#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.

#TBT: Ian Desmond receives ovation in last home start in D.C.
Drafted by the Expos in 2004, longtime National Ian Desmond was a staple in the infield. Over seven big league seasons with the Nationals, Desmond earned three Silver Slugger Awards and was named an All-Star in 2012. In 2015, as the Nats' season began to wind down, Desmond and fans knew that the shortstop's time in D.C. was likely coming to an end. In Desmond's last home game of the season, Trea Turner entered the game at shortstop in the ninth inning as manager Matt Williams allowed fans to...

For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign

For Ian Desmond, new challenges aplenty after long wait to sign
Former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond not only has a new team and a new league, he has a new position. At 30, Desmond signed for $8 million to play left field for the Texas Rangers. Desmond has played four games in the outfield during his career. He'll get the advantage of playing 15 home games in Texas during April. Desmond, who hit .233 last season, goes to Boston's Fenway Park to battle the Green Monster the first week in July. The Rangers' plan was to use Josh Hamilton in left field,...

Desmond moves on to Rangers, leaves legacy with Nationals

Desmond moves on to Rangers, leaves legacy with Nationals
Ian Desmond has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Texas Rangers. Since Texas already has a shortstop, Desmond is likely to start the season as a left fielder. The Rangers travel to Baltimore to face the Orioles from Aug. 2-4. The Nationals will receive a compensation pick for Desmond in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. The Nationals currently have selections No. 29 (Jordan Zimmermann compensation) and No. 58 in the first two rounds. The Tigers must forfeit their...

Nationals react to Desmond's signing, position switch

Nationals react to Desmond's signing, position switch
VIERA, Fla. - Ian Desmond finally has a new home. And a new position. Desmond has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Rangers worth $8 million, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Surprising as the low dollar figure and late timing of his signing is, even more surprising is the fact Texas plans to play the lifelong shortstop in left field. Such was the state of this offseason for Desmond, whose stock plummeted due to the combination of a subpar year with the Nationals,...

Baseball America No. 2 Nats prospect: Trea Turner

Baseball America No. 2 Nats prospect: Trea Turner
Trea Turner, 22, got his first taste of the majors last season with the Nationals. It was a season that saw him play for four different teams after beginning the year as property of the San Diego Padres organization and ending up in a Nationals uniform for 27 games. He is pegged as the future of the Nationals at shortstop, and has earned No. 2 prospect status on Baseball America's Nationals top 10. No. 2 Trea Turner Baseball America editor-in-chief John Manuel has a lot of good things to say...

Looking for a landing spot for Ian Desmond

Looking for a landing spot for Ian Desmond
As spring training nears and big-name free agents such as Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes look for contracts, free agent shortstop Ian Desmond is lost in the shuffle. Desmond, 30, who was the last link to the Nationals' history in Montreal, is facing a looking for a tight for shortstops. Desmond turned down a long-term contract worth at least $100 million from the Nationals. Then, he turned down their qualifying offer, meaning that the team that signs him has to give up a draft pick to the...

Harper credits Desmond, Werth after winning MVP (plus Sizemore note)

Harper credits Desmond, Werth after winning MVP (plus Sizemore note)
Bryce Harper was clearly humbled by winning his first National League Most Valuable Player award last night. Watching the broadcast on MLB Network, Harper was emotional while speaking with his family surrounding him. He talked of how much hard work he put in, not just over his first four years in the majors, but since childhood with his mom and dad. Harper was also quick to credit his Nationals teammates, specifically Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond, for helping him develop on and off the field....

As expected, Jordan Zimmermann passes on qualifying offer

As expected, Jordan Zimmermann passes on qualifying offer
To no one's surprise, Jordan Zimmermann this afternoon passed on the $15.8 million qualifying offer extended by the Nationals. The right-hander now becomes one of the most sought-after starting pitchers in free agency. The Cubs, Giants, Red Sox and Cardinals are just a few of the teams rumored to have interest in Zimmermann join their rotation. The Nationals drafted Zimmermann in the second round in 2007 out of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. He made his major league debut with...

Ian Desmond rejects qualifying offer

Ian Desmond rejects qualifying offer
Ian Desmond won't play for the Nationals next year. The 30-year-old, who was drafted by the Expos and has played his entire career in Washington, declined the club's $15.8 million qualifying offer today. The Nationals are still waiting on right-hander Jordan Zimmermann to decide on his qualifying offer. The deadline is 5 p.m. today. Desmond enters the free agent market for the first time and is expected to command a multi-year deal worth at least $75 million. The Mets, Padres, Diamondbacks...

Notes on Zimmermann, Desmond and Williams

Notes on Zimmermann, Desmond and Williams
The qualifying offers the Nationals extended to right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond last Friday expire at 5 p.m. today. Both players are expected to reject the one-year, $15.8 million deal and enter the free agent market for the first time in their careers. Reports from the general managers meetings had the Cubs beginning preliminary discussions with Zimmermann's camp. The Giants, Red Sox and Astros are a few of the other teams reportedly pursuing the 29-year-old. The...

