Winter Meetings: Nationals close to making first deal on Day 3

NASHVILLE - Day 3 is wrapping up at the Winter Meetings, and some parties are already packing up to head home. Our flight isn't until 4:50 p.m. tomorrow, but my colleague, Olivia Witherite, flies back to Baltimore tonight. So that means more video editing and posting for me!

Don't feel bad for me, I actually like taking time to crank them out and put them on the Web site for fans to enjoy.

As for the Nationals, reports surfaced earlier today that the club had made an offer to free agent right-hander Mike Leake. General manager Mike Rizzo confirmed those reports this afternoon during his daily briefing with the media, which makes you wonder what happened to the bullpen that was supposed to be at the top of this week's agenda. Is the market shrinking for relievers Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon? What about another left-handed bat?

Regardless, the possible addition of Leake to the rotation means either Tanner Roark or Joe Ross will be bumped out. Roark could be moved to the bullpen, but we've seen he doesn't do as well without consistency (he had an ERA of 4.82 in 12 starts and a 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances as a reliever last season). Ross is still a young arm and was on an innings limit this year, so we don't know for sure how he'll last as an every-fifth-day starter. We know he has the stuff, but does he have the endurance?

Anyhow, there wasn't much else going on for the third straight day with the Nats. I did, however, miss the annual media stampede to meet with super agent Scott Boras. He mostly focused on his clients elsewhere around the majors, but he was asked about Bryce Harper and the Nationals. Boras didn't say much about the National League MVP, just that Harper is happy in D.C.

That's good. I am, too, if you were wondering.

We did get to walk around the baseball trade show at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. It was just a big room of eveything baseball - from gear to scouting technologies to vending options. Olivia and I tried Cheetos popcorn, which tastes exactly how you would think. We did get excited as we were exiting the room and saw this:

Can't wait for next year's Baseball Trade Show at the #WinterMeetings in @nationalharbor! #Nats

A photo posted by masnnationals (@masnnationals) on Dec 9, 2015 at 11:16am PST

This being my first go-around at the Winter Meetings, next year should be even more fun and exciting at National Harbor - and easier to get to.

As the third day winds down, we're also preparing for the Rule 5 draft tomorrow morning to finish off the week. Whether or not the Nationals will take someone or lose someone remains to be seen, but we're preparing nonetheless.

For my daily food update, it was a cinnamon roll and pizza kinda of day, while still staying away from those salads. Might do a burger for dinner. Might not.

Now, about those videos ...