NASHVILLE - A report surfaced late Sunday night that closer Jonathan Papelbon had filed a grievance against the Nationals for withholding his pay during a team-imposed four-game suspension at the end of the season. FOXSports.com reported this afternoon that the Major League Baseball Players Association actually filed the grievance shortly after the Nationals announced the suspension.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo announced Papelbon's suspension on Sept. 28, a day after the veteran...
NASHVILLE - The Nationals have reportedly made it to the final four in the sweepstakes for versatile free agent Ben Zobrist. The Mets, Giants and Dodgers are the other three teams contending for Zobrist, who won the World Series with the Royals this season after coming over from the Athletics in a trade deadline move.
Multiple reports have the 34-year-old Zobrist seeking a four-year deal worth $60 million. He makes his home outside Nashville and is expected to meet with Nationals officials at...
NASHVILLE - For the second straight day, the Nationals appear to have lost out on a possible prominent bullpen target. FOXSports.com was first to report the Dodgers agreed to send two prospects to the Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman. The deal is pending a review of medical records, according to the report.
The Nationals had reportedly been in trade talks for Chapman, who pitched out of Dusty Baker's bullpen when the new Nats skipper managed in Cincinnati from 2010-2013. The Nationals'...
NASHVILLE - Fifteen days ago, the Nationals tweeted a sweet happy birthday wish to Jonathan Papelbon, who turned 35. The felicitations seemed a bit bizarre from the Nationals, but they extend such nice sentiments to all their players. The move wasn't popular with the fan base that wants Papelbon's brief tenure in Washington annulled like a weekend Vegas wedding. Just forget about it and move on. The harmonious message apparently wasn't recognized by the disgruntled closer either.
Papelbon...
NASHVILLE - Jonathan Papelbon's stay in Washington just gets messier for the Nationals by the minute. The veteran closer has reportedly filed a grievance against the Nats for withholding his salary during a team-imposed four-game suspension at the end of the 2015 season.
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com in Boston reported the story Sunday night, citing multiple major league sources.
The suspension resulted from Papelbon's dugout brawl with Bryce Harper on Sept. 28, which escalated to the reliever...
NASHVILLE - A few days ago, the projected outlook for the reconstruction of the Nationals bullpen appeared optimistic. Many believed Washington was in the driver's seat to land right-hander Darren O'Day, considered the best free agent reliever on the market after his All-Star season with the Orioles. The next step was expected to be a blockbuster deal to acquire coveted Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, solving the Jonathan Papelbon debacle.
Now, barely a few hours into baseball's Winter...
NASHVILLE - Greetings from Music City! The MASNsports.com Web team arrived to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center this afternoon, ready (or not) for a week of rumors, press conferences and baseball buzz.
Of course, it wouldn't be the Winter Meetings without some early news. Before boarding our flight, we learned that Darren O'Day had reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Orioles. However, by the time we touched down in Nashville and checked into our hotel, O'Day had...
The next few days in Nashville figure to be fast and furious as baseball's brass converges on the famous Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for the annual Winter Meetings. You're likely to find Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo in the middle of some aggressive wheeling and dealing, with several important decisions on the horizon following a disappointing 2015 campaign.
Chief among the Nationals' concerns this offseason was overhauling the bullpen after a dreadful second...
Last winter, the Nationals outbid everyone, landing the majors' top free agent starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, with a blockbuster $210 million contract. A year later, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo apparently is nearing a deal with the top reliever on the market.
Multiple reports have the Nationals as the frontrunner to sign right-hander Darren O'Day. The submariner went 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 65 1/3 innings in 68 appearances for the Orioles as their chief set-up man...
The Orioles had a very busy day Wednesday, from officially announcing they traded for Mark Trumbo and C.J. Riefenhauser to acquiring catcher Francisco Pena from Kansas City to tendering contracts to eight arbitration-eligible players.
However, the team did not tender contracts to three arbitration-eligible players: Steve Johnson, Paul Janish and David Lough. All three are now free agents.
Reflecting on last season, one of the most exciting moments of the first half was thanks to Lough. The...