Bryce Harper wins first Silver Slugger Award (with quotes)

Bryce Harper wins first Silver Slugger Award (with quotes)
Bryce Harper blitzed through his breakthrough season on a record-breaking assault of pitchers. Tonight, Harper was recognized for his offensive campaign with his first Silver Slugger Award as one of the National League's best-hitting outfielders. Harper was honored by his peers on Monday evening with a Players Choice Award for being the NL's Outstanding Player of 2015. As expected, Harper was named as a finalist for the NL's Most Valuable Player award the next night. The 23-year-old slugger...

Ian Desmond talks free agency, Bryce Harper

Ian Desmond talks free agency, Bryce Harper
Longtime Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is expected to pass on the qualifying offer the team extended last Friday and fully jump into the free agent waters for the first time in his career. The one-year, $15.8 million offer expires at 5 p.m. tomorrow. If Desmond does decline and sign with another team, the Nationals will receive a first-round draft pick as compensation. Beloved by the fans in Washington, Desmond has played his entire career within the Nationals/Expos organization after...

Breaking down the local free agents and who might be interested in them

Breaking down the local free agents and who might be interested in them
The free agent season has arrived and the two local nines will look different in 2016 given their free agent list and the value of those players on the open market. The Nationals and Orioles won't be able to keep everyone. Every team needs pitching and the list for free agent starting pitchers is long, so how will that affect the market? The Orioles need rotation help and stability in their outfield corners. The Nationals, with new manager Dusty Baker, have to fix their bullpen and decide how...

Nats extend qualifying offers to Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond (plus Williams note)

Nats extend qualifying offers to Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond (plus Williams note)
The Nationals extended qualifying offers to right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, but not center fielder Denard Span, prior to today's 5 p.m. deadline. Neither Zimmermann nor Desmond, who have both played their entire careers for the Nationals, are expected to accept the qualifying offer worth $15.8 million for the 2016 season (the average of the top 125 salaries in the majors). Both have until Nov. 13 to decide whether to take the qualifying offer or pass and enter free...

Which Nationals receive qualifying offers before today's deadline?

Which Nationals receive qualifying offers before today's deadline?
The time many Nationals fans have been dreading is nearing. Free agency officially begins after the clock strikes midnight, meaning beloved veterans Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond, Denard Span, Doug Fister, Matt Thornton and Dan Uggla have the right to sign elsewhere. Before then, the Nationals have until 5 p.m. today to extend a qualifying offer to any of their pending free agent players. The qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth $15.8 million, the average of the top 125 salaries in the...

The Nationals and qualifying offers

The Nationals and qualifying offers
Baseball is a game dictated by numbers, and we now know an important one that will help shape the offseason. Sports Business Journal reported late last week that the qualifying offer for pending free agents this year will be $15.8 million, up from $15.3 million last offseason. The figure is determined by averaging together the top 125 salaries in the major leagues. Teams have until five days after the World Series to extend a qualifying offer to their prospective free agents, and the players...

Searching for Adam LaRoche

Searching for Adam LaRoche
The Nationals will have a new look next season in many respects. They will have a new manager for the first time since 2013. They will also be without Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann, two of the longest-tenured starters in their clubhouse. Not only will the players that step onto the field next season be guided by a new skipper, there also will need to be players in the clubhouse that lead by example. Those players may also need to be the sounding board for the younger players, who may need...

Ian Desmond delivers gracious message to Nationals fans

Ian Desmond delivers gracious message to Nationals fans
The sentimental goodbyes unfortunately continue for Nationals fans. On Monday afternoon, it was veteran right-hander Jordan Zimmermann offering his gratitude for the Natitude over the last seven years. Beloved shortstop Ian Desmond, who had already poured his heart out following Sunday's season finale, reflected further on his Nationals career in a message delivered on Twitter last night: pic.twitter.com/MIr1GunMpV -- Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) October 7, 2015 The Montreal Expos selected...

Jordan Zimmermann pens heartfelt farewell to Nationals fans

Jordan Zimmermann pens heartfelt farewell to Nationals fans
Jordan Zimmermann likely made his final start with the Nationals on Wednesday, taking a hard-luck 2-0 loss to the Braves. Zimmermann, 29, is expected to leave in free agency this offseason after spending his entire professional career in the Nationals organization since he was drafted in 2007. Zimmermann went 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA over seven seasons with Washington. The bulldog of the rotation started at least 32 games in each of his last four years and provided a lasting memory with his...

Ian Desmond: "I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National"

Ian Desmond: "I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National"
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Ian Desmond stood up in front of his locker as reporters approached. The bright lights of the cameras popped on reflecting off of the welling tears in Desmond's eyes. Desmond, the only player left from the organization's move from Montreal to D.C., had just finished playing most likely his final game with the Nationals. "When I got drafted by the Expos, they didn't know where the team would be," Desmond said fighting back tears. "But they couldn't have found a better...