Nationals Stephen Strasburg named to Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team

Nationals Stephen Strasburg named to Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg today was named to the 52nd Annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. Strasburg was one of 11 players to earn the citation, which annually recognizes the premier rookies at each position on the field, as well as the top right-handed, left-handed and relief pitchers. Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts and led all major league starting pitchers with a 33.6 strikeout percentage (92 of 274 batters faced) in 2010. The...

Nationals agree to terms with Jesus Flores & Alberto Gonzalez

Nationals agree to terms with Jesus Flores & Alberto Gonzalez
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms, thus avoiding salary arbitration, with catcher Jesus Flores and infielder Alberto Gonzalez. The club did not tender contracts to catcher Wil Nieves and right-handed pitchers Joel Peralta and Chien-Ming Wang. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Nationals select pitchers Elvin Ramirez & Brian Broderick in major league phase of Rule 5 Draft

Nationals select pitchers Elvin Ramirez & Brian Broderick in major league phase of Rule 5 Draft
The Washington Nationals selected right-handed pitchers Elvin Ramirez and Brian Broderick in the Major League phase of today's Rule 5 Draft. Additionally, the club selected right-handed pitcher Michael Allen in the Triple-A phase of the Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Ramirez, 23, went 4-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 52 relief appearances last season with Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in the New York Mets organization. In...

Nationals announce 2011 minor league managers, coaches & coordinators

Nationals announce 2011 minor league managers, coaches & coordinators
The Washington Nationals today named their minor league managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2011 season. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcements. Among the changes from last season, Randy Knorr was promoted from his managerial post at Double-A to skipper the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League....

Nationals agree to terms with OF/1B Matt Stairs

Nationals agree to terms with OF/1B Matt Stairs
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs on a non-guaranteed minor league contract, which includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Stairs is an 18-year big league veteran who has competed in four post-seasons and won a World Series championship with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. He owns the all-time Major League...

Nationals acquire RHP Henry Rodriguez & OF Corey Brown from Oakland in exchange for LF Josh Willingham

Nationals acquire RHP Henry Rodriguez & OF Corey Brown from Oakland in exchange for LF Josh Willingham
The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Henry Rodriguez and outfielder Corey Brown from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left fielder Josh Willingham. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rodriguez went 1-0 with a 4.55 ERA in 29 appearances last season with Oakland in just his second season as a full-time reliever. He posted 10.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (33 K/27.2 IP) and a .240 batting...

Nationals re-sign righthander Chien-Ming Wang

Nationals re-sign righthander Chien-Ming Wang
The Washington Nationals tonight signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year Major League contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang, 30, returns for a second season with the Nationals organization. He did not pitch in 2010 while working with the Nationals' training staff on a rehab program designed to regain full health from July 2009 right shoulder surgery. Wang is 55-26 with a 4.16...

Nationals acquire lefthander Tom Gorzelanny from Cubs in four-player trade

 Nationals acquire lefthander Tom Gorzelanny from Cubs in four-player trade
The Washington Nationals today acquired left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfielder Michael Burgess, right-handed pitcher A.J. Morris and left-handed pitcher Graham Hicks. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gorzelanny is 36-37 with a 4.68 ERA in 118 games/95 starts spanning six big league seasons with Chicago (NL) and Pittsburgh. Gorzelanny posted his finest season in 2007, when...

Nationals agree to terms with Jerry Hairston Jr. on one-year contract

Nationals agree to terms with Jerry Hairston Jr. on one-year contract
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with super utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. on a one-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Hairston Jr. is a career .257 (927-for-3608) hitter with 192 doubles, 59 home runs and 341 RBI in 1148 games with San Diego, New York (AL), Cincinnati, Texas, Chicago (NL) and Baltimore spanning 13 big league seasons. The 34 year-old Hairston Jr. has hit a career-best...

Nationals agree to terms with reliever Todd Coffey on one-year contract

Nationals agree to terms with reliever Todd Coffey on one-year contract
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Todd Coffey on a one-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Coffey, 30, is 19-17 with 66 holds, 11 saves and a 4.15 ERA in 369 games spanning six seasons with Milwaukee and Cincinnati. A ground-ball pitcher, Coffey's 605 ground balls induced beginning in 2005 rank fifth among all relief pitchers. Last season with Milwaukee, Coffey...

