As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Blake Treinen, who stepped up to become Dusty Baker's most trusted reliever in tight situations.
PLAYER REVIEW: BLAKE TREINEN
Age on opening day 2017: 28
How acquired: Acquired with A.J. Cole and Ian Krol from Athletics in three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to Mariners, January 2013
MLB service time: 2 years, 65 days
2016 salary: $524,900
Contract status:...
Anthony Rendon is widely regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen in the National League. But he's not regarded as being better than Nolan Arenado, and so this evening Rendon was left to watch as his counterpart from the Rockies won the Gold Glove Award over him.
Arenado was the choice by NL managers and coaches who submitted their votes at the end of the regular season, the fourth straight Gold Glove victory for the 25-year-old who has only been in the big leagues four...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Shawn Kelley, who became a key part of the bullpen in his first season on D.C.
PLAYER REVIEW: SHAWN KELLEY
Age on opening day 2017: 32
How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2015
MLB service time: 7 years, 128 days
2016 salary: $4 million
Contract status: Signed for $5.5 million in 2017, $5.5 million in 2018.
2016 stats: 3-2, 2.64 ERA, 67 G, 7 SV, 2 BS, 58...
The Baseball Writers' Association of America revealed finalists for each of the sport's major awards this evening, and the Nationals find themselves smack dab in the middle of it all.
The Nationals have a finalist for each of the four big National League awards: Daniel Murphy (MVP), Max Scherzer (Cy Young), Trea Turner (Rookie of the Year) and Dusty Baker (Manager of the Year).
Three finalists were revealed for each award, corresponding to the three players who received the most votes. Two...
The Nationals will not extend a qualifying offer to Wilson Ramos before today's 5 p.m. EST deadline, according to a source familiar with the decision, making the rehabbing catcher a free agent who can now sign with any club in baseball.
The decision, which had been expected since Ramos suffered a major knee injury in late September, doesn't prevent him from re-signing with the Nationals this winter. But it both makes his departure more likely and prevents the Nats from receiving any...
For the last 12 years, while they trained in remote Viera, the Nationals were forced to criss-cross the state of Florida each spring, with every Grapefruit League road game a minimum one hour's drive away.
That all changes next spring, in a dramatic way: The Nationals will play 28 of their 33 exhibition games within a 15-minute drive of their new ballpark in West Palm Beach, with only two games more than 45 minutes away.
The 2017 spring training schedule was announced today, and it offers...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Mark Melancon, who excelled after his acquisition at the trade deadline but now is a free agent.
PLAYER REVIEW: MARK MELANCON
Age on opening day 2017: 32
How acquired: Acquired from Pirates for Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn, July 2016
MLB service time: 6 years, 98 days
2016 salary: $9,650,000
Contract status: Free agent
2016 stats (PIT+WSH): 2-2, 1.64 ERA, 75 G,...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Lucas Giolito, the top pitching prospect who underwhelmed in limited action.
PLAYER REVIEW: LUCAS GIOLITO
Age on opening day 2017: 22
How acquired: First-round pick, 2012 draft
MLB service time: 39 days
2016 salary: $507,500
Contract status: Under club control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023.
2016 stats: 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 6 G, 4 GS, 0 CG,...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Reynaldo Lopez, who impressed in his abbreviated rookie stint.
PLAYER REVIEW: REYNALDO LOPEZ
Age on opening day 2017: 23
How acquired: Signed as amateur free agent, June 2012
MLB service time: 43 days
2016 salary: $507,500
Contract status: Under club control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023.
2016 stats: 5-3, 4.91 ERA, 11 G, 6 GS, 0 CG, 44...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Joe Ross, whose promising season was interrupted by a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined until September.
PLAYER REVIEW: JOE ROSS
Age on opening day 2017: 23
How acquired: Acquired from Padres with Trea Turner for Steven Souza Jr. and Travis Ott (traded to Rays in three-team deal), December 2014
MLB service time: 1 year, 94 days
2016 salary: $514,400
Contract...
