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Does Martinez hiring signal an analytical shift for Nationals?

November 02, 2017, 10:17pm

The Nationals have never been confused for a progressive, analytics-first organization. These aren't the Astros or the Dodgers or the Cubs or the Rays. But neither have the Nats been stuck in old-school ways. They may have taken the slow-and-steady route over nearly a decade, but they do utilize numbers and have implemented them into their daily and long-term decisions. General manager Mike Rizzo, a scout's scout if ever there was one, is just as quick nowadays to mention a player's WAR,...

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Minor meeting turned into major moment for Martinez

November 04, 2017, 3:46am

Nationals

Minor meeting turned into major moment for Martinez

New Nationals manager Dave Martinez played in the major leagues for 16 seasons. But the man that he worked with for 12 seasons saw him in the minor leagues for the first time some 34 years ago when Martinez was just 18. Current Cubs manager Joe Maddon had spotted Martinez when the outfielder began his minor league career playing for the short-season Single-A Geneva Cubs. Maddon managed in the Angels farm system from 1981 to 1986. "The first time I ever met Joe was in 1983 in instructional...

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Nationals hire well-regarded hitting coach Kevin Long

November 02, 2017, 2:23pm

Nationals

Dave Martinez's inaugural staff with the Nationals will include at least one experienced, well-regarded coach. Kevin Long, who has a long list of supporters after a decade with the Yankees and Mets, has been hired as the Nationals' new hitting coach, the club announced this evening. Long, 50, becomes the first member of Martinez's staff, bringing instant credibility and experience to the first-time manager's coaching roster, with other key positions expected to be filled over the next week...

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New managers bring change to National League East landscape

November 03, 2017, 12:07pm

Nationals

New managers bring change to National League East landscape

The National League East has three rookie managers - Dave Martinez in Washington, Gabe Kapler in Philadelphia and Mickey Callaway in New York - and here's a look at what the NL East teams will be up to this offseason: Atlanta: The Braves are looking for a replacement to make the roster decisions with general manager John Coppolella leaving because of a controversy involving international signing rules. ... The Braves need to fortify their bullpen and find a power bat. ... Their rebuilding...

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Four years later, Nats hand over the reins to Dave Martinez

November 02, 2017, 11:45am

Nationals

Four years later, Nats hand over the reins to Dave Martinez

Mike Rizzo had the opportunity to hire Dave Martinez four years ago. The Nationals needed a new manager following Davey Johnson's planned departure, and the former major league outfielder - at that point still bench coach for the Rays - was among the candidates Rizzo interviewed before selecting Matt Williams. Rizzo again had the opportunity to hire Martinez two years ago. The Nationals again needed a new manager following Williams' firing, and Martinez now had the experience of helping lead...

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Nats "optimistic" Murphy will be healthy by opening day (updated)

November 02, 2017, 10:36am

Nationals

Nats "optimistic" Murphy will be healthy by opening day (updated)

Buried amid the Nationals' latest managerial change was the news that one of the club's most important players - Daniel Murphy - needed significant knee surgery at season's end. And though team officials believe the All-Star second baseman will be fully healed well before the start of the 2018 season, they can't definitively say that just yet. Murphy had debridement and microfracture surgery two weeks ago to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his right knee. The procedure, which...

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Great in regular season, Gonzalez hit familiar bump in October

November 01, 2017, 1:00pm

Nationals

Great in regular season, Gonzalez hit familiar bump in October

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Gio Gonzalez, who enjoyed perhaps the best regular season of his career but once again struggled in October. PLAYER REVIEW: GIO GONZALEZ Age on opening day 2018: 32 How acquired: Traded from Athletics with Robert Gilliam for A.J. Cole, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock, December 2011 MLB service time: 8 years, 162 days 2017 salary: $12 million Contract...

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Martinez's first goal: reaching out to roster to build relationships

November 02, 2017, 10:55am

Nationals

Martinez's first goal: reaching out to roster to build relationships

A key component that new Nationals manager Dave Martinez believes is important to a successful and cohesive clubhouse is how players feel before and after games. How he interacts with those players on the roster can go a long way in the final product put on the field. "I'm actually excited to talk to all of them," Martinez said. "To me, there are 25 guys on the roster, I utilize all 25 guys. the 25th man has an important job. He's going to be put in a moment where he's going to help us...

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With dominant second half, Strasburg reached new heights

October 31, 2017, 11:21am

Nationals

With dominant second half, Strasburg reached new heights

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Stephen Strasburg, who put together the best season of his career and capped it with a dominant postseason performance. PLAYER REVIEW: STEPHEN STRASBURG Age on opening day 2018: 29 How acquired: First-round pick, 2009 draft MLB service time: 7 years, 118 days 2017 salary: $15 million Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2018, $35 million in 2019, $25 million...

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#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Strasburg extends scoreless streak on Clinchmas

October 31, 2017, 9:50am

Nationals

With the conclusion of the World Series, baseball's offseason is officially underway. We know Nationals fans will be craving baseball while waiting 3 1/2 months until pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach in February, so we're bringing back our Throwback Thursday (#TBT) posts and combining them with our "Nationals Classics" series, which will air memorable moments in Nats history on MASN throughout the offseason. Each week, we will have a #TBT moment from the 2017 season to look...

