nationals

Boras had "preliminary" Harper talks with Nats last month

December 13, 2017, 6:59am

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Scott Boras met with Nationals ownership last month to discuss a contract extension with Bryce Harper, a meeting that obviously didn't result in the consummation of any deal to keep the star outfielder in Washington long term, but at least showed a willingness on his part to engage in talks before he becomes a free agent next winter. "We had a meeting with Washington ownership about a month ago, just for some preliminary discussions," Boras said this morning in his...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon bryce harper mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime scott boras winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Pursuit of Davis would leave Nats facing familiar closer issue

December 12, 2017, 8:08pm

Nationals

Pursuit of Davis would leave Nats facing familiar closer issue

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - That the Nationals reportedly are interested in Wade Davis is not surprising. They made a run at the reliever at last year's Winter Meetings, only to watch as he eventually was traded by the Royals to the Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler. There is one major difference for the Nats between last winter's pursuit of Davis and this winter's potential pursuit of Davis: They didn't have a closer one year ago; they do now. The July acquisition of Sean Doolittle addressed...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime sean doolittle wade davis winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Maddon on protÃ©gÃ© Martinez: "Davey is going to do a great job"

December 12, 2017, 12:33pm

Nationals

Maddon on protÃ©gÃ© Martinez: "Davey is going to do a great job"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - No matter how prepared he thinks he is, new Nationals manager Dave Martinez cannot escape one indisputable fact that will dog him until March 29: He's never managed in the major leagues. Baseball history is rife with learned men who have been unsuccessful in their first go-around at the helm of a big league club. Joe Torre finished in last place his first three seasons as Mets skipper and was fired from three jobs before he latched on with the Yankees, where he won...

Comments

Tags:

dave martinez featured_sidebar joe maddon nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel winter meeting frontstory_nationals3

Rizzo on Harper, Arrieta and more at the Winter Meetings

December 12, 2017, 12:11pm

Nationals

Rizzo on Harper, Arrieta and more at the Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The 2018 Winter Meetings are, in all likelihood, going to be the Bryce Harper Winter Meetings. With baseball's annual event just happening to be held in Las Vegas at the same time the town's most famous native professional athlete just happens to be a free agent, a circus atmosphere is pretty much expected by everyone. Unless, of course, the Nationals somehow find a way to re-sign the star right fielder to a long-term extension before then. What are the odds of that...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper jake arrieta mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Fleshing out Nats' possible interest in Marlins outfielders

December 12, 2017, 6:16am

Nationals

Fleshing out Nats' possible interest in Marlins outfielders

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Rumors are as much a part of the Winter Meetings as suite visits, shopping lists and late-night quaffing of beers. Most rumors don't pan out, and those that have legs often tire out long before they reach the finish line. But you listen to them, consider them, and then decide which of them have a shred of validity and which don't. It's kind of like tossing strands of boiled spaghetti at the wall to determine if the pasta is done. Only the strings ready to be eaten...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton bryce harper featured_sidebar juan soto michael a. taylor mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel victor robles winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Arrieta not on Nationals' radar despite Boras' push

December 12, 2017, 7:44am

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Start with a big-name free agent. Make sure he's represented by Scott Boras. Then connect them to the Nationals, specifically managing principal owner Ted Lerner. Congratulations, you've just created the perfect Winter Meetings rumor. It's happened before, it'll happen again and it did happen today when ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that Boras "is trying to engage the Nationals on Jake Arrieta." Crasnick went on to point out the obvious - the Nats already have...

Comments

Tags:

jake arrieta mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime scott boras winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nats think reduced workload will be beneficial for Wieters

December 11, 2017, 2:07pm

Nationals

Nats think reduced workload will be beneficial for Wieters

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters will be back behind the plate for the Nationals next season, having exercised his $10.5 million player option. But the guaranteed contract doesn't mean he'll carry the same workload. The numbers the veteran backstop amassed during his first season in D.C. were abysmal. He caught in 118 games as the Nats grew increasingly dissatisfied with backup Jose Lobaton's lack of offense and unusually poor defense, and had little positive to show for it....

Comments

Tags:

dave martinez jose lobaton matt wieters mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime pedro severino pete kerzel winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?

December 11, 2017, 1:33pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals are in the market for at least one experienced reliever, preferably right-handed. Whether they're willing to jump right now into a market that has quickly become the most active of any position at the Winter Meetings remains to be seen. Another veteran right-handed setup man came off the board Monday when Pat Neshek returned to the Phillies for a two-year deal worth a reported $16.25 million. That came on the heels of a pair of signings Sunday: Brandon...

Comments

Tags:

brandon kintzler bullpen dave martinez mark zuckerman matt albers mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Mike Rizzo on restocking the Nationals bench

December 11, 2017, 12:31pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - When the hits kept coming last year - when the Nationals lost key players to injury seemingly on a regular basis - the bench stepped up and made absences much easier to tolerate. Shortstop Trea Turner missed 51 games with a broken right wrist and an abdominal injury shelved backup Stephen Drew, opening the door for Wilmer Difo to prove he could play regularly. Center fielder Adam Eaton was limited to 23 games before sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee, giving Michael...

Comments

Tags:

adam lind brian goodwin featured_sidebar howie kendrick mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime pedro severino pete kerzel wilmer difo winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Rizzo suggests Nationals not looking for fifth starter

December 11, 2017, 11:59am

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It's the Winter Meetings, and it's Mike Rizzo talking, so take this all with a large grain of salt. But a few hours after arriving at the Swan and Dolphin Resort for this week's annual baseball industry gathering, the Nationals general manager suggested he's not in the market for another experienced major league starting pitcher, instead talking up the two inexperienced in-house candidates he already has in Erick Fedde and A.J. Cole. "We have great confidence in...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole erick fedde joe ross mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"

December 11, 2017, 7:48am

Nationals

Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - There is much Dave Martinez still needs to learn about his Nationals roster, and much of that won't happen until he gets a chance to see them on practice fields under the spring Florida sun, but the rookie manager was willing to admit he's already made one key lineup decision: Adam Eaton will bat leadoff in 2018. In his first media session since he was introduced as the Nationals' new manager last month, Martinez held court with reporters at the Winter Meetings for...

