Nats release Norris, responsible only for $688,000 of salary

Nats release Norris, responsible only for $688,000 of salary
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - From the day they signed Matt Wieters, Derek Norris knew his time with the Nationals would be short-lived. The end finally came this morning, when the club granted the 28-year-old catcher his unconditional release. Norris, who had been acquired from the Padres in early December presumably to be the Nationals' starting catcher, now becomes a free agent hoping to sign with another club before opening day. "With two weeks left in spring training, I feel like I've done...

Baker reviews Scherzer's simulated game (Nats win 5-4)

Baker reviews Scherzer's simulated game (Nats win 5-4)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 5, Astros 4 Recap: Adam Eaton, Bryce Harper and Drew Ward each homered ... Harper homered for the third straight game ... Joe Ross tossed four scoreless innings ... Jacob Turner allowed four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work ... Andrew Stevenson smacked a walk-off RBI single to left-center in the bottom of the ninth to score Wilmer Difo from third base. Need to know: Joe Nathan, who is battling for one of the sacred spots in the Nats bullpen, tossed...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Mets at Port St. Lucie

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Mets at Port St. Lucie
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Erick Fedde gets his first Grapefruit League start today when the Nationals visit the Mets at First Data Field. And he won't be pitching against a B lineup. The Mets will trot out six regulars against the right-handed pitching prospect, who has made two relief appearances this spring but hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 3. The Nationals lineup against southpaw Stephen Matz is a little short on starting position players, save for catcher Derek...

Starting lineups: Cardinals vs. Nats at West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Cardinals vs. Nats at West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Left-hander Gio González faces the Cardinals for the second time this spring in his third spring start this afternoon. He'll look to build on a successful three-inning outing from March 4 during which he allowed only a hit and a walk. In four spring innings, González has yet to allow a run. Left fielder Jayson Werth slides back into the second spot in the batting order behind shortstop Trea Turner, with center fielder Adam Eaton bouncing to the seven-hole. A...

Derek Norris focused on job, not uncertain future

Derek Norris focused on job, not uncertain future
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Derek Norris knows the math doesn't favor his long-term presence in the Nationals clubhouse. But instead of being an unhappy square peg in a round hole, the veteran catcher has adopted a workmanlike approach while his unique situation plays itself out. For the most part, that means doing what he's used to doing: strapping on his catcher's gear and working with pitchers, taking his turn at the plate. It most definitely doesn't include adding to his stress by worrying...

Wieters still catching bullpens, Norris dealing with sore back

Wieters still catching bullpens, Norris dealing with sore back
JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Wieters has been in a Nationals uniform for more than a week now, but has yet to take the field with his new team for a game. That development should be only a few days away, though, with the veteran catcher still focused for now on catching bullpen sessions from the Nats pitching staff. While the Nationals are playing the Cardinals today in Jupiter, Wieters stayed back in West Palm Beach and was scheduled to catch Joe Ross' bullpen session, the latest opportunity to get...

Still with Nats, Norris is making the most of his playing time

Still with Nats, Norris is making the most of his playing time
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There may be no player in the Nationals clubhouse, perhaps no player in any major league clubhouse this spring, in a position more awkward than the one Derek Norris finds himself in these days. Norris was supposed to be the Nationals' starting catcher after the organization that drafted him way back in 2007 but traded him four years later and reacquired him in December via trade with the Padres. But then the Nats signed four-time All-Star Matt Wieters after camp opened,...

Guthrie impresses in ballpark opener (Nats walk off Astros 4-3)

Guthrie impresses in ballpark opener (Nats walk off Astros 4-3)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 4, Astros 3 Recap: Michael A. Taylor threw out the potential go-ahead run from right field in the top of the ninth, with Jhonatan Solano blocking the plate and making a sweeping tag, then hit a two-out walk-off homer to left in the bottom of the inning for the win. ... The Nationals' first game at the brand-new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches began in style, with Jeremy Guthrie tossing two scoreless innings and Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper hitting...

Rizzo on Wieters, Norris, closers and Baker's contract

Rizzo on Wieters, Norris, closers and Baker's contract
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals were not all that interested in Matt Wieters when the offseason began, general manager Mike Rizzo said, but when the four-time All-Star catcher's price dropped dramatically in recent weeks they renewed contract talks and were able to complete the deal. "We touched base early in the winter, like we do with a lot of free agents," Rizzo said today, a few hours after Wieters' one-year, $10.5 million contract was officially announced. "We had limited...

More on Wieters and the Nationals' catching corps

More on Wieters and the Nationals' catching corps
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Spring training signings aren't rare. They happen every year. But spring training signings of players as notable as Matt Wieters don't happen that often, at least not for the Nationals, who at this time of year typically have brought in guys only on minor league contracts with no guarantee of an opening day roster spot. Wieters, of course, is going to be the Nats' starting catcher come opening day (barring injury). And so the news of his deal Tuesday - it's still...

