Nats' most significant moves in January

Nats' most significant moves in January
As the calendar turns to a new year this January, a new baseball season is on the horizon. When it will actually begin, however, remains to be seen. The lockout is currently keeping teams from making any major league roster moves, which is a shame because Mike Rizzo is usually very busy during the year's first month. No matter the pace of an offseason's free agent market, we have seen the Nationals general manager put together a competitive roster well before the start of spring training year...

Report: Albers heading to Brewers on two-year deal

Report: Albers heading to Brewers on two-year deal
Matt Albers has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with the Brewers, parlaying his career season in the Nationals bullpen into a $5 million deal in Milwaukee. Albers' deal, reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, is still pending a physical. Once that final step is completed, the veteran right-hander will become the first prominent free agent who played for the Nationals last season to sign elsewhere for 2018. Though the Nats had some interest in attempting to re-sign Albers, he was...

Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?

Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals are in the market for at least one experienced reliever, preferably right-handed. Whether they're willing to jump right now into a market that has quickly become the most active of any position at the Winter Meetings remains to be seen. Another veteran right-handed setup man came off the board Monday when Pat Neshek returned to the Phillies for a two-year deal worth a reported $16.25 million. That came on the heels of a pair of signings Sunday: Brandon...

Pitching won't come cheap for Nationals this winter

Pitching won't come cheap for Nationals this winter
The Nationals know they need to acquire multiple pitchers this winter in hope of filling several holes vacated by departing free agents. They may have found out Wednesday just how much it's going to cost them to do it. Though the Rangers' signing of Mike Minor didn't draw major headlines, it was noted in baseball circles for one important reason: The left-hander may have just set the market for every other free agent pitcher this offseason. Consider that Minor got a three-year, $28 million...

Could the Nats re-sign any of their free agents?

Could the Nats re-sign any of their free agents?
If you scrolled through yesterday's organizational depth chart blog post, you may have noticed that the Nationals lost a significant amount of depth in a few areas when the season ended and several prominent players became free agents. All of a sudden, that remade bullpen is looking mighty thin. As is the Nats bench, which was such a strength by season's end. It doesn't have to remain that way, of course. The Nationals can (and likely will) fill those holes this winter with new signings or...

After surprising season, will Albers fit into Nats' 2018 plans?

After surprising season, will Albers fit into Nats' 2018 plans?
As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Matt Albers, perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise of the season. PLAYER REVIEW: MATT ALBERS Age on opening day 2018: 35 How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, January 2017 MLB service time: 10 years, 141 days 2017 salary: $1.15 million Contract status: Free agent in 2018 2017 stats: 7-2, 1.62 ERA, 63 G, 2 SV, 61 IP, 35 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 6 HR, 17 BB, 63 SO,...

Nats bullpen finishes off Cubs in Game 2 with masterful four innings

Nats bullpen finishes off Cubs in Game 2 with masterful four innings
It takes the offense, pitching and defense to win a playoff game. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the Nationals got the starting pitching they needed, but the offense and defense didn't have a great game in a 3-0 loss to the Cubs. In Game 2, Nats starter Gio Gonzalez allowed three runs in five innings of work. In order for the club to have a chance to come back, they needed the bullpen to step up. Five hurlers did just that, never allowing the Cubs a chance to add on...

Goodwin in Florida, could make NLDS roster (Nats lose 7-5)

Goodwin in Florida, could make NLDS roster (Nats lose 7-5)
PHILADELPHIA - Brian Goodwin probably won't be returning to play for the Nationals in the regular season. Which doesn't mean he might not still return to play for them in the National League Division Series. Goodwin, out since Aug. 13 with a strained groin, has left the club and is now in West Palm Beach, Fla., playing in instructional league games. The outfielder will stay there through the weekend, manager Dusty Baker said, and could use that as a springboard to joining the active roster...

Houston natives Rendon and Albers set up relief fund for victims of Hurricane Harvey

Houston natives Rendon and Albers set up relief fund for victims of Hurricane Harvey
Anthony Rendon and Matt Albers have had their minds and hearts with Texas for the last few days as Hurricane Harvey has devastated parts of the state, including their hometown of Houston. On Tuesday evening, the duo set up a YouCaring page, raising money to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, with proceeds going directly to the Houston Food Bank plus other area shelters. In less than 24 hours, the page surpassed the original $50,000 goal, which has now been raised to $80,000. More than 600...

Jackson uses veteran savvy to wiggle out of early jam

Jackson uses veteran savvy to wiggle out of early jam
Right-hander Edwin Jackson allowed a Giancarlo Stanton home run and three walks in the first inning but managed to get out of the jam. The veteran ended up lasting six innings and giving up three runs as the Nationals came back to win 8-3. Walking the bases loaded could have ruined the game, but Jackson held on. With two outs, Tomás Telis lined out to Trea Turner, who dove to his right and made a diving catch, fresh off a return from a broken right wrist, to end the threat. "That was huge....

