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If there's a trade to be made, Nats have outfielders to spare

January 16, 2018, 7:06pm

Though he has spent the majority of his career at second base, Howie Kendrick really has morphed into an outfielder over the last two seasons. Kendrick started 79 games in left field for the Dodgers in 2016, more than three times as many as he started at second base. And last season with the Phillies and Nationals, he started 57 games in the outfield, only 16 in the infield. We'll see where Kendrick winds up spending most of his time with the Nationals this year - there could be a need at...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Gonzalez shuts down Brew Crew at home

January 17, 2018, 8:38am

Nationals

What more can be said about the season Gio Gonzalez had in 2017? The Nationals left-hander posted one of the best seasons of his career and one of the most consistent in all of baseball last year. He finished the year 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA (the second-best of his career) and continued to prove his durability by amassing 201 innings in 32 starts. The thing about Gonzalez last year is that while he was not as flashy as Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg, he got the job done on a nightly basis....

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Nationals agree to terms with infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick

January 18, 2018, 12:10pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract with infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kendrick, 34, returns to Washington after hitting .293 with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 11 walks and 24 runs scored in 52 games for the Nationals. He was acquired from Philadelphia on July 28, just days before the 2017 non-waiver trade deadline. He hit .315...

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Nats prospects spotlight: Gutierrez and Johnson

January 18, 2018, 2:45am

Nationals

Nats prospects spotlight: Gutierrez and Johnson

Continuing insight from Arizona Fall League play and the impact that experience will have on some of the top prospects in the Nationals organization, we turn to a couple of the position players, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez and center fielder Daniel Johnson. Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera said Gutierrez bounced back from getting his hand spiked early on in AFL play to finish strong. "Kelvin had his routine and he was working very hard on it," Tejera said. "His hand got...

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Source: Kendrick returning to Nats on two-year deal

January 15, 2018, 6:45am

Nationals

Source: Kendrick returning to Nats on two-year deal

Turns out the Nationals' midseason acquisitions last summer weren't rental players after all. One month ago, they were able to re-sign reliever Brandon Kintzler. And now they're bringing back veteran utilityman Howie Kendrick. Kendrick and the Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract, a source familiar with the deal confirmed, ensuring the club has a valuable bench piece - not to mention a backup plan at both second base and in the outfield - returning for 2018 and 2019....

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With Kendrick back in fold, Nationals bench looks complete

January 15, 2018, 6:02pm

Nationals

For all the star power and success within their everyday lineup and starting rotation, the Nationals know they would not have won 97 games and run away with a division title last season if not for the performance of their bench. When injuries knocked Bryce Harper, Adam Eaton, Jayson Werth, Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor out for a minimum of five weeks apiece, how did the Nationals manage not only to stay afloat but continue to thrive? Thanks to the fill-in work of Adam Lind, Howie Kendrick,...

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Kendrick's return signals D.C. as the place to play in 2018

January 15, 2018, 4:11pm

Nationals

Kendrick's return signals D.C. as the place to play in 2018

Mid-season free agent pickups usually build their brand with a good team, then turn that into a huge payoff with another team the next year. It has happened to the Nationals over the years. It happens to almost every team that surges for a playoff spot in hopes that late free agent acquisition will make the difference between almost reaching the playoffs to definitely playing October baseball. But this offseason has been different for the Nats. Reliever Brandon Kintzler and infielder/outfielder...

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What would the Nats have needed to offer for Gerrit Cole?

January 14, 2018, 5:57pm

Nationals

What would the Nats have needed to offer for Gerrit Cole?

The Astros pulled off one of the biggest trades of the winter this weekend, finally snagging Gerrit Cole from the Pirates in exchange for four young players. The initial reaction from most: Houston didn't give up a whole lot. Joe Musgrove, Colin Moran and Michael Feliz have all spent time in the big leagues in the last two seasons, but none is considered a top-tier prospect. And the fourth player, Jason Martin, is a Double-A outfielder who was left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft and wasn't...

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Turner, Rendon rate high on MLB Network "Top 10 Right Now!"

January 13, 2018, 7:11pm

Nationals

Turner, Rendon rate high on MLB Network "Top 10 Right Now!"

MLB Network trotted out the first two episodes of its annual "Top 10 Right Now!" series last night, revealing its picks for the best shortstops and third basemen in baseball entering the 2018 season. And it shouldn't surprise you that the Nationals starter at each position wound up high on each list. Trea Turner rated as the fourth-best shortstop in the game, according to the all-encompassing computer formula known as "The Shredder" used for these shows. Only the Astros' Carlos Correra,...

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Why it won't cost Nats that much if they have to pay luxury tax

January 12, 2018, 7:33pm

Nationals

Why it won't cost Nats that much if they have to pay luxury tax

In striking one-year deals with all three of their arbitration-eligible players yesterday, the Nationals also got some more clarity on their total team payroll - and its luxury tax implications - heading into the 2018 season. Obviously these numbers could still change depending on other moves the Nats make along the way, from potential free agent signings to potential trades both before and during the season. But what does appear pretty clear at this point is that this is going to be the...

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Nats avoid arbitration with Rendon, Roark and Taylor (updated)

January 12, 2018, 9:39am

Nationals

Nats avoid arbitration with Rendon, Roark and Taylor (updated)

The announcement was delayed a bit, but the Nationals did agree to terms with all three of their arbitration-eligible players before today's 1 p.m. deadline, avoiding hearings with Anthony Rendon, Tanner Roark and Michael A. Taylor. All three players agreed to one-year contracts, the club announced more than an hour after Major League Baseball's deadline passed. Given the overload of similar deals being struck around the sport at the same time, it's not uncommon for the formal announcement...

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Nats bringing back Edwin Jackson on minor league deal

January 11, 2018, 12:02pm

Nationals

Nats bringing back Edwin Jackson on minor league deal

The Nationals are bringing back Edwin Jackson on a minor league contract, with a chance to compete for the final spot in their rotation this spring. Jackson and the Nats have agreed to terms on a deal that would pay the veteran right-hander $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster, with another $1.4 million possible in incentives, a source familiar with the contract confirmed. Though he'll get a chance to make the opening day rotation this spring, Jackson isn't guaranteed any money or...

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Nats face arbitration deadline with three key players

January 11, 2018, 5:58pm

Nationals

Nats face arbitration deadline with three key players

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...