The Nats' surprising history of Christmas Eve transactions

The Nats' surprising history of Christmas Eve transactions
Christmas Eve and baseball. They go together like, well, Christmas and hot dogs. This just isn't historically the time of year to be thinking much about the national pastime. Especially when the national pastime is nearly one month into a work stoppage. And yet for the Nationals, Christmas Eve has been the source of a surprising amount of news. Big news. Go back through the annals and you'll find six significant transactions made by the Nats in the final 72 hours leading up to Christmas,...

Did Burnett earn a major league contract for 2017?

Did Burnett earn a major league contract for 2017?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we've been reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We conclude today with Sean Burnett, who returned to D.C. in September and impressed. PLAYER REVIEW: SEAN BURNETT Age on opening day 2017: 34 How acquired: Purchased from the Twins, August 2016 MLB service time: 8 years, 116 days 2016 salary: $1 million Contract status: Free agent 2016 stats: 0-0, 3.18 ERA, 10 G, 0 SV, 0 BS, 5.2 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 1HR, 1BB, 3SO, 0 HBP, 1.059 WHIP, 0.1...

Spotlight will shine on Nationals lefties during NLDS

Spotlight will shine on Nationals lefties during NLDS
The Dodgers do many things well. They pitch well. They hit for power. They play good defense. There is, however, one thing they really don't do well: hit left-handed pitchers. No team in baseball was less productive against lefties than the Dodgers, whose .213 batting average was 21 points worse than anybody else in the majors, and whose .622 OPS was 55 points worse than anybody else in the sport. And so the spotlight will shine brightly on few during the National League Division Series more...

Nats fall 7-4 to Marlins, home field advantage still up for grabs

Nats fall 7-4 to Marlins, home field advantage still up for grabs
The Nationals may yet secure home field advantage over the Dodgers in next week's National League Division Series. But they aren't quite there yet, and they're going to bring this race right down to the final weekend of the regular season. With a 7-4 loss to the Marlins tonight, the Nationals missed an opportunity to potentially ensure Games 1, 2 and 5 of the NLDS would be played in the District. They needed a Dodgers loss in San Francisco as well, but now the best they can do is reduce...

Baker: No platoon for Zimmerman in NLDS (Nationals lose 7-4)

Baker: No platoon for Zimmerman in NLDS (Nationals lose 7-4)
It's no secret that Ryan Zimmerman has been the Nationals' most disappointing player this season, and Dusty Baker has given his veteran first baseman no shortage of opportunities to try to hit his way out of a months-long funk. With the postseason now nearly upon the Nats, there has perhaps been some reason to wonder whether Zimmerman will actually be part of the Nationals starting lineup, or whether Baker might consider some kind of platoon situation involving Clint Robinson or Stephen...

Baker trying out options in eighth inning (Nationals lose 6-2)

Baker trying out options in eighth inning (Nationals lose 6-2)
ATLANTA - The Nationals solved their ninth-inning problem when they acquired Mark Melancon at the trade deadline. But as the regular season reaches its final two weeks, they're still trying to figure out who's going to get through the eighth inning to get the ball to their new closer. Shawn Kelley held a firm grasp on the primary setup role through most of the season, but manager Dusty Baker has tried out some new arms in the last few weeks, with mixed results. Rookie Koda Glover struggled in...

Solis hits "roadblock," but new lefties stepping up in Nats bullpen

Solis hits "roadblock," but new lefties stepping up in Nats bullpen
It has been one of the bigger questions facing the Nationals all season: Which left-handed reliever (or relievers) can they trust when crunch-time arrives? The answer to that question has changed several times in five months. Felipe Rivero and Oliver Perez were the primary left-handers in the Nationals bullpen back in April, but then Sammy Solis emerged as manager Dusty Baker's top southpaw as May turned to June and July. Then Rivero was traded to the Pirates in the Mark Melancon deal and...

Burnett and Latos appreciative of chance to return to majors

Burnett and Latos appreciative of chance to return to majors
NEW YORK - Sean Burnett and Mat Latos each has been a successful big league pitcher, yet each found himself on the outside looking in all summer, for different reasons. So when each pitcher found himself inside the visitors clubhouse at Citi Field this afternoon, a Nationals uniform waiting in each locker, there were no shortage of emotions, not to mention some genuine gratitude for an opportunity neither necessarily thought would be afforded. "It's incredible," Burnett said. "It's...

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)

Burnett, Latos among September call-ups (den Dekker DFA)
NEW YORK - The Nationals will have their first set of September reinforcements at their disposal for tonight's series opener against the Mets, including a pair of well-known veterans getting a shot at redemption. The club promoted seven players to the big league roster this afternoon: left-handers Sean Burnett and Matt Grace; right-handers Mat Latos, Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin; catcher Pedro Severino; and outfielder Brian Goodwin. Needing to clear two spots on the 40-man roster so Burnett...

Charlie Fliegel: Nats bullpen is missing effective left-handed specialist

Charlie Fliegel: Nats bullpen is missing effective left-handed specialist
The Nationals bullpen has been overused the last week, thanks to short stints from starting pitchers. However, since the addition of Mark Melancon, most of the title-worthy roles appear to have stabilized in the 'pen. Except one spot seems to be missing, and it's a need they must address. Melancon is, of course, the closer. Shawn Kelley seems to have nabbed the role of setup man. Since the beginning of July, he's only given up four earned runs in 20 appearances, held opponents to a .269...

