09pm

Nationals

It continues to be a quiet offseason for the Nationals. (Though to be more accurate, it continues to be a quiet offseason for nearly every franchise in the sport.) The good news is that we are inching closer to baseball season. Pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach in a mere 34 days. So let's take some time this morning to answer your burning questions about the Nats. Ask about what moves they still may make before the start of spring training. Ask about players already on the...

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Nats need to figure out in 2018 if Robles is part of plan in 2019

January 09, 2018, 6:34pm

Nationals

Nats need to figure out in 2018 if Robles is part of plan in 2019

Fifteen games and 28 plate appearances is hardly enough sample size to make legitimate evaluations of a young ballplayer. And yet even in his brief, end-of-season stint with the Nationals, Victor Robles turned a whole lot of heads. It was impossible not to notice the 20-year-old outfielder, who dazzled in his performance, in his athleticism and in his composure following his September promotion from Double-A Harrisburg. Heck, the Nationals were so impressed themselves that they included him on...

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Do the Nats need a No. 5 starter - or a No. 3 starter?

January 07, 2018, 7:12pm

Nationals

Do the Nats need a No. 5 starter - or a No. 3 starter?

The Nationals need a fifth starter. Or do they? It's easy to look at the current state of the rotation and conclude there's a gaping hole behind the otherwise strong quartet of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. Joe Ross won't return from Tommy John surgery until July at best. Erick Fedde and A.J. Cole are unproven and/or uninspiring from what we've seen of each so far. And Edwin Jackson is an unsigned free agent, not to mention the ultimate journeyman who keeps...

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Nats still need bullpen help beyond the big three

January 08, 2018, 8:13pm

Nationals

Nats still need bullpen help beyond the big three

The Nationals bullpen will enter the 2018 season in far better shape than it did a year ago. Lest anyone forget the open competition to be the closer between Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover. That won't be an issue this time, not with Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler all back in the late-inning roles they inherited (and thrived in) following their July acquisitions. But the Nats bullpen doesn't exactly look pristine beyond that trio. The loss of Matt Albers - who...

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Nationals to host 2018 Racing Presidents audition

January 09, 2018, 9:25am

Nationals

You love them. You recognize them around town. You have your favorite (George for this particular blogger). And you cheer for them during every fourth inning of a Nationals home game. And now, you can be one of them. That's right, the Nationals are hosting auditions for the 2018 Racing Presidents, meaning you can be the next George, Tom, Abe or Teddy! Those who wish to fill the running shoes of the Racing Presidents during this upcoming season will have a chance to "run for office" during...

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What other franchises can match Nats' playoff heartbreak?

January 06, 2018, 7:43pm

Nationals

What other franchises can match Nats' playoff heartbreak?

There are many different kinds of miseries in sports. There's the misery that comes from repeated losing year in and year out, as any fan of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns can attest. There's the misery that comes from repeatedly coming oh-so-close to winning the big one, as any fan of the Buffalo Bills can attest. And then there's the misery that comes from repeatedly reaching the playoffs and then finding new ways to squander those opportunities, as any fan of the Kansas...

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Nationals announce 2018 promotional schedule

January 08, 2018, 7:08am

Nationals

Single game tickets on sale March 1 at 12 p.m. Following the reveal of select promotional items on the team's Twitter account (@nationals), the Washington Nationals released the team's 2018 promotional calendar online at nationals.com/Promotions! "This season we have exciting offerings for fans of all ages and interests. From our expanded giveaway lineup for our younger fans - featuring a kids giveaway each month of the season - to more local College Days, Theme Nights and special-ticket...

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Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero

January 08, 2018, 1:35am

Nationals

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Kyle McGowin and Jimmy Cordero

The spotlight is shining now on a pair of Nationals prospects that pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Right-hander Kyle McGowin notched three wins in six starts for the Mesa. He recorded 27 strikeouts with no walks. His pitching coach in the AFL, Michael Tejera, said McGowin did well for himself as he prepares for 2018. The 26-year-old McGowin throws a fastball, slider and changeup. "Kyle has three pitches. All three pitches were working for him," Tejera said. "He was...

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Soccer stadium opening sets up big All-Star week in D.C.

January 05, 2018, 9:07am

Nationals

Soccer stadium opening sets up big All-Star week in D.C.

The Nationals have known for a while now they'd be getting new neighbors down the street from their ballpark. Now they know when those neighbors officially will move in: One day before the beginning of All-Star festivities on South Capitol Street. D.C. United will play its first Major League Soccer game at the brand-new Audi Field on July 14 after spending the season's first 4 1/2 months traversing the country playing 12 road matches and two home matches at other venues in the Washington area...