Gio Gonzalez is returning to the Nationals in 2017 - and possibly 2018. Yusmeiro Petit is returning to the free agent market.
The Nationals announced today they have picked up Gonzalez's $12 million option for next season, keeping the veteran left-hander in their rotation. But they are declining Petit's $3 million option, cutting loose the rubber-armed reliever.
The decision to retain Gonzalez may at first glance raise some eyebrows, given the pitcher's erratic performance this season and...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Gio Gonzalez, who after another erratic season faces a somewhat uncertain future with the franchise.
PLAYER REVIEW: GIO GONZALEZ
Age on opening day 2017: 31
How acquired: Acquired from Athletics with Robert Gilliam for A.J. Cole, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock, December 2011.
MLB service time: 7 years, 162 days
2016 salary: $12 million
Contract status:...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Tanner Roark, who returning to full-time starting duties this year and put up stats comparable to his breakthrough 2014 season.
PLAYER REVIEW: TANNER ROARK
Age on opening day 2017: 30
How acquired: Acquired from Rangers with Ryan Tatusko for Cristian Guzman, July 2010
MLB service time: 3 years, 55 days
2016 salary: $543,400
Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Stephen Strasburg, who was on track for his best season in the majors before an elbow injury abruptly shut him down.
PLAYER REVIEW: STEPHEN STRASBURG
Age on opening day 2017: 28
How acquired: First-round pick, 2009 draft
MLB service time: 6 years, 118 days
2016 salary: $10.4 million
Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2017-18, $35 million in 2019, $25...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Max Scherzer, whose dominant second half may have been enough to earn the Cy Young Award.
PLAYER REVIEW: MAX SCHERZER
Age on opening day 2017: 32
How acquired: Signed as free agent, January 2015
MLB service time: 8 years, 79 days
2016 salary: $15 million
Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2017-18, $35 million in 2019-21. Receives $15 million annual signing...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Jose Lobaton, the reliable backup catcher who was thrust into a bigger role after Wilson Ramos was injured.
PLAYER REVIEW: JOSE LOBATON
Age on opening day 2017: 32
How acquired: Acquired from Rays with Felipe Rivero and Drew Vettleson for Nathan Karns, February 2014
MLB service time: 5 years, 138 days
2016 salary: $1.3875 million
Contract status:...
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Chris Heisey, who proved to be a productive, veteran bat off the bench this season.
PLAYER REVIEW: CHRIS HEISEY
Age on opening day 2017: 32
How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2015
MLB service time: 6 years, 42 days
2016 salary: $1.25 million
Contract status: Free agent
2016 stats: 83 G, 155 PA, 139 AB, 18 R, 30 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 0 SB, 1 CS, 13...
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 after a promising rookie season struggled when given a chance to play this year.
PLAYER REVIEW: MICHAEL A. TAYLOR
Age on opening day 2017: 26
How acquired: Sixth-round pick, 2009 draft
MLB service time: 2 years
2016 salary: $524,900
Contract status: Under team control in 2017, arbitration-eligible in 2018, free agent in 2021 2016 stats: 76...
The Nationals weren't satisfied getting knocked out of the first round of the postseason for the third time in five years, but that doesn't mean they can't still view the 2016 campaign in a favorable light, general manager Mike Rizzo insisted today.
"I definitely view it as a successful season that ended poorly for us," Rizzo said during a 15-minute conference call, his first session with reporters since the season ended two weeks ago. "We played a good, steady brand of baseball all year....
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Ben Revere, who was acquired to be the club's center fielder and leadoff man but wound up losing his starting job by late-summer.
PLAYER REVIEW: BEN REVERE
Age on opening day 2017: 28
How acquired: Acquired from Blue Jays for Drew Storen, January 2016
MLB service time: 5 years, 149 days
2016 salary: $6.25 million
Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2017, free...