Strasburg to DL, Milone called up to start tonight in Miami

Strasburg to DL, Milone called up to start tonight in Miami
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg, listed as the starter for tonight's series opener in Miami, has been scratched and placed on the 10-day disabled list with cervical nerve impingement. The move is retroactive to July 22. Additionally, the Nats designated infielder José Marmolejos for assignment. Left-hander Tommy Milone has been called up from Triple-A Syracuse to make tonight's start. The Nats are in Miami through Sunday for a critical four-game series. In Milwaukee, Strasburg went through...

Nationals make 12 cuts; Montero makes opening day roster

Nationals make 12 cuts; Montero makes opening day roster
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals roster isn't down to 25 players just yet, and it doesn't appear it will be until after the club heads north and plays its final exhibition game Tuesday in D.C. But with a flurry of moves today, the Nats did finally settle a few important matters and codify the final remaining decisions they have to make before Thursday's season opener in Cincinnati. Today's transactions: Austin L. Adams, Pedro Severino and Andrew Stevenson were optioned to Triple-A...

Finding meaningful developments on an ugly day for Nats

Finding meaningful developments on an ugly day for Nats
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Earlier this spring, Davey Martinez explained that he never lets himself obsess over a day's game for more than 30 minutes upon its completion, win or lose. In this sport, there's no value in stressing out over what just happened, not when there's another game to prepare for in 24 hours. So as he sat in his office this afternoon following an excruciating 12-3 exhibition loss to the Astros that featured just about every manner of sloppiness possible in one ballgame,...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Would you believe we're now only two weeks away from opening day? It's true: A mere 14 days from now, the Nationals will be taking the field in Cincinnati for a game that actually counts in the standings. If you're looking for the Nats to field their full "A" lineup for the first time this spring, though, you're going to have to keep waiting. Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and Ryan Zimmerman continue to get their at-bats in minor league games, and Daniel Murphy...

Zimmerman nearing game at-bats, Martinez says

Zimmerman nearing game at-bats, Martinez says
JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman got dressed and headed out to take batting practice this morning in West Palm Beach, still attired in long pants even though most of the rest of the Nationals had switched into shorts and t-shirts, the uniform of the day for their morning workout. Another day passed without Zimmerman in the lineup for a Grapefruit League game - he's played only once, doubling in one of his two at-bats on March 3, and his Grapefruit League average has been stuck on .500 for since...

Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"

Martinez's dugout debut "just another spring training game"
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - His position along the first base line, with 70-some others in Nationals uniforms standing to his right and only home plate to his left, was unfamiliar. Davey Martinez had never stood at the head of the line for a national anthem before, and this was a particularly poignant anthem, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Angelique Meneses singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" one week after 17 people were killed at her high school in nearby...

Milone sets tone with solid spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

Milone sets tone with solid spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tommy Milone would need a lot of things - bad things, from the Nationals' perspective - to happen to find his way into the opening day rotation. But a few more outings like he offered up today and the journeyman left-hander, if nothing else, will have made a strong impression on the club's decision-makers, which could pay off down the road. Handed the ball to start today's Grapefruit League opener, Milone set the tone with a solid two-inning performance that was as...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach (updated)

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Astros in West Palm Beach (updated)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - No, it doesn't count. No, it won't feature many recognizable names. But you know what? It's still a baseball game and it's going to be played today. Yes, the Grapefruit League has arrived, and not a moment too soon for fans who have patiently waited since October for the Nationals to take the field once again. Today's exhibition opener will be played in the Nats' home ballpark but it won't be a Nats home game. The World Series champion Astros get to play host for...

Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?

Spring training storylines: Who's the fifth starter?
The final countdown to spring training has arrived, so we're spending the final days of the offseason counting down the Nationals' top storylines of the spring. We begin today with the open competition for the fifth spot in the opening day rotation ... The Nationals have been a contender for six full seasons now, and throughout that time, they have maintained that status by employing one of baseball's most talented, deepest starting rotations. And throughout this entire stretch, we've...

Thoughts on last week's Adams and Milone signings

Thoughts on last week's Adams and Milone signings
If I've learned nothing else in 13 years on this beat, it's this: The best way to ensure the Nationals make some offseason news is to go on vacation. It has happened before, and it happened again last week. While I was soaking up the sun (and watching the Capitals blow a sure-win over the wretched Coyotes) with my family in Arizona, the Nats went and signed two free agents: Matt Adams and Tommy Milone. These weren't major moves, not in the least. In Milone's case, it's actually a minor...

Tommy Milone returning to Nationals (updated)

Tommy Milone returning to Nationals (updated)
A former Nationals pitcher is returning to D.C. The Nats have signed left-hander Tommy Milone to a minor league contract, an industry source has confirmed. He will receive an invitation to major league spring training. Milone, 30, was drafted by the Nats in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern California and made his major league debut with the club in 2011, going 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five September starts and homering in his major league debut on Sept. 3 against...

