Max Scherzer understands why everyone was concerned, from club officials to doctors to media members to Nationals fans who watched the staff ace deal with strange and seemingly significant back and neck injuries last season, right up into the World Series. Yes, he got through it all and even pitched well in Game 7 to help put the Nats in position to win their first ... read more
He did his best not to make a big deal about it during the season, but Trea Turner wasn’t ever 100 percent healthy after breaking his right index finger in early April. Yes, he returned to the Nationals lineup in late May and played nearly every day the rest of the way. And he still batted .298 with 61 extra-base hits and an .850 OPS ... read more
Though he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of acquiring a big-name player like Josh Donaldson, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo insisted today he’s more than comfortable with his team’s current options at third base. “We don’t see it as a hole. We see it as a strength,” Rizzo said during a 17-minute session with reporters at Winterfest. “We’ve got versatility. Of course, you’re not going ... read more
Like most of the Nationals, there was far more rest than post-postseason shenanigans for reliever Sean Doolittle. And considering how much Doolittle pitched down the stretch and how much the Nationals relied on him in the postseason, the left-handed definitely needed the mental floss in the formative weeks of the offseason. But as the calendar turned to December and the bulk of baseball’s roster machinations, ... read more
Who’s up for some baseball on a mid-January weekend? Yes, it’s time for Nationals Winterfest, the annual offseason gathering of players, coaches, team executives and fans to whet everybody’s appetite for the upcoming season. Not that this upcoming season is going to be difficult to get excited about. The date of this year’s event was pushed back (it was Dec. 1-2 last year), but the ... read more
The Nationals worked out 2020 contracts with Trea Turner, Roenis Elías and Joe Ross before today’s deadline, avoiding arbitration with all of their eligible players. Those three were the Nats’ only remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible players entering today, the deadline for all such players across the sport to either agree to contract terms or submit competing offers for arbitration. Turner earned by far the biggest raise ... read more
This is going to be a busy day across baseball. A lot of news is going to come trickling out over the course of many hours as players from every club either agree to terms on 2020 salaries or file for arbitration. Hey, I only said it’s going to be busy. I never said it was going to be exciting. Truthfully, this is one of ... read more
The Nationals avoided arbitration with Michael A. Taylor this evening, agreeing to a one-year contract that will pay the outfielder $3.325 million plus incentives in 2020. The deal was announced by the club; terms were confirmed by a source. Taylor was one of four Nationals who was unsigned heading into Friday’s deadline for all arbitration-eligible players and teams to either come to terms or submit ... read more
