Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro

Monday morning thoughts on Robles, Fedde and Castro
Some thoughts on this Memorial Day morning as the Nationals try to put a brutal weekend sweep at the hands of the Brewers behind them and look ahead to a four-game series at the Braves beginning at 5:05 p.m. today ... * Victor Robles might be ready to rejoin the club today. The injured center fielder went on a rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon at Bowie and put together a solid batting line. Serving as the Senators leadoff man and designated hitter, he went 1-for-2...

MASN to air "Kolko & Friends" at 7 p.m. on May 19

MASN to air "Kolko & Friends" at 7 p.m. on May 19
If you're among those who are missing Nationals baseball - and since the game is the sole focus of our website, we're guessing that's pretty much all of you are - MASN has a brief respite from the coronavirus gloom and doom. "Kolko & Friends," presented by Budweiser and featuring "Nats Xtra" host Dan Kolko, will air tonight at 7 p.m. on MASN. Additionally, "Kolko & Friends" will stream on Facebook Live, YouTube and nationals.com. So if you're away from your television this...

Nats sign Brignac to minors deal, Espinosa goes to Yankees

Nats sign Brignac to minors deal, Espinosa goes to Yankees
The Nationals are bringing in some extra infield insurance, signing veteran Reid Brignac to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp this spring. Brignac's signing, which was confirmed by a club source and first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, gives the Nats another experienced infielder whose services may be required if Daniel Murphy isn't ready to return from his October knee surgery by opening day. The Nationals already have Wilmer Difo available to start at...

Tracking down some former Nationals position players

Tracking down some former Nationals position players
If you've been thinking this offseason has been awfully quiet so far, you're not alone. The World Series ended four weeks ago, with free agency officially beginning five days later, and there has been next-to-no significant news across the baseball world. Eventually, that will change, most likely in the days leading up to the Winter Meetings (which begin Dec. 11 in Orlando). Until then, we'll keep trying to fill the void around here with content on a variety of topics. Like this one. The...

How will Turner perform at shortstop?

How will Turner perform at shortstop?
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, and so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with Trea Turner taking over as the everyday shortstop ... Say what you want about Danny Espinosa's oft-maddening approach at the plate and how you won't miss watching that four times a night. But here's something you most certainly will miss watching: Espinosa in the field. There was a certain comforting feeling...

No. 4 Nats prospect: Wilmer Difo

No. 4 Nats prospect: Wilmer Difo
Shortstop Wilmer Difo was so critical to the Nationals' late-season push that he made the postseason roster and had the final at-bat in the National League Division Series. But he is still a young prospect, and is important to the Nats' infield depth. Baseball America's top 10 Nationals prospects list has him at No. 4. No. 4: SS Wilmer Difo I asked Baseball America national writer Teddy Cahill if they believe Difo is good enough to make the Nats' 25-man roster in 2017. "That is the key...

Mike Rizzo: "I have no beef ... with Danny Espinosa"

Mike Rizzo: "I have no beef ... with Danny Espinosa"
Mike Rizzo said he had been working on a trade that would send Danny Espinosa to the Angels for the last week and that the deal that was finally consummated Saturday night wasn't a response to anything the infielder had said or demanded about his role with the Nationals in 2017. Espinosa was in position to lose his starting shortstop job after the Nationals traded for outfielder Adam Eaton on Wednesday, a move that in turn pushes Trea Turner to his natural position on the left side of the...

Espinosa traded to Angels for two minor league pitchers

Espinosa traded to Angels for two minor league pitchers
Danny Espinosa's long and often tumultuous tenure with the Nationals came to end Saturday night when the veteran infielder was traded to the Angels for a pair of minor league pitchers. Coming to Washington's farm system are 25-year-old right-handers Kyle McGowin and Austin Adams. McGowin, who was 9-14 with a 5.83 ERA in 27 combined starts between the Angels' Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, was rated the organization's 20th-best prospect, according to MLB.com. Adams, who posted a 3.05 ERA...

More thoughts on yesterday's moves and non-moves

More thoughts on yesterday's moves and non-moves
Friday turned out to be a busy day for the Nationals, but not for the reason many were expecting. There was no trade with the Pirates for Andrew McCutchen, not yet at least. But there was a trade with the Padres for Derek Norris. And there was the non-tendering of Ben Revere, coinciding with the tendering of Danny Espinosa. What does it all mean in the bigger picture? Some thoughts on each of the moves (and non-moves)... * The McCutchen trade didn't happen yesterday, which may have prompted...

Nats non-tender Revere, retain others (including Espinosa)

Nats non-tender Revere, retain others (including Espinosa)
Ben Revere's tenure with the Nationals has ended after one disappointing season. Danny Espinosa's tumultuous tenure with the organization will extend into its ninth year. The Nationals elected not to tender a contract to Revere before tonight's 8 p.m. deadline, cutting the outfielder loose and making him a free agent. Four players who are eligible for arbitration - Espinosa, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Tanner Roark - all were tendered contracts. The latter three were all expected,...

