Pitching lesson with Menhart, photo with trophy up for auction

SAN DIEGO - How would you like to get a personal bullpen session in with a World Series champion pitching coach? Or get a family photo session with the Commissioner's Trophy?

Those items are now up for bid as part of the Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings auction, which this year benefits ALS Charities. Bids can be placed here and remain live until 10 p.m. Thursday.

Every MLB club offers up multiples items for auction, and the Nationals have two offerings for fans.

The first is a personal, 45-minute session with pitching coach Paul Menhart on a mutually agreed upon date during the 2020 regular season. You'll get firsthand lessons and advice from Menhart, a longtime member of the organization who was promoted to big league pitching coach in May and wound up leading one of the best staffs in baseball to the World Series title.

As part of the package, the winner also will receive four tickets and four batting practice passes for the Nationals game on the night of the pitching session.

Menhart also has offered the option of holding the session during spring training if the winner plans to travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. The lesson, game tickets and batting practice passes will be provided, though the winner is responsible for all travel accommodations.

The other Nationals item up for bid is an opportunity for a family of four to take photos with the World Series trophy prior to a mutually agreed upon game during the 2020 regular season. You'll also receive four game tickets and four batting practice passes for that selected game.