Great in regular season, Gonzalez hit familiar bump in October

Great in regular season, Gonzalez hit familiar bump in October
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Gio Gonzalez, who enjoyed perhaps the best regular season of his career but once again struggled in October. PLAYER REVIEW: GIO GONZALEZ Age on opening day 2018: 32 How acquired: Traded from Athletics with Robert Gilliam for A.J. Cole, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock, December 2011 MLB service time: 8 years, 162 days 2017 salary: $12 million Contract...
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With dominant second half, Strasburg reached new heights

With dominant second half, Strasburg reached new heights
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Stephen Strasburg, who put together the best season of his career and capped it with a dominant postseason performance. PLAYER REVIEW: STEPHEN STRASBURG Age on opening day 2018: 29 How acquired: First-round pick, 2009 draft MLB service time: 7 years, 118 days 2017 salary: $15 million Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2018, $35 million in 2019, $25 million...
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Despite nagging ailments, Scherzer had another dominant year

Despite nagging ailments, Scherzer had another dominant year
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Max Scherzer, who despite some minor injuries along the way pitched well enough to make a case for his second straight Cy Young Award. PLAYER REVIEW: MAX SCHERZER Age on opening day 2018: 33 How acquired: Signed as free agent, January 2015 MLB service time: 9 years, 79 days 2017 salary: $15 million Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2018, $35 million in...
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Citing embracement of analytics, Nats hire Dave Martinez

Citing embracement of analytics, Nats hire Dave Martinez
Citing the way he "embraces the analytical side of the game" and what they believe he'll "bring to our clubhouse and our dugout," the Nationals this morning officially announced the hiring of Dave Martinez as their seventh manager in 14 seasons. Martinez, who agreed to terms with the Nats on a contract Sunday, was given a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, the club announced. The 53-year-old former outfielder spent the last 10 seasons as Joe Maddon's bench coach, first...
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Martinez has right pedigree, but Nats are taking a chance

Martinez has right pedigree, but Nats are taking a chance
Anyone the Nationals has ever hired to be their manager had some kind of uncertainty surrounding him. Manny Acta had worked his way up the coaching and managerial ladder for 20 years, but had never done it on the big stage before the Nats gave him his opportunity. Jim Riggleman was a good X's and O's guy during a ballgame, but wasn't known for being a strong presence in the clubhouse. Davey Johnson had won a World Series, but that was 25 years earlier and he hadn't been in a major league...
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Source: Nationals have three-year deal with Dave Martinez

Source: Nationals have three-year deal with Dave Martinez
The Nationals have an agreement in place with Dave Martinez to become the club's seventh manager, and despite his lack of experience they'll be giving him more job security than any of their previous six skippers. Martinez and the Nats have agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. A formal announcement isn't likely to come until later this week, after the World Series ends. Martinez emerged over the weekend as the...
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Given opportunity, Difo stepped up and delivered in 2017

Given opportunity, Difo stepped up and delivered in 2017
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Wilmer Difo, who upon being given a chance to play regularly showed off some dynamic skills and an excellent glove. PLAYER REVIEW: WILMER DIFO Age on opening day 2018: 25 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, June 2010 MLB service time: 1 year, 98 days 2017 salary: $537,800 Contract status: Under team control through 2019, arbitration-eligible in 2020,...
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Is Lind willing to return to Nats and serve as top bench bat again?

Is Lind willing to return to Nats and serve as top bench bat again?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Adam Lind, who was signed on the eve of spring training but proved to be a vital piece off the bench this season. PLAYER REVIEW: ADAM LIND Age on opening day 2018: 34 How acquired: Signed as free agent, February 2017 MLB service time: 10 years, 58 days 2017 salary: $1 million (made an additional $800,000 for playing in at least 110 games). Contract status: $5...
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Nationals interview Farrell; no contact yet with Girardi

Nationals interview Farrell; no contact yet with Girardi
The Nationals interviewed one available World Series-winning manager today, but have yet to contact the other prominent name who also fits that description. John Farrell, fired two weeks ago by the Red Sox, formally met today with general manager Mike Rizzo and members of the Nationals ownership group, a source familiar with the process confirmed. Farrell becomes the third known candidate for the job, along with Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez (who interviewed Thursday and is considered among...
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Nats expect healthy Eaton to be year-long force in 2018

Nats expect healthy Eaton to be year-long force in 2018
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Adam Eaton, who impressed in his first month with the Nats before suffering a season-ending knee injury. PLAYER REVIEW: ADAM EATON Age on opening day 2018: 29 How acquired: Traded from White Sox for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Dane Dunning, December 2016 MLB service time: 5 years, 30 days 2017 salary: $4 million Contract status: Signed for $6 million in...
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Cards hire Maddux; Rendon and Taylor Gold Glove finalists