Comments

Tags:

adam eaton daniel murphy dave martinez mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Martinez on Harper's future: "Can I lobby right now?"

December 11, 2017, 8:28am

Nationals

Martinez on Harper's future: "Can I lobby right now?"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Dave Martinez has been the Nationals manager for about six weeks, but the mere mention of superstar right fielder Bryce Harper elicits the same reactions as a kid rushing down the steps on Christmas morning and finding just the present he wanted neatly wrapped in colorful paper under the tree. Saucer-sized eyes, unbridled excitement, a guy who can't wait to try out his new toy. Santa delivered and he couldn't be happier. In his meeting with the media at the Winter...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dave martinez featured_sidebar nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Market for relievers already being set as Winter Meetings open

December 10, 2017, 2:36pm

Nationals

Market for relievers already being set as Winter Meetings open

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Winter Meetings officially get underway this morning, but a few teams already were acting yesterday like the event had kicked into full gear. And the Nationals likely were paying close attention to what happened. With the Cubs reportedly signing Brandon Morrow and the Cardinals reportedly signing Luke Gregerson, the relief market is now starting to take shape. And so the Nats are getting a good idea what it will cost if they want (as they intend) to bolster their...

Comments

Tags:

brandon kintzler bullpen mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Grounds crew gig, mascot visit highlight Nats auction items

December 10, 2017, 12:49pm

Nationals

Grounds crew gig, mascot visit highlight Nats auction items

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Ever wonder what it would be like to help prepare the field at Nationals Park for a game? Ever wish you could have Teddy or Screech visit your school event or birthday party? Or wonder what it's like to cover the Nationals from the press box high atop the ballpark on South Capitol Street? If so, have I got a deal for you. Those are among the items available this year in Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings Charity Auction, which is now ongoing through Thursday at...

Comments

Tags:

charity auction dave martinez featured_sidebar nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel winter meetings frontstory_nationals3

Could Nationals dangle Gio Gonzalez in trade talks?

December 10, 2017, 2:32pm

Nationals

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Greetings from the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World, where baseball's Winter Meetings are underway. With Shohei Ohtani and Giancarlo Stanton's situations resolved before a host of general managers and front office types convened on this resort to talk trade and lure free agents, there's a general feeling that the proverbial floodgates could open over the next few days. Whether the Nationals will be a part of whatever occurs by the time baseball executives...

Comments

Tags:

featured_sidebar gio gonzalez mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel winter meetings frontstory_nationals2

What's on tap for the Nationals at the Winter Meetings

December 09, 2017, 3:16pm

Nationals

It's the second week of December, snow just fell around here and thousands of folks who work in the baseball industry are en route to Orlando for the next four days. Yes, it's time for the Winter Meetings, which for the fourth time in a dozen years is being held at the Swan and Dolphin Resort near Walt Disney World. Will the Nationals consider this the Happiest Place on Earth by the time they head home Thursday? As always, it depends how aggressive they intend to be during this annual event,...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Free agent dominoes may finally start to fall

December 08, 2017, 11:06am

Nationals

Free agent dominoes may finally start to fall

One of the two biggest dominoes of the hot stove league dropped Friday. The other is still standing, with the potential to topple at any moment, though not where originally expected. At which point, the rest of the baseball world should be able to proceed with the rest of the offseason. Shohei Ohtani's decision to sign with the Angels caught many by surprise, perhaps most of all the supposed frontrunners to acquire the Japanese two-way star: the Mariners, Padres, Cubs and Rangers. Those clubs...

Comments

Tags:

giancarlo stanton mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime shohei otani winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Goforth signs minor league deal with Nats

December 09, 2017, 8:58am

Nationals

Goforth signs minor league deal with Nats

The Nationals today announced that they have signed right-hander David Goforth to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. Goforth, 29, is 1-0 with a 5.94 ERA and 1.734 WHIP in 31 relief appearances with the Brewers over the past three seasons. In 2017, he threw one scoreless inning for Milwaukee, and was 3-4 with a 3.98 ERA, five saves and a 1.528 WHIP in 48 appearances out of the bullpen for Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was a seventh-round selection in the...

Comments

Tags:

david goforth featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2 nationals nationals pastime pete kerzel

Nationals face tough trade dilemma with Taylor

December 07, 2017, 7:27pm

Nationals

When Adam Eaton tore his ACL on April 28 and Michael A. Taylor once again found himself the Nationals' unlikely starting center fielder, the reaction was understandably unenthusiastic. Taylor, after all, had already been given opportunities to take over as the everyday center fielder each of the previous two seasons when the originally designated starter went down to injury (Denard Span in 2015, Ben Revere in 2016). And Taylor had failed to make the most of those opportunities, showing flashes...

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Checking in on the NL East before the Winter Meetings

December 08, 2017, 6:20am

Nationals

Checking in on the NL East before the Winter Meetings

Baseball's Winter Meetings start Monday in Orlando, and while a slow-moving market has defined the offseason so far, that doesn't mean that deals - and endless speculation about deals that aren't going to happen - won't start making headlines in the Magic Kingdom. The Nationals are the defending National League East champions with 97 victories and it would be difficult to see why they wouldn't be the favorites to win the division in 2018, thanks to a rotation that has 2017 NL Cy Young...