Norris surprised but understands deal for Wieters

Norris surprised but understands deal for Wieters
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Derek Norris knew what was up when a group of reporters approached him at his locker following today's workout at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. "No comment!" the 28-year-old catcher barked, before quickly revealing he was joking and inviting the group to move closer to ask him about the subject on everyone's mind: Matt Wieters. Norris learned of the Nationals' plan to sign Wieters earlier in the morning when manager Dusty Baker summoned him before the workout....

Baker glad Nats got Wieters deal done now rather than wait

Baker glad Nats got Wieters deal done now rather than wait
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals' signing of Matt Wieters is a done deal, pending the catcher passing a physical, Dusty Baker said this afternoon. Now the veteran manager and his organization have to figure out what to do with their logjam behind the plate. Baker confirmed the deal in his daily press briefing, saying it was important to get Wieters in camp now rather than later this spring to ensure he has ample time to learn the Nationals' pitching staff. "It's better that we got him...

Source: Nationals progressing toward deal with Matt Wieters

Source: Nationals progressing toward deal with Matt Wieters
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals and Matt Wieters had been linked to each other all winter, seemingly a good match for both the club and the free agent catcher. This morning, the two sides appear finally to have found common ground. Though nothing is done yet, a source familiar with the talks said the Nationals are progressing toward a deal with Wieters, one that could be finalized soon. Terms of this potential deal haven't been confirmed, but Wieters reportedly will get a two-year...

Norris on learning a new staff and pitch framing metrics

Norris on learning a new staff and pitch framing metrics
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - With a new staff to learn about and only a few weeks to forge those relationships, you'd expect catcher Derek Norris to be working the Nationals clubhouse like a lobbyist works a D.C. fundraiser, making sure he spends a few minutes with every pitcher in camp to get a read on who they are, how they approach the game and how he can mesh his talents with theirs. But Norris, reacquired by the Nationals in December to be the starting catcher, isn't daunted by the 34...

Strasburg on first workout, offseason training regimen and slider

Strasburg on first workout, offseason training regimen and slider
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The 10 minutes that Stephen Strasburg reared back and fired a baseball at catcher Derek Norris on Thursday morning will quickly be forgotten. There's just too much baseball left between now and October to focus too heavily on however many pitches the right-hander could cram into 600 seconds. But for a pitcher whose 2016 season ended prematurely in early September because of a torn pronator tendon in his pitching arm, cutting loose under warm but cloudy Florida skies had...

Nationals catchers face tall task in replacing Ramos

Nationals catchers face tall task in replacing Ramos
As the start of spring training fast approaches, we're breaking down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... How do you replace an All-Star catcher who hit .307 with 22 homers, 80 RBIs, an .850 OPS and threw out 37 percent of opposing base stealers? The answer is: You don't. The Nationals will feel the loss of Wilson Ramos this season, and there's not much they can do about that. After five years battling injuries and...

What lies ahead for Pedro Severino?

What lies ahead for Pedro Severino?
If you're Nationals catcher Pedro Severino, it's been quite a whirlwind few months. Summoned from Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 2 for the stretch run, Severino's presence took on added significance on Sept. 26, when Wilson Ramos sustained a season-ending knee injury. Suddenly, Severino found himself starting two games in the National League Division Series. But since the Nats were eliminated from the playoffs, Severino has been on the proverbial roller coaster. When Ramos elected to test free...

Nats avoid arbitration with Harper, Rendon, Roark, Norris

Nats avoid arbitration with Harper, Rendon, Roark, Norris
The Nationals came to terms with all four of their arbitration-eligible players on 2017 contracts before today's deadline, avoiding the potential for contentious hearings next month with some of the most prominent members of their roster. Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Tanner Roark and Derek Norris all settled on one-year contracts before the 1 p.m. Eastern time deadline. Harper's 2017 salary will be a hefty $13.625 million, with Rendon making $5.8 million, Roark making $4.315 million and...

Arbitration deadline day for four key Nationals

Arbitration deadline day for four key Nationals
Perhaps the quietest offseason the Nationals have experienced in a long time will perk up with a little bit of news today. All major league clubs have until 1 p.m. EST to agree to salary terms with their arbitration-eligible players or else formally submit competing offers to the league, setting the stage for hearings next month. It's not necessarily the most important day of the offseason. We're not talking about decisions that affect whether someone will be playing for the Nationals in 2017...

Has the Nats lineup improved from last year?

Has the Nats lineup improved from last year?
Though the Nationals' offseason is only about two-thirds complete at this point - for these purposes we're talking about from when the postseason ended until the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training - barring a surprising turn of events, they already know who's going to be in their opening day lineup. Of course things can change between now and then, whether injuries or trades or late signings, but the Nationals by all accounts aren't actively seeking anybody at this point...