Last week, former Nationals starter Tanner Roark got a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for two years, worth $24 million. He has pitched for the Reds and the A's. Reliever Blake Treinen has a one-year contract with the L.A. Dodgers for $10 million. This week, southpaw Fernando Abad returned to the Nats on a minor league deal and an offer to head to West Palm Beach, Fla., for 2020 spring training. Meanwhile, Gio Gonzalez is moving to the Chicago White Sox. He joins former Nats Lucas Giolito and...

The Nationals are interested in Josh Donaldson, this much we know. But how far are they willing to go to try to lure the top remaining free agent third baseman to D.C. in the hope he can fill the very large hole created by Anthony Rendon's departure? Donaldson won't come cheap. That has become obvious. The veteran slugger, who turned 34 last week, appears likely to get a four-year deal for something in the vicinity of $100 million. That's a steep price for any player at his age. Here's the...

The Nationals are retaining the vast majority of their minor league coaches from this season, but several will be in new roles in 2020. Among the changes announced by the club today: Longtime Double-A Harrisburg manager Matt LeCroy is shifting to a roving position as quality control coordinator, Triple-A Fresno pitching coach Brad Holman is taking over as minor league pitching coordinator and Billy Gardner becomes LeCroy's replacement as the manager in Harrisburg. Most everyone returns intact...

The Orioles have completed their major league coaching staff for the 2020 season. According to an industry source, the Orioles have hired former pitcher Darren Holmes as bullpen coach. The team hasn't made an announcement, but the deal is done. Holmes, 53, had served as Rockies bullpen coach since 2015. He didn't have previous experience on a team's coaching staff, but he worked in 2014 as the Braves' biomechanics pitching consultant. The Rockies replaced Holmes last month with minor league...

The Washington Nationals announced their Minor League managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2020 season on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Former Triple-A Fresno pitching coach Brad Holman will fill the role of Minor League pitching coordinator, the spot vacated by the promotion of Paul Menhart to Major League pitching coach. Michael Tejera moves from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Fresno, replacing Holman as...

How does a player who appeared in 101 games pull a disappearing act while staying on the roster? That's how it feels with Dwight Smith Jr. He's on the 40-man roster, but tends to be excluded from the outfield conversation or led late into it. Manager Brandon Hyde couldn't be pinned down on a set outfield as he handled his media obligations at the Winter Meetings. A suggestion was made that Hyde might have a better grasp of his starters now with Austin Hays flanked by Anthony Santander and...

The Nationals will extend spring training invitations to a swath of players who sign minor league contracts this winter, and among those players will be a veteran reliever who previously pitched for the organization. Left-hander Fernando Abad has agreed to terms with the Nats on a minor league deal, according to The Athletic. The 34-year-old will compete with countless others in West Palm Beach, Fla., who hope to secure the one or two spots on the opening day roster that figure to be up for...

Four days at baseball's Winter Meetings didn't cause the Orioles to scrap their plans and edit their shopping list. Nothing really changed since the team's contingent arrived at the Manchester Grand Hyatt beyond a waiver claim that barely drew notice in the industry and won't impact the roster on opening day, and two pitching selections in the Rule 5 draft that provide starting options for a rotation lacking in numbers. While multiple starters and a veteran middle infielder remain the most...

Davey Martinez has experienced World Series hangover. Mike Rizzo has seen other clubs battle it after winning a title. So the Nationals manager and general manager are already trying to establish a tone that will combat the fatigue and malaise that inevitably follows a championship season. The key message they want to deliver to their players: Be ready to go right from day one of spring training, and place importance on winning games in March and April. Martinez knows firsthand how easy it is...

The Nationals today announced promotions for a pair of critical elements in their player development staff on Wednesday, Johnny DiPuglia and Mark Scialabba. DiPuglia is now vice president, assistant general manager of international operations and Scialabba receives the title of assistant general manager of player development. DiPuglia has been the vice president of international operations since November 2015. He was also the director of Latin American operations from 2014-2015 and director of...