August waiver trades are a thing of the past, but teams still can still acquire players from other organizations under certain circumstances, and today the Nationals found a way to pick up another young pitcher who could potentially help them in their long-term plan to rebuild. The Nats claimed right-hander Patrick Murphy off waivers from the Blue Jays, taking a shot at a 26-year-old reliever with good minor league numbers this season but a penchant for struggling with his command during his...

The Nationals optioned Wander Suero to Triple-A Rochester this afternoon, demoting the struggling reliever in hopes of getting him straightened out after a series of late-inning meltdowns that culminated with a blown save Monday night. Suero was one of two players removed from the active roster prior to tonight's game, joining catcher René Rivera, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow contusion. To fill those spots, the Nationals called up just-acquired catcher Riley...

René Rivera has played for 10 different major league clubs over 13 seasons, none of them for more than a total of 130 games, so it's not exactly unusual for the veteran catcher to find himself scrambling to get to know a new team on the fly. Still, what Rivera experienced Friday night hours after signing with the Nationals - catching a 4-hour, 15-minute marathon on a sweltering night, and watching the Padres beat his new club 24-8 - could hardly be considered ordinary for even the...

Had this performance come last weekend, with the Nationals on fumes at the end of a brutal stretch heading into the All-Star break, it might've been understandable. Annoying, but understandable, given the circumstances. But for this to happen in the first game out of the break? With everyone refreshed and ready to go again? That isn't going to sit well with anyone employed by the Nationals who had to watch tonight's 24-8 beatdown at the hands of the Padres, a game that featured all kinds of...

And we're back. The second half of the season gets underway tonight on South Capitol Street, and before Erick Fedde throws the first pitch, there's already been plenty of news. For those who didn't see it earlier: Starlin Castro has been placed on administrative leave while Major League Baseball investigates an allegation of domestic violence. Jordy Mercer has been activated off the 10-day injured list and will start at third base tonight against the Padres. Also, the Nationals signed...

Major League Baseball placed Starlin Castro on administrative leave this afternoon while the league investigates an allegation that the Nationals third baseman committed domestic violence. In a brief release announcing the transaction, MLB said Castro has been placed on leave "under the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy." Per the policy, the initial period of administrative leave may last up to seven days, though an extension is allowed. MLB said it...