The non-tender deadline has come and gone, and seven of eight arbitration-eligible players were tendered contracts. The first to reach an agreement? First baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore.
While the 28-year-old saw much of his playing time cut this season, he was part of one of my favorite things in baseball: a position player pitching.
As you can probably imagine, I watch a lot of baseball games, which means I see a lot of odd things throughout the course of a season. However, a position player...
Later this afternoon or evening, you might receive the honor of snapping the turkey's wishbone. So instead of wishing for world peace or winning Powerball, why not direct your holiday intentions toward the Nationals, who could use some help this offseason. Here are some ideas for the Nationals' wishes as you square off with your brother or sister in mom's kitchen with wishbone in hand.
1. Get rid of "Turkey of the Year" Jonathan Papelbon: Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said recently...
Happy Turkey Day, Nats Nation! Or, as I like to call it, Happy Stuffing Day! Beyond all of the food, there are so many different people and things for which I'm grateful, including my family, friends, job and - of course - the wonderful Nats fans who interact with us every day on social media, MASNsports.com and more.
I know you may just be a few hours away from digging in, so without further ado, here's our #TBT moment of the week. We know there are few things you're more thankful for this...
Happy Thanksgiving, Birdland! I hope that your holiday is filled with turkey, mashed potatoes and - if you're like me - literally stuffing yourself with stuffing.
I know you've got some pie to get to, so we'll get right to our #TBT moment of the week. It was a late May game, and Miguel Gonzalez was throwing a gem. He allowed just one earned run while striking out six over eight great innings. However, it was just a 1-1 game by the time he exited.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles had...
On Sept. 3, the Nationals were still in striking distance of the Mets for the division lead and the offense was finally clicking with Ryan Zimmerman in the midst of a red-hot streak. At that point, Zimmerman, who had played 34 fewer games than Bryce Harper, had driven in 71 runs, just eight behind the eventual National League MVP's team-leading 79 RBIs.
Four days later, an oblique strain ended Zimmerman's season.
"If I can stay on the field, I can be productive," Zimmerman said on MLB...
When Matt Williams was fired as Nationals manager, his entire staff was also informed that their contracts were not being renewed. However, shortly after, general manager Mike Rizzo made it clear that some coaches were welcome back if the new manager wanted their services.
This morning, the Nationals announced that Bob Henley will coach third base on Dusty Baker's staff in 2016, assuming the same position he has held the previous two seasons in Washington. Last week, Baker chose Rick Schu,...
Hearing the names associated with Bryce Harper's historic National League Most Valuable Player season was like touring through Cooperstown. Only two players 22 or younger had a better OPS than Harper's major league-leading .460 mark - Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx. The Nationals slugger became the youngest player in the history of game to smash 42 homers and draw 124 walks. The previous youngest was Babe Ruth, arguably the greatest player ever, at 25 in 1920.
Harper also became...
The Nationals may not have to look far to solve some of their bullpen issues this winter. Darren O'Day is widely considered the best free agent reliever available after making his first All-Star team with the Orioles in 2015. ESPN.com reports the Nats and Dodgers are chasing O'Day harder than any other ballclubs, though the Braves, Tigers and Red Sox are also reportedly in the mix for the right-hander's services.
O'Day went 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 65 1/3 innings in 68...
Without a doubt, the Nationals bullpen has the most questions on the team's roster this winter. General manager Mike Rizzo's decisions with his core of relievers begins with whether to forge forward or part ways with veteran right-handers Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen after stormy conclusions to both of their seasons.
Right-hander Casey Janssen had a nightmare of a year and the Nationals declined his 2016 option, making him a free agent. Left-hander Matt Thornton also entered free agency...
The Nationals can't swing another blockbuster deal for a top starting pitcher this offseason. Or can they?
Coming off 2014, where their rotation led the National League, the Nats showed an ultra-aggressive approach by signing Max Scherzer to record $210 million contract for a right-hander.
That move bumped 15-game winner Tanner Roark out of the starting five. But with right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister likely heading elsewhere in free agency, Roark is seemingly set to resume his...