Looking back on the Gio Gonzalez trade

Looking back on the Gio Gonzalez trade
There's a tendency for fans to judge every trade made on its face value in the moments immediately after the deal is consummated and announced. This can be tricky, since raw emotion, rather than careful consideration, takes over. It's often better - and more useful - to judge a trade in three ways: immediate impact, short-term results and long-term gains or losses. Yes, it's natural to have an opinion once a deal is struck. But how a deal plays out for the coming season, even a few seasons...

Former Nationals hurler Milone right at home in California

Former Nationals hurler Milone right at home in California
Continuing to display the promise demonstrated in his Nationals late-season introduction, left-hander Tommy Milone is off to a great start with the Oakland Athletics. Through nine starts, the former Nationals hurler has gone 6-3 with a 3.75 ERA, recording 32 strikeouts to lead the Athletics. The southpaw has adjusted well, returning to his home state in a trade with pitchers Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, and catcher Derek Norris, during the offseason. The Nationals received pitchers Gio...

41st-round pick Peacock thankful Nationals "treated me like a first-rounder"

41st-round pick Peacock thankful Nationals "treated me like a first-rounder"
Right-hander Brad Peacock is excited about the new challenge of pitching in the American League with the Oakland A's and is very thankful for his time and experience with the Nationals. The trade was made official Friday. Gio Gonzalez and one minor league pitcher Robert Gilliam were acquired by the Nationals in exchange for Peacock, Tom Milone, Derek Norris and A.J. Cole. "I was surprised," Peacock said. "(But) it is definitely a good thing. I know the Nationals wouldn't steer me wrong....

After Gonzalez trade, what's left in Nationals' system?

After Gonzalez trade, what's left in Nationals' system?
The announcement of the blockbuster trade drew a few gasps at the prospects the Nationals gave up to get left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A's. Those prospects represented among the top players in the franchise's coveted minor league system, according to Baseball America. Specifically, Brad Peacock (No. 3), A.J. Cole (No. 4), Derek Norris (No. 9) and Tom Milone (No.16 in 2010) were considered among the best the Nationals had to offer. This deal was pretty much the package the...

Price was high, but Nats finally get workhorse arm in Gio Gonzalez (updated)

Price was high, but Nats finally get workhorse arm in Gio Gonzalez (updated)
There are all kinds of reasons to make a trade - you're trying to fill a hole, you're trying to loosen a positional logjam, you need to create a pathway for a promising young player. The Nationals' acquisition Thursday afternoon of left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A's in exchange for four prospects solves a glaring need in the Washington rotation: someone to log lots of innings and take the pressure off younger starters coming off injuries. Both sides have agreed in principle to...

Rizzo: Nationals' pitching depth necessary currency to pull off major trade

Rizzo: Nationals' pitching depth necessary currency to pull off major trade
The Nationals' September call-ups of left-hander Tommy Milone and right-hander Brad Peacock signal a big step in the organization from a talent perspective. Since the Nationals arrived in D.C., never has the team been able to bring up a pair of starters at this point of the season who show they are ready to pitch right now at the major league level. Couple that with the resurgence of Ross Detwiler, the re-emergence of Chien-Ming Wang and steady pitching of veteran John Lannan, and general...

Success of call-ups with Nationals not going unnoticed by prospects

Success of call-ups with Nationals not going unnoticed by prospects
September has been a good month for the Nationals as the season winds down and a great deal of the credit for the surge goes to the youth infusion from Triple-A Syracuse and the return of fireballer Stephen Strasburg. Pitchers Strasburg, Tommy Milone and Brad Peacock have been very impressive: Strasburg with an ERA below 1.30 and back-to-back wins for Milone and Peacock at Citi Field in New York last week, are signals that the Nationals' pitching staff is in good hands for seasons to...

Rizzo: Harper could still play in postseason for Harrisburg

Rizzo: Harper could still play in postseason for Harrisburg
Quick news and notes from Nationals Park.... Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero said he is hoping to play in the Dominican league for winter ball. Last year, he played in Puerto Rico. He said it has always been important for him to face top flight challenges in off season to maintain his consistency at the plate and in the field. Marrero says he thinks Syracuse catcher and former teammate Jhonatan Solano is likely to join him in the Dominican, and there is potential for other teammates to...

Desmond says Nationals are producing "winners" down on the farm

Desmond says Nationals are producing "winners" down on the farm
Looking out at the field Saturday night you got to witness the future of the Nationals. You also got to witness the first fruit of a Nationals' system rebuilt by the likes of general manager Mike Rizzo and staff over the past few seasons. There was a lot of home grown talent on the field for first pitch against the New York Mets. Left-hander Tommy Milone was making his major league debut. He was on the mound. Shortstop Ian Desmond and second baseman Danny Espinosa were a tandem built from...