- Washington Nationals news & notes: Getting more pitching in 2024 + more... Talking on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings earlier this month, Washington Nationals’ GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo told reporters the club was in the market for arms of any kind which could help the team in 2024 (and beyond), but starting pitching for sure if the right deal is out there. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this year. Dec 26
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Keibert Ruiz, CS% and more… Keibert Ruiz, acquired by the Nationals in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade with the Dodgers at the trade deadline in 2021, jumped at the opportunity to sign a long-term extension with Washington when the club made an offer last spring. “‘You got to feel like you’re the captain back there, you’ve got to take control sometimes,’ and he’s done a good job with that.” - Davey Martinez on message to Keibert Ruiz regarding leadership “I said yes right away!” the now-25-year-old catcher told reporters in a press conference announcing his long-term deal in March 2023. “But we waited a little bit,” Ruiz laughed. Dec 22
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Stephen Strasburg retirement?; 40-man spot + more... Remember the rumored, planned Stephen Strasburg retirement ceremony which was to take place this past September in Nationals Park, officially ending the 2009 No. Dec 21
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Joey Meneses & DH duties vs playing the field… “Joey Meneses is kind of the epitome of hitting with runners in scoring position,” Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo told reporters late this past season, “... Dec 19
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Dylan Floro looks to bounce back after down ‘23 campaign... For the first time in eight major league seasons, 32-year-old reliever Dylan Floro threw more four-seam fastballs than any other pitch in 2023, turning to it 34.2% of the time on the year, but opposing hitters had a .271 AVG on the fastball, up from .145 and .148 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Dec 18
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nick Senzel talks joining Nats, playing third every day + more... For 28-year-old Nick Senzel, who moved between the infield and outfield for the Cincinnati Reds in the first five seasons of his major league career, playing predominantly center field, an opportunity to return to his original spot at third base was a major factor in his decision to sign a 1-year/$2M free agent deal with the Washington Nationals this week. Dec 15
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nationals’ rotation plans; 6-man rotation talk + more… Davey Martinez talked late in the 2023 campaign about conversations he had with opposing teams’ personnel eager for information on how the Nationals managed to get through their season using just eight starting pitchers. Dec 14
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats announce signings - Dylan Floro and Nick Senzel In discussing what the Nationals are looking for this offseason, at least in terms of help for the bullpen, Washington’s GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo told reporters last week at the Winter Meetings he was in the market for reliable, established arms who could provide consistent outings. “Good, capable, major league relievers that can we count on,” Rizzo explained, “… and not to have such a split with our A-group and our B-group. Dec 13
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Davey Martinez on shaking up his coaching staff... Along with changes the Nationals made in the front office and scouting departments early this offseason, manager Davey Martinez decided to shake things up on Washington’s major league coaching staff. Dec 12
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats look to future; talk prospects... “Nobody wants to aim to win 70 games in a season,” Nationals’ GM and President of Baseball ops Mike Rizzo told reporters, as quoted by MASN’s Bobby Blanco, late last season when Washington hit the 70-win plateau before adding another W for 71 total on the year, a 16-game jump for the club from 2022. Dec 11
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Rule 5 pick Nasim Nuñez; a defense-first bench option for 2024 Nats... With the fifth overall pick in this year’s Rule 5 Draft, Washington’s Nationals selected a 23-year-old shortstop, Nasim Nuñez, a 2019 2nd Round pick by Miami ranked sixth overall in the Marlins’ by Baseball America this winter. Nuñez played at Double-A Pensacola this year, posting a .225/.341/.286 line with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 87 walks, and 107 Ks, and stealing 52 bases (in 59 attempts), to finish the season, “... Dec 8
- Washington Nationals news & notes: GM Mike Rizzo & Davey Martinez on HR power, third & first base... As GM Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez both discussed this week at MLB’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN, there are obvious needs at both corner infield spots and in left field the club is looking to address this offseason. Dec 7
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Luis García and the second base job in D.C. “Before we start talking about this,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters, in discussing the club’s decision to option its 23-year-old infielder, Luis García, out to Triple-A early this past August, “I still strongly believe that Luis is a big part of our future, I really do.” Washington’s decision-makers did send García down for a month-plus in early August and called him back up in early September, with GM and President of Baseball ops Mike Rizzo explaining at the time it was a “preparation assignment” for the left-handed hitting middle infielder. “We wanted him to go down there and learn a routine,” Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies, “… and learn how to prepare for each and every game in the big leagues.” As the GM in D.C. Dec 6
- Washington Nationals news & notes: 2023 MLB Winter Meetings Day 1... On Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN, a reporter pointed out how all five outfielders currently on the Washington Nationals’ 40-man are right-handed hitters. Dec 5
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Winter Meetings 2023 - What will the Nats do? Talking with reporters after he’d signed his multi-year extension with the Nationals this past summer, Washington’s GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo said the potential sale of the ballclub did not factor into his thinking in signing on to stay in the nation’s capital. Dec 4
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Tanner Rainey returns from Tommy John surgery... A little over a year removed from Tommy John surgery, Tanner Rainey got back on the hill in the minors this past August on a rehab stint. Nov 30
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Jackson Rutledge makes MLB debut; 1 of 10 Nats to do so this year... Both GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo and the Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez talked in advance of 2019 first round pick Jackson Rutledge’s big league debut this past season about the right-hander’s rise through the organizational ranks. “I’m happy about his progression and his development,” Rizzo told reporters in September. Nov 29
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Yohandy Morales at No. 40 thrilled Nats’ front office... Washington’s front office staff was obviously thrilled to get Dylan Crews with the No. Nov 28
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Mike Rizzo; offseason plans; + the future… In announcing his multi-year extension in September, Washington Nationals’ GM and President of Baseball ops Mike Rizzo talked about getting the opportunity to see the reboot the club kicked off at the trade deadline in 2021 through, now that the club is, in his mind, on the cusp of once again being competitive. “You go through the dog days of the rebuild, and you just hope to get an opportunity to have some of glory that the rebuild brings you,” he explained. Nov 27
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Patrick Corbin & coming up with an identity… Patrick Corbin finished up the 2023 campaign (his 11th season in the majors, and the fifth year on his six-year/$140M deal with Washington) with his ERA at 5.20, a 5.28 FIP, 57 walks (2.85 BB/9), 124 strikeouts (6.20 K/9), a .293/.344/.481 line against, and 33 home runs allowed in 180 IP (1.65 HR/9). “I think he has pitched better,” GM Mike Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies late this past season. Nov 24