Albers, Rendon try to balance baseball with families in Houston

Albers, Rendon try to balance baseball with families in Houston
For 21 hours each of the last several days, Matt Albers and Anthony Rendon's minds have been on Houston, on their families and their friends trying to survive through the worst flooding incident their hometown has ever experienced. And then for three hours each day, the two Nationals try everything they can to block out the more important matters at home and concentrate all their attention on their jobs. It's no easy task. "It's definitely a challenge," Rendon said after Tuesday night's...

Pérez and Albers keep Marlins at bay on way to 8-3 win

Pérez and Albers keep Marlins at bay on way to 8-3 win
The big moment defensively for the Nationals in Tuesday's divisional matchup with the Marlinscame in the top of the seventh. The Nats were clinging to a 5-2 lead, but the Marlins started the inning with two singles off starter Edwin Jackson. Dee Gordon sacrificed back to Jackson, whose throw to Ryan Zimmerman at first base was off line, allowing a run to score. Suddenly, the Nats' lead was cut to 5-3. Jackson intentionally walked the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton, who had already connected with...

Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18

Nationals trounce Marlins again, reduce magic number to 18
Their ace and their veteran outfielder returned Monday night, leading to victory. Their leadoff man and shortstop returned tonight, contributing to victory. The Nationals are looking more and more whole these days, and not surprisingly, the results are reflecting that. With Trea Turner back atop the lineup tonight after a two-month absence, the Nats finally solved pesky Marlins right-hander Vance Worley and put up their second straight big night at the plate. And thanks to another quality start...

Rendon and Albers concerned for victims of hometown Houston flooding

Rendon and Albers concerned for victims of hometown Houston flooding
The hurricane, rain and subsequent flooding of tropical storm Harvey in and around Houston has been devastating for so many in Texas and the surrounding areas. The tragedy has hit home for Nationals' Houston natives Anthony Rendon and Matt Albers. Rendon said his family has to move to his home in the Houston area because of the flooding at their own homes. "I have been talking to everybody, texting them and calling my parents every morning," Rendon said. "They actually just left my house...

In a bind, Nationals get a pitching gem from six relievers

In a bind, Nationals get a pitching gem from six relievers
SAN DIEGO - The task - getting nine innings out of a menagerie of relievers after Max Scherzer had to be scratched from Friday night's start - was daunting enough. Dusty Baker simply hoped he could get through this game without burning up his entire pitching staff, let alone actually beat the Padres. But when emergency starter Matt Grace was able to go 4 1/3 innings without surrendering a run, a task that felt awfully daunting at the beginning of the night suddenly felt doable. And thanks to...

Gonzalez cruises, Kendrick homers twice in Nats' 3-1 win

Gonzalez cruises, Kendrick homers twice in Nats' 3-1 win
Gio Gonzalez kept dominating, Howie Kendrick kept homering and the Nationals bullpen kept finishing things off tonight during a 3-1 victory over the Angels. Gonzalez tossed six scoreless innings, failing to give up a hit until there were two outs in his final frame, and continued his standout season with yet another gem. The left-hander now sports an 11-5 record and 2.49 ERA, has gone at least five innings in all 24 of his starts, has 20 quality starts, has allowed more than four runs only once...

Baker now has several arms to choose from in his bullpen

Baker now has several arms to choose from in his bullpen
With the arrival of three new relievers - Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler - general manager Mike Rizzo has done a nice job of retooling the Nationals bullpen. It has already made life easier for manager Dusty Baker. On Monday night, Baker employed Kintzler and Doolittle to get the final six outs in a 3-2 Nats win over the Marlins. But did Baker consider Madson in last night's situation? "All three of those guys have been in those situations before. All three have closed. All...

Rough first inning dooms Nationals in 7-4 loss to Cubs

Rough first inning dooms Nationals in 7-4 loss to Cubs
CHICAGO - A disastrous first inning from Edwin Jackson left the Nationals trying to climb their way out of a significant hole nearly from the get-go this afternoon at Wrigley Field. But every time they made some progress and nearly got their heads back up to ground level, the Cubs pushed them back down the hole and made them start all over again. The end result: a 7-4 loss on a long and often frustrating afternoon at the Friendly Confines, setting up a rubber match Sunday afternoon, not only to...

Nats overcome injuries to Strasburg, Romero in 6-2 victory

Nats overcome injuries to Strasburg, Romero in 6-2 victory
PHOENIX - They lost Stephen Strasburg to an apparent injury in the third inning. They lost Enny Romero to an apparent injury in the seventh inning. They had a makeshift lineup after losing two more outfielders on Saturday. They were facing an opponent with a potent lineup and an All-Star on the mound. Recipe for disaster for the Nationals, right? No, not at all. In spite of all those hurdles, the Nats somehow found a way to cobble together a 6-2 victory over the Diamondbacks this afternoon,...

By answering the call, Grace making Baker take note

By answering the call, Grace making Baker take note
CINCINNATI - It took Matt Grace one pitch to escape a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night. But the 90 mph sinker he got Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart to ground to second base for the game's final out was more than just a shining example of pitch efficiency of a pitcher whose stock continues to rise. When Stephen Drew dove to his left to smother the grounder, throwing to first base for the 27th out the Nationals needed to secure a 5-0 win, Grace got his first...