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Robles No. 1 in Baseball America's top 10 Nats prospects list

November 01, 2017, 7:35am

Nationals

Robles No. 1 in Baseball America's top 10 Nats prospects list

Baseball America has released its top 10 Nationals prospects for 2018 and, to no surprise, the No. 1 prospect is center fielder Victor Robles. Robles is also No. 8 overall in the publication's Major League Baseball top 100 prospects list. This is the first time that Robles has been listed as the top Nationals prospect after right-hander Lucas Giolito held the top spot for three years. Giolito was traded with two other arms for center fielder Adam Eaton in December 2016. Baseball America noted...

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Citing embracement of analytics, Nats hire Dave Martinez

October 30, 2017, 8:17am

Nationals

Citing embracement of analytics, Nats hire Dave Martinez

Citing the way he "embraces the analytical side of the game" and what they believe he'll "bring to our clubhouse and our dugout," the Nationals this morning officially announced the hiring of Dave Martinez as their seventh manager in 14 seasons. Martinez, who agreed to terms with the Nats on a contract Sunday, was given a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, the club announced. The 53-year-old former outfielder spent the last 10 seasons as Joe Maddon's bench coach, first...

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Despite nagging ailments, Scherzer had another dominant year

October 30, 2017, 8:48pm

Nationals

Despite nagging ailments, Scherzer had another dominant year

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Max Scherzer, who despite some minor injuries along the way pitched well enough to make a case for his second straight Cy Young Award. PLAYER REVIEW: MAX SCHERZER Age on opening day 2018: 33 How acquired: Signed as free agent, January 2015 MLB service time: 9 years, 79 days 2017 salary: $15 million Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2018, $35 million in...

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Martinez has right pedigree, but Nats are taking a chance

October 29, 2017, 11:00pm

Nationals

Martinez has right pedigree, but Nats are taking a chance

Anyone the Nationals has ever hired to be their manager had some kind of uncertainty surrounding him. Manny Acta had worked his way up the coaching and managerial ladder for 20 years, but had never done it on the big stage before the Nats gave him his opportunity. Jim Riggleman was a good X's and O's guy during a ballgame, but wasn't known for being a strong presence in the clubhouse. Davey Johnson had won a World Series, but that was 25 years earlier and he hadn't been in a major league...

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Source: Nationals have three-year deal with Dave Martinez

October 29, 2017, 7:04am

Nationals

The Nationals have an agreement in place with Dave Martinez to become the club's seventh manager, and despite his lack of experience they'll be giving him more job security than any of their previous six skippers. Martinez and the Nats have agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. A formal announcement isn't likely to come until later this week, after the World Series ends. Martinez emerged over the weekend as the...

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Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)

October 30, 2017, 5:49am

Nationals

Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)

Right-hander Brad Peacock made a big splash in the World Series in Game 3, recording a save with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He also appeared in the dramatic Game 5 last night, allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. If the name sounded familiar, you are correct. Peacock was a 41st-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2006. He pitched for the Nats in 2011 and went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He has pitched 91 games with the Astros since 2013. Peacock remembered how the Nationals treated him...

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Nationals name Dave Martinez field manager

October 30, 2017, 7:20am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals named Dave Martinez as manager on Monday, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year that makes him the seventh field manager in Nationals history. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Martinez, 53, joins the Nationals for what will be his 30th season in professional baseball. A 16-year Major League outfielder, Martinez has been a Major League coach for the last 10 seasons, serving as...

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Given opportunity, Difo stepped up and delivered in 2017

October 28, 2017, 9:03pm

Nationals

Given opportunity, Difo stepped up and delivered in 2017

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Wilmer Difo, who upon being given a chance to play regularly showed off some dynamic skills and an excellent glove. PLAYER REVIEW: WILMER DIFO Age on opening day 2018: 25 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, June 2010 MLB service time: 1 year, 98 days 2017 salary: $537,800 Contract status: Under team control through 2019, arbitration-eligible in 2020,...

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Is Lind willing to return to Nats and serve as top bench bat again?

October 27, 2017, 9:11pm

Nationals

Is Lind willing to return to Nats and serve as top bench bat again?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Adam Lind, who was signed on the eve of spring training but proved to be a vital piece off the bench this season. PLAYER REVIEW: ADAM LIND Age on opening day 2018: 34 How acquired: Signed as free agent, February 2017 MLB service time: 10 years, 58 days 2017 salary: $1 million (made an additional $800,000 for playing in at least 110 games). Contract status: $5...

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Nationals interview Farrell; no contact yet with Girardi

October 27, 2017, 10:05am

Nationals

The Nationals interviewed one available World Series-winning manager today, but have yet to contact the other prominent name who also fits that description. John Farrell, fired two weeks ago by the Red Sox, formally met today with general manager Mike Rizzo and members of the Nationals ownership group, a source familiar with the process confirmed. Farrell becomes the third known candidate for the job, along with Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez (who interviewed Thursday and is considered among...