Lannan pleased with new deal, ready for spring training

Lannan pleased with new deal, ready for spring training
Nationals left-handed starter John Lannan avoided arbitration last week, signing a one-year contract reportedly worth $2.75 million. This was a significant step for Lannan after last year's odyssey from an arm injury to Double-A demotion, then back to D.C. and a powerful 6-3 finish. Lannan was very pleased to avoid an arbitration hearing and get a deal completed well before spring training. "I think overall it went well," Lannan said. "I think both sides are happy not to have to go to...

Nats' Stammen confident as starter or reliever

Nats' Stammen confident as starter or reliever
Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen has spent most of his time this offseason working out in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, or here in Washington as he gets ready for spring training next month. The right-hander feels very good after a successful transition to the bullpen in the second half of 2010. "I have been in D.C. more than in the past," Stammen said. "I have been able to work with our strength coach, John Philbin, and get all my stuff done. It has been good. I feel like I have my body...

Nats need LaRoche to buck trend again, get off to hot start

Nats need LaRoche to buck trend again, get off to hot start
Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche has been known as a very consistent hitter and a solid defensive performer who had trouble at the plate early on each season. That was the trend until last season when he had an unusually strong start with the Arizona Diamondbacks. So what did he change last year to get off on the right foot? "Absolutely nothing," LaRoche said last week. But LaRoche is definitely aware of his career numbers. "Obviously, early on, it got frustrating having a slow start...

Nats offer presale for spring training tickets

Nats offer presale for spring training tickets
On Monday, the Nationals will open up spring training ticket sales to fans who've registered to receive "Nationals Insider" e-mail updates. The opportunity allows fans to purchase spring training tickets a week before the general public. The presale starts on Monday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. and ends on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at noon. A limited number of tickets for the March 12 game against the Yankees will be available in the presale. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday,...

Nationals agree to terms with Chad Gaudin on minor league contract

Nationals agree to terms with Chad Gaudin on minor league contract
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin on a minor-league contract that includes a Spring Training invitation. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operation and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 27 year-old Gaudin is 35-39 with a 4.61 ERA (339 ER/661.2 IP) in 258 games/75 starts spanning eight big league seasons with New York (AL), Oakland, San Diego, Chicago (NL), Toronto and Tampa Bay. Gaudin has pitched...

Nationals agree to terms with OF Rick Ankiel on one-year contract

Nationals agree to terms with OF Rick Ankiel on one-year contract
The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Rick Ankiel on a one-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel is a career .248 (311-for-1255) hitter with 64 doubles, 55 home runs and 181 RBI in 416 big league games with Atlanta (2010), Kansas City (2010) and St. Louis (1999-2009). 25 of Ankiel's 55 career long balls came with the Cardinals in 2008, when he hit .264 with 21...

Nationals agree to two-year extension with LHP Sean Burnett

Nationals agree to two-year extension with LHP Sean Burnett
Washington Avoids Salary Arbitration with Top Bullpen Lefty The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett on a two-year contract extension with a mutual option for the 2013 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In 2010, his finest season to date, Burnett posted career-best efforts in appearances (73), saves (3), innings (63.0), strikeouts...

Nationals agree to terms with 1B Adam LaRoche on two-year contract

 Nationals agree to terms with 1B Adam LaRoche on two-year contract
Left-handed slugger has hit 20-plus homers each of last six seasons. The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche on a two-year contract. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. LaRoche is a career .271 (933-for-3437) hitter with 242 doubles, 161 home runs and 569 RBI in 989 big league games. In seven campaigns with Arizona, Atlanta, Boston and Pittsburgh, LaRoche has posted...

How much will Ivan Rodriguez play in 2011?

How much will Ivan Rodriguez play in 2011?
With all the talk this week about starting pitching, it would be a very good thing if the Nationals' depth at catcher could be bolstered by a healthy return of Jesus Flores, who missed last season with a shoulder injury. From all indications, general manager Mike Rizzo believes Flores will be back to "100 percent" for spring training. Flores has been limited to 29 games the past two seasons. "Jesus Flores had a terrific Venezuelan Winter League. He was happy and healthy, swinging the...

LaRoche: Nats Park should be tough place to play for opponents

LaRoche: Nats Park should be tough place to play for opponents
Brand-new Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was introduced Friday at Nationals Park and talked about how he wants to make his new home as difficult a place to play as any in the National League. In years past as a visiting ball player, that was not the case. LaRoche arrived as a Pirate, Brave and even a Diamondback at Nats Park and those teams expected to win and usually did. "It was pretty comfortable coming in here to play a series," LaRoche remembered. "That is no...