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Nats like Realmuto, but not if Miami asks for top prospects

January 04, 2018, 5:07pm

Nationals

Nats like Realmuto, but not if Miami asks for top prospects

It's no secret the Nationals want to get better production from their catchers in 2018 than they did in 2017. Not that it would be easy to get worse production. Nationals catchers - which means almost entirely Matt Wieters and Jose Lobaton - collectively hit .208 with a .275 on-base percentage, .319 slugging percentage and .594 OPS last season. They ranked 28th, 29th, 30th and 30th in the majors in each of those categories, respectively. So there's basically nowhere to go but up. The issue at...

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Nats pitchers and catchers set to report Feb. 14

January 04, 2018, 8:46am

Nationals

Nats pitchers and catchers set to report Feb. 14

Need a little something to warm you up on this most frigid day of the winter? Here's some news that might do the trick: Spring training begins in 41 days. The Nationals announced their official reporting dates this afternoon, at which point we learned there are fewer than six weeks to go until we'll be seeing and hearing the sights and sounds of the spring in West Palm Beach. Pitchers and catchers will report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Feb. 14, with position players set to report...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Harper and Zimmerman slam Braves

December 28, 2017, 5:50am

Nationals

Happy 2018, Nationals fans! As the calendar flips to a new year, we're that much closer baseball returning. The countdown to pitchers and catchers reporting to West Palm Beach is winding down. For our first 2018 Throwback Thursday moment as part of our "Nationals Classics" airing on MASN, we're taking you back to a grand old time down in Atlanta from April 19, as Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman put on a show. Harper, who continued his torrid start to the season, homered in each of his first...

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Looking at stat projections for the Nats pitching staff

January 03, 2018, 6:05pm

Nationals

Looking at stat projections for the Nats pitching staff

Yesterday we looked at FanGraphs' Steamer projections for everyone in the Nationals lineup to begin the 2018 season. Today we'll look at the projections for the prominent members of the Nationals' pitching staff ... MAX SCHERZER Actual 2017 stats: 16-6, 2.51 ERA, 200.2 IP, 268 SO, 0.90 WHIP, 6.0 WAR Steamer 2018 projection: 15-9, 3.38 ERA, 207 IP, 257 SO, 1.09 WHIP, 5.0 WAR Comment: While these numbers are still very good, if they came to fruition Scherzer would end up with his worst ERA...

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Looking at stat projections for the Nats lineup

January 02, 2018, 6:48pm

Nationals

Looking at stat projections for the Nats lineup

The 2018 Nationals are going to look a lot like the 2017 Nationals. With only a handful of exceptions, the same group of players that won 97 games last season is going to be back and making another run at it this season. So while many other clubs' fortunes will be predicated in large part on how much they improved their roster during the offseason, the Nats' fortunes probably boil down more to this question: How much better (or worse) will their returning players be? We won't know the...

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Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Ben Braymer

January 03, 2018, 4:28am

Nationals

Nats pitching prospect spotlight: Ben Braymer

Left-hander Ben Braymer made the move from short-season Single-A Auburn to low Single-A Hagerstown in 2017 and got to work a simulated game against Nationals hitters prior to the National League Division Series versus the Cubs at Nationals Park The Auburn product went 5-2 with 3.99 ERA in 65 1/3 innings over 13 games. Braymer, 23, struck out 76 batters and walked only 21 on the season. He surrendered only four homers. I spoke with his teammate, right-hander Gabe Klobosits, about the experience,...

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Nationals New Year's resolutions

December 31, 2017, 10:21am

Nationals

Some good things happened in 2017. Some bad things happened, too. No matter how you felt about the previous year, everyone can agree we all want to strive to be better in the new year. That applies to the Nationals, as well. And so without further ado, here are the Nats' resolutions for 2018, which every member of the club was nice enough to share with me for publication (as far as you know) ... BRYCE HARPER: No injuries of consequence in a contract year. MICHAEL A. TAYLOR: Take nothing for...

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Will new year inject some life into ice-cold free agent market?

January 01, 2018, 5:30pm

Nationals

Will new year inject some life into ice-cold free agent market?

The new year has arrived. But does that mean all those free agents who are still out there will start picking their employers for 2018? It's been a really slow hot stove league so far. Aside from the usual excitement right before, during and right after the Winter Meetings, there has been precious little action across baseball. And that was especially true over the holiday break, which saw Wade Davis sign with the Rockies, a couple of third-tier relievers sign deals and nothing else. It's not...