Cards hire Maddux; Rendon and Taylor Gold Glove finalists
In electing last week not to bring back Dusty Baker as manager, the Nationals also informed their entire coaching staff their fates would not be determined until a new skipper was hired. Thus, those six men were free to talk to other clubs in the interim and pursue any opportunities made available to them. Today, Mike Maddux seized an opportunity. The Nationals' popular pitching coach of the last two seasons has taken that role with the Cardinals, ensuring his former club will have another...
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Suddenly available, Girardi could be in mix for Nationals job

Suddenly available, Girardi could be in mix for Nationals job
If the Nationals want an accomplished manager with postseason success already on his resume, one of the biggest names out there just became available in surprising fashion. Joe Girardi, who won the 2009 World Series and three more playoff series for the Yankees since, was let go this morning by the club that employed him the last 10 seasons, immediately making the 53-year-old the hottest managerial candidate on the open market. Whether that makes him the hottest candidate for the Nats' open...
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Can Nats convince Kendrick to return as bench player in 2018?

Can Nats convince Kendrick to return as bench player in 2018?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Howie Kendrick, a trade deadline acquisition who delivered for two months but then saw little action in the playoffs. PLAYER REVIEW: HOWIE KENDRICK Age on opening day 2018: 34 How acquired: Traded from Phillies for McKenzie Mills, July 2017 MLB service time: 11 years, 91 days 2017 salary: $10 million Contract status: Free agent 2017 stats: 91 G, 334 PA, 305 AB, 40...
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After seven years with Nats, Werth now faces uncertain future

After seven years with Nats, Werth now faces uncertain future
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Jayson Werth, whose seventh (and likely final) season in D.C. didn't go the way he hoped it would. PLAYER REVIEW: JAYSON WERTH Age on opening day 2018: 38 How acquired: Signed as free agent, Dec. 2010 MLB service time: 14 years, 102 days 2017 salary: $21 million Contract status: Free agent. (Nats will be paying him $10 million in deferred salary in 2018.) 2017...
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Breakthrough season changed Nats' outlook on Taylor

Breakthrough season changed Nats' outlook on Taylor
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Michael A. Taylor, who for the third straight year was given a chance to play every day and finally made the most of it. PLAYER REVIEW: MICHAEL A. TAYLOR Age on opening day 2018: 27 How acquired: Sixth-round pick, 2009 draft MLB service time: 3 years, 10 days 2017 salary: $557,900 Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2018. Free agent in 2021. 2017 stats: 118 G,...
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Nats begin contacting candidates, hoping for quick search

Nats begin contacting candidates, hoping for quick search
The Nationals have begun the search for a new manager, and they would prefer that search be a quick one. After informing Dusty Baker on Friday morning he wouldn't be retained despite division titles in each of his two seasons in Washington, the Nationals began to compile a list of potential candidates to replace the popular former skipper. They're now beginning the process of zeroing in on a handful of top candidates from that list and beginning to reach out to some for a first round of...
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After eventful 2017, Harper now heads into contract year

After eventful 2017, Harper now heads into contract year
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Bryce Harper, who was on track for another MVP award until his scary knee injury in August. PLAYER REVIEW: BRYCE HARPER Age on opening day 2018: 25 How acquired: First-round pick, 2010 draft MLB service time: 5 years, 159 days 2017 salary: $13.625 million Contract status: Signed for $21.625 million in 2018. Free agent in 2019. 2017 stats: 111 G, 492 PA, 420 AB, 95...
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Cora reportedly out of the mix for Nationals job

Cora reportedly out of the mix for Nationals job
One of the Nationals' preferred candidates for their now-vacant managerial position appears to already be headed elsewhere. And even if he's not, the Nats would have to wait until the end of the World Series to hire him. Alex Cora has been on the Nationals' radar, but the popular Astros bench coach already interviewed with the Red Sox and is expected to be named Boston's new manager once Houston's season is over, according to reports by The Athletic and NBC Sports Boston. The Astros'...
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Nats' two-year managerial policy leaves them in a familiar place

Nats' two-year managerial policy leaves them in a familiar place
Let's for a moment try to view the Nationals' managerial situation in a vacuum. Block out past history and reputation of both the organization and of Dusty Baker. Forget about dollar amounts. Don't consider who else might be available for the job right now. Baker's Nationals won 95 games and a division title in 2016, then lost a heartbreaker of a five-game National League Division Series to the Dodgers, with all three losses in the series coming by one run. Baker's team then won 97 games...
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Rizzo: Managerial change was "baseball decision," not financial

Rizzo: Managerial change was "baseball decision," not financial
Dusty Baker's unsettled contract situation hovered over the Nationals all season, but throughout it all, both Baker and general manager Mike Rizzo expressed confidence not only that both sides wanted the manager to return in 2018 but also that a deal was likely to get done once the season ended. Only two weeks ago, as his team prepared for the National League Division Series, Rizzo continued to express that same confidence, even though they had not yet engaged in contract negotiations. "We...
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