Ross long tossing, plus updates on Cole and bullpen arms

Ross long tossing, plus updates on Cole and bullpen arms
BALTIMORE - Manager Dusty Baker said the season is winding down so much that a rehab assignment for right-hander Joe Ross may not be able to happen during the minor league season. Ross has been on the shelf with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to July 3. "Man, I feel like I got a M*A*S*H unit going on. Joe said he's feeling good. The longer he's out, the longer it's going to take him to come back to sharpness," Baker said. "One of the things I was talking to Joe about, 'Hey man,...

Solis diagnosed with shoulder inflammation (Nationals win 7-6)

Solis diagnosed with shoulder inflammation (Nationals win 7-6)
ATLANTA - Tests on injured reliever Sammy Solis revealed inflammation in the left-hander's shoulder, the same as the Nationals' initial diagnosis earlier this week when Solis was placed on the disabled list. There is no definitive timetable for Solis' return, but he should be cleared to resume throwing after a brief period of rest, and the Nationals remain hopeful he'll be part of their bullpen for the stretch run. "He has inflammation in his shoulder, which we're not shocked about,"...

Nats reacquire Burnett, could use lefty in bullpen for stretch run

Nats reacquire Burnett, could use lefty in bullpen for stretch run
ATLANTA - The Nationals have reacquired Sean Burnett and could give the veteran left-hander a chance to pitch out of their bullpen down the stretch, four years after he last donned a curly W cap for a big league game. Burnett has been acquired in a trade with the Twins for cash considerations and will report to Triple-A Syracuse today, the Chiefs announced, but he could be in line to join the major league bullpen once rosters expand in September. A key member of the Nationals bullpen from...

Burnett and Johnson released, Ryan reassigned to minors

Burnett and Johnson released, Ryan reassigned to minors
The Nationals officially announced their opening day roster, which was reduced to the requisite 25 players after the club released veterans Sean Burnett and Reed Johnson and reassigned Brendan Ryan to the minor leagues. The 25-man roster essentially was finalized Friday night when the club announced Chris Heisey had secured the final spot on the bench and Blake Treinen would round up the bullpen. But the fates of Burnett, Johnson and Ryan remained somewhat up in the air, with each veteran on...

Dusty Baker explains Nats' final cuts of spring

Dusty Baker explains Nats' final cuts of spring
Dusty Baker has been making roster cuts for two decades, and he admits they're never easy, especially those that come on the cusp of opening day. The cuts the Nationals' new manager had to make Friday night might have been his toughest ever. "My heart goes out to these guys," Baker said. "I didn't really sleep that well last night, at all, because it affects him. I've been there. I know their families are affected. But it's a big boy game, and that's part of the game." The club's...

Treinen gets final bullpen spot, Heisey will be right-handed pinch-hitter

Treinen gets final bullpen spot, Heisey will be right-handed pinch-hitter
Right-hander Blake Treinen has secured the final spot in the Nationals bullpen, while veteran Chris Heisey has claimed a role as a backup outfielder and right-handed pinch-hitter. After Friday night's 4-3 win in an exhibition game against the Twins at Nationals Park, the Nats made a series of roster moves that finalized the composition of manager Dusty Baker's seven-man bullpen and made the bench picture much clearer. Outfielder Matt den Dekker and right-hander Trevor Gott were optioned to...

Baker says decision on relievers coming after the game

Baker says decision on relievers coming after the game
Nationals manager Dusty Baker and he and his staff's biggest roster decisions before opening day involve who they will keep in the bullpen. Baker said before Friday's exhibition game versus the Twins that the Nats will decide on which relievers they will keep at the conclusion of tonight's contest. "We're going to notify the guys after the game," Baker said. "We would've done it before, but (GM) Mike (Rizzo) is suffering with kind of a bad back. He had to go see the doctor. So we'll do...

Turner demotion highlights busy afternoon of transactions

Turner demotion highlights busy afternoon of transactions
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made several key transactions following today's rained-out finale at Space Coast Stadium, though not enough to bring absolute clarity to their opening day roster. Trea Turner, the organization's top position player prospect who came to camp trying to win the starting shortstop job, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in a move that had grown in likelihood over the course of the spring. Reliever Rafael Martin also was optioned to Syracuse, while outfielder Tony...

Thoughts and observations on Nats' 7-2 win over Braves

Thoughts and observations on Nats' 7-2 win over Braves
VIERA, Fla. - Some thoughts, observations and quotes from today's 7-2 Nationals split-squad victory over the Braves in the penultimate spring training game ever at Space Coast Stadium ... * Gio Gonzalez probably put together his best start of the spring. Yes, he gave up a couple of runs and seven hits over six innings. But most importantly, he didn't walk anybody after issuing four free passes in each of his last three starts. "I felt great knowing there were no walks," he said. "I know I...

Significant decisions on bullpen likely coming soon

Significant decisions on bullpen likely coming soon
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have split-squad games on tap today, kind of an unconventional thing to have this late in the spring, but not something of their doing. Major League Baseball sets the spring training schedule, and with 15 teams training in Florida, somebody has to either go split-squad or get the day off every day in March. Some of the Nats will be hosting the Braves at Space Coast Stadium this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. on MASN, with Gio Gonzalez on the mound. The other Nats will be...