Out of the Park: Football playoffs and welcoming a new teammate while another leaves

Happy new year and welcome back to "Out of the Park," Nats fans! I hope everyone had a very nice holiday season as we return to the real world this week.

It would probably take a short novel to put together all of the holiday posts from the Nationals players over the break, so we'll just pick up from this week.

Outfielder Matt den Dekker happened to spend his New Year's Eve in Dallas and was able to get over to AT&T Stadium with wife Christine to watch the NFC East champion Redskins take on the rival Cowboys in the regular season finale.

Watching the NFC East champs do work in Dallas.. Go Redskins!! pic.twitter.com/wBmbl5DMps

-- Matt den Dekker (@UpperDekker) January 3, 2016

Despite already clinching the division title and resting some starters, the Redskins cruised to an easy 34-23 win. Meanwhile, earlier today, the Nats wished the Redskins good luck in their wild card game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Good luck to the @redskins in the playoffs this weekend! #FightForOldDC #HTTR pic.twitter.com/p3OSIXGQjZ

-- Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 8, 2016

You like that!

According to his latest Instragram posts, Trea Turner likes the Washington, D.C., skyline at night.

What a view! #DC

A photo posted by tvturner (@tvturner) on Jan 7, 2016 at 7:23pm PST

Bryce Harper likes Ken Griffey Jr. being elected to the Hall of Fame and also likes Griffey's signature backwards hat look.

Juniors ball cap has to be backwards on his plaque right? #HOF2016

-- Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) January 6, 2016

If Harper makes the Hall of Fame, will his plaque have his hair flip?

The National League Most Valuable Player is already looking forward to getting back to work while welcoming new National Daniel Murphy to D.C.

Welcome to DC Mr. Murphy! We are going to have some fun brotha #NatsFamily

-- Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) January 7, 2016

But as the business goes, baseball giveth and baseball taketh away. After Murphy was announced at Nationals Park, Denard Span agreed to a three-year deal with the Giants. Former Giant and current MASN Nationals analyst F.P. Santangelo expressed his well wishes to his fellow outfielder.

Congrats @thisisdspan We're gonna miss ya here but you're gonna love the bay.#Giants gettin a good one. Great player better human #Spanning

-- F.P. Santangelo (@FightinHydrant) January 8, 2016

This morning Span expressed his gratitude to Nats fans and the city of Washington, D.C.

Ok I'm ready now.. Been up for an hour west coast time. Anyhow this is to my fans and supporters in DC. From the bottom of my heart....

-- Denard Span (@thisisdspan) January 8, 2016

I wanna say thank you for an amazing 3 years. I came to DC at the right time in my career and you guys took me in with much love and I'll

-- Denard Span (@thisisdspan) January 8, 2016

Forever be grateful for that. DC will always feel like home no matter what so Even though I'm ecstatic about my new journey this is a bit

-- Denard Span (@thisisdspan) January 8, 2016

Bittersweet.. #thankyou for the love and the many memories! #spanningout

-- Denard Span (@thisisdspan) January 8, 2016

Farewell, No. 2. Keep on "Spanning" wherever you may go.