Nats face tender decisions before deadline tonight

Nats face tender decisions before deadline tonight
So much of what the Nationals do this winter is dependent on something else they do. They won't know if Trea Turner is their center fielder or shortstop until they either acquire another outfielder or not. They won't know if Danny Espinosa is still their shortstop until they know if Turner is switching positions. There are dominoes lined up all over the place, but most of them can't fall until the first one does. Which may finally begin to happen today. Whether they're able to consummate a...

After an all-too-familiar year, what does future hold for Espinosa?

After an all-too-familiar year, what does future hold for Espinosa?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Danny Espinosa, who once again tantalized everyone with a midseason power surge, but once again finished with unimpressive numbers because of an inability to consistently make contact. PLAYER REVIEW: DANNY ESPINOSA Age on opening day 2017: 29 How acquired: Third-round pick, 2008 draft MLB service time: 5 years, 113 days 2016 salary: $2.875 million Contract status:...

Top five offseason storylines for the Nationals

Top five offseason storylines for the Nationals
It happened much sooner than anyone around here wanted, but it's now officially the offseason in D.C., and there's nothing anybody can do to change that. This figures to be quite a compelling offseason for the Nationals, who will be motivated to do what they can to put themselves in a better position to advance deeper into October in 2017 than they did in 2016. At the same time, most of the necessary pieces are already in place. General manager Mike Rizzo doesn't have to do a whole lot this...

Espinosa lifts Nationals to early lead (Dodgers win 4-3, take NLDS 3-2)

Espinosa lifts Nationals to early lead (Dodgers win 4-3, take NLDS 3-2)
Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer benefited from a spectacular diving catch to begin Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. Chase Utley drove a ball deep into the gap of left-center field. Trea Turner raced to his right and dove to make the catch. Scherzer was able to get the next two batters on grounders. For the first time in the NLDS, the Dodgers did not score in the first inning. Scherzer also got the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the second inning. Left-hander Rich Hill...

District 34 podcast: NLDS Game 5 preview

District 34 podcast: NLDS Game 5 preview
It all comes down to this: Game 5 of the National League Division Series between the Nationals and Dodgers. The winner-take-all game doesn't start until 8 p.m. at Nats Park, so Byron Kerr and I have a preview episode of the District 34 podcast to get you ready for tonight's showdown. With a chance to advance to face the Cubs in the NLCS, the Nationals need just one more over the Dodgers after splitting the first four games of this series. So how did we get here? What have the Nationals done...

Nats need offense to keep rolling to advance Thursday

Nats need offense to keep rolling to advance Thursday
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals lost Game 4 of the National League Division Series, but their offense showed life again. Despite a 6-5 loss to the Dodgers, the Nationals made a big comeback from being down 5-2 to tie the game at 5-5 in the seventh. In the last three games, the bats have clicked to score 18 runs. Players like Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner and Danny Espinosa are contributing. Jose Lobaton had a three-run shot in Game 2 that...

"It's win or go home - it's time to win"

"It's win or go home - it's time to win"
LOS ANGELES - It was the kind of sequence that championship clubs so often put together in October. Trailing late in a critical postseason game, facing one of the best in the sport, somehow finding a way to string together several quality at-bats and produce an inspiring rally. The Nationals did all that in the top of the seventh today at Dodger Stadium, and after Daniel Murphy's two-out, two-run single brought home the tying run, it was perfectly appropriate to wonder whether this would be...

Late rally not quite enough for Nationals in tense Game 4 loss

Late rally not quite enough for Nationals in tense Game 4 loss
LOS ANGELES - The seventh-inning rally, featuring so many quality at-bats and a little bit of good fortune, had brought the Nationals back from the brink, improbably giving them five runs off Clayton Kershaw and leaving the fate of Game 4 of the National League Division Series hanging in the balance. But the Dodgers weren't totally deflated, despite their best efforts to melt down in front of 49,617 of their fans. They clawed their way back, plating the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth...

Baker not giving up on Espinosa just yet

Baker not giving up on Espinosa just yet
LOS ANGELES - Shortstop Danny Espinosa has struggled to get on track in the National League Division Series. He is 0-for-5 with a run scored in the first two games of the series. In Game 1, he struck out his first three times up and then popped up to third base. In Game 2, Espinosa was hit by a pitch in each of his first two plate appearances, but then struck out in the sixth and eighth innings. So with five strikeouts in the first two games of the NLDS, manager Dusty Baker was asked if he...

NLDS Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers

NLDS Game 2 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
It's a gray, dreary afternoon in the District, perhaps appropriate given the mood around here after last night's frustrating 4-3 loss in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. The Nationals are basically in must-win territory today in Game 2, not a position they want to be in, but the position they find themselves in regardless. Tanner Roark, though, is a good person to have on the mound for a situation like this. You know Roark isn't going to let the pressure get to him. And you...