Worley among flurry of cuts that bring Nats roster to 27

Worley among flurry of cuts that bring Nats roster to 27
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals moved significantly closer to finalizing their opening day roster this morning, cutting six players to bring the total number of players left in big league camp to 27 on the penultimate day of spring training. Most significant among the moves was the unconditional release of right-hander Vance Worley, who was competing for a spot in the bullpen as a long reliever. The Nationals also optioned right-handers A.J. Cole and Trevor Gott to Triple-A Syracuse and...
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Nats have three final decisions to make before opening day

Nats have three final decisions to make before opening day
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have wrapped up the home portion of their spring training schedule, with only two road games left on the docket before they leave Florida: Today against the Cardinals in Jupiter (note the early 12:05 p.m. start) and Thursday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. They still have some things to sort out, though, before heading north for good. So let's run through those final decisions ... WHO'S THE CLOSER? You've heard everything you need to hear about this...
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Robinson placed on waivers, heads home to mull future

Robinson placed on waivers, heads home to mull future
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Clint Robinson had six weeks to prepare for the news he didn't make the Nationals opening day roster. He all but knew it when the team signed Adam Lind - a carbon-copy of himself as a player, just with more of a track record of success, not to mention a guaranteed contract - on the eve of spring training reporting day. That didn't lessen the sting this afternoon, though, when Robinson officially got the word. He has been placed on waivers, and is now en route with his...
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Strong return for Roark and Murphy; Nats make five cuts

Strong return for Roark and Murphy; Nats make five cuts
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Dusty Baker didn't know what he could reasonably expect today from Tanner Roark, considering the right-hander hadn't pitched in Nationals uniform since March 10 and didn't get regular work while away from camp during the World Baseball Classic. Suffice it to say Baker was more than pleased with what he wound up seeing from Roark: 5 1/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball in a much sharper-than-expected performance given the circumstances. "That's a tribute to...
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Where the roster stands with nine days to go

Where the roster stands with nine days to go
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We are now nine days from opening day, and it's time for the Nationals to start making those hard decisions they've been putting off all spring. We may even get a few of them today, now that yesterday's split-squad day-night doubleheader in two different towns is over, negating the need for extra bodies in big league camp. But before anything goes down, let's take a look at who exactly still is here. This is the spring roster as it currently stands, with asterisks...
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Nationals trim roster with four cuts

Nationals trim roster with four cuts
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals made another round of cuts today, reassigning left-hander Braulio Lara, catcher Spencer Kieboom, and infielders Neftali Soto and Grant Green to minor league camp. None of those moves will come as a shock to anyone, but the cuts do move the Nationals closer to making the tougher decisions that are looming in the near future. Their spring roster is now down to 43. Lara made seven appearances, giving up five runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He'll likely...
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Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?

Could Nats stand pat and field competitive 25-man roster?
It has now been 41 days since the Nationals last added or subtracted a player from their 40-man roster. (It was the Danny Espinosa trade to the Angels, for those wondering.) That's an awfully prolonged period of radio silence for any major league club, but the Nats aren't alone in this regard. It's been an unusually slow-developing offseason across baseball, with a bunch of prominent free agents still unemployed even though we're closing in on three weeks til pitchers and catchers report...
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Dusty Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions

Dusty Baker explains final NLDS roster decisions
The Nationals' decision to carry only seven relievers with a six-man bench for the National League Division Series boiled down their opponent for this first round of the playoffs and the fact that several of their position players are still dealing with nagging ailments. Manager Dusty Baker said the Dodgers' left-handed-laden lineup necessitated the carrying of three lefties in his NLDS bullpen. And with Daniel Murphy (buttocks), Bryce Harper (thumb), Jayson Werth (back), Ryan Zimmerman...
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Nats go with seven relievers for NLDS (Roark starting Game 2)

Nats go with seven relievers for NLDS (Roark starting Game 2)
The Nationals' finalized roster for the National League Division Series includes only seven relievers but six bench players, not to mention several notable names left out altogether. For their best-of-five series with the Dodgers, the Nationals opted to carry only 11 total pitchers. That leaves a seven-man bullpen of closer Mark Melancon; right-handers Shawn Kelley, Blake Treinen and Reynaldo Lopez; and left-handers Marc Rzepczynski, Sammy Solis and Oliver Perez. Among those left out of the...
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