A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions

A look at a few possible back-end rotation additions
If, as it is said, you can never have enough pitching, maybe the Orioles need to consider adding a free agent starter on a one-year deal to eat some innings and help the 2019 rotation. I've written before that I'm mostly not on board with adding a pitcher and am just fine with seeing young pitchers fill out the final two rotation spots. That is after a front three in some order of Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy. But what if there is a chance to trade one of those three with a deal...

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves
A year ago, there would have been no inkling that lefty Wade Miley could be a consequential pitcher in the 2018 postseason, not when you consider his league-leading 93 walks and 5.61 ERA last season for the Orioles. But as the postseason begins, Miley, 31, is one of a list of former Orioles and Nationals players with a chance to make the World Series, most of whom were on the rosters of the local nines at the start of 2018. Manny Machado bleeds Dodger blue and Zach Britton wears Yankees...

Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released

Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released
The Nationals have announced the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs roster for the 2018 season. It will be the Nats' final season in Syracuse, though it is not known where their Triple-A affiliate will be located next season. Syracuse opens its season tonight at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Randy Knorr is the manager. The pitching coach is Brad Holman and the hitting coach is Brian Daubach. Top prospect Victor Robles is in the outfield. Erick Fedde and Austin L. Adams, who are on the Nats' 40-man roster, are...

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...

Does Hellickson signing address Nationals' rotation need?

Does Hellickson signing address Nationals' rotation need?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For months, we wondered how motivated the Nationals were to try to upgrade their rotation, whether they'd go all-in on Jake Arrieta, get involved in the trade market for Gerrit Cole or ultimately decide simply to stick with what they had and then re-examine the situation later this summer. What seemed clear from the get-go, though, was that any addition made by general manager Mike Rizzo would be for a top-tier starter, someone who could slot in behind Max Scherzer and...

Jackson on his outing, Martinez on youth and running into outs

Jackson on his outing, Martinez on youth and running into outs
LAKELAND, Fla. - Last year at this time, Edwin Jackson was home in Arizona, an unemployed pitcher throwing bullpen sessions and trying to stay ready in case someone in need of a veteran right-hander called with a job offer. After 15 major league seasons, little fazes Jackson, who's on his third tour of duty with the Nationals and hopeful of a role with what he calls a "special team." Today that role was emergency starter, a move necessitated when righty A.J. Cole came down with the stomach...

Jackson done after three (Nats win 5-4)

Jackson done after three (Nats win 5-4)
LAKELAND, Fla. - Edwin Jackson made it through three innings against the Tigers this afternoon, a laborious third running up his pitch count and hastening his exit from the game. The right-hander did a good job of minimizing the damage in the third, and was helped out by a nice play to nab Edwin Espinal at home on an ill-advised send. Espinal walked and tried to score when JaCoby Jones lashed a double to left on which Andrew Stevenson almost made a diving grab at the wall. Center fielder Brian...

Martinez on Jackson's start vs. Tigers and roster chances

Martinez on Jackson's start vs. Tigers and roster chances
LAKELAND, Fla. - He may be a rookie manager, but Davey Martinez knows enough about right-hander Edwin Jackson to understand that what you see from the veteran right-hander is what you get. "He's very low-key," Martinez said. "He's taking it one day at a time, and it's good. Like I said, he's a veteran guy and he understands the process." Martinez is referring to the elephant in the clubhouse, that Jackson seems to be a guy without a clear path to the 25-man roster. Jackson, who signed...

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Tigers in Lakeland

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Tigers in Lakeland
LAKELAND, Fla. - Today marks the Nationals' lone visit to Tigertown this spring, a far cry from when they made multiple trips here for Grapefruit League play each spring when they were headquartered in Viera. Right-hander A.J. Cole was scheduled to start today's game for the Nationals, but he was scratched, a victim of the stomach bug that's been working its way around the clubhouse. In his place, righty Edwin Jackson will get the call. There aren't many of the Nationals regulars on this...

Harper belts first homer of spring (Nats win 6-2)

Harper belts first homer of spring (Nats win 6-2)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It had been a quiet spring so far for Bryce Harper. Too quiet, to be honest. There was his introductory press conference, during which he made it clear he won't answer questions about his looming free agency. There were some nondescript at-bats in his first couple of Grapefruit League games. And then there were three days off after having an ingrown toenail removed. Sooner or later, Harper was going to do something eye-catching, right? Yep. It happened in the bottom of...

Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Tigers and Mets

Split-squad lineups: Nats vs. Tigers and Mets
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's a split-squad day for the Nationals, with one group staying back here in West Palm Beach to face the Tigers and another group heading north to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets. Between the two games, nearly everybody of consequence on the roster is playing somewhere today, and there even will be some prospects from minor league camp coming off the bench (including outfielder Juan Soto here at the home game). Gio Gonzalez starts against a Tigers lineup that includes...

Workmanlike start from Roark in spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)

Workmanlike start from Roark in spring debut (Nats lose 3-2)
JUPITER, Fla. - In his spring debut for 2018, Tanner Roark flashed some of what made him one of the majors' most effective starters in 2014 and 2016 but left him a frustrated pitcher in 2017: Well-located two-seam fastballs. Roark used that bread-and-butter pitch this afternoon to strike out the side in the bottom of the second against the Marlins, capping an efficient performance in his first outing of the spring. Roark needed an inning to get his feet wet, allowing a single to J.T. Realmuto...

Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again

Nats take BP at home before road game, Raburn out again
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals had plenty of reasons to want to relocate their spring training headquarters from remote Viera to the more centrally located West Palm Beach, but here's another one: the chance to take batting practice at home before a road game in Jupiter. That's what the Nats did today, keeping everyone back at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for a full morning workout and BP session before the travel squad and coaching staff boarded buses at 11:45 a.m. and make the quick...

Martinez: Cole has "upper hand" for No. 5 starter's job

Martinez: Cole has "upper hand" for No. 5 starter's job
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals admittedly don't have many jobs up for grabs this spring, a scenario few other clubs can appreciate, but the highest-profile competition this spring is of keen interest to Davey Martinez. With the top four slots in his rotation well established and locked in, Martinez needs only to decide who will serve as his No. 5 starter come April. The candidates, for now: inconsistent right-hander A.J. Cole, top prospect Erick Fedde and veteran journeyman Edwin...

Nats announce minor league invitees, 61 players in camp

Nats announce minor league invitees, 61 players in camp
Sixty-one players in total will report for spring training this week, 21 of them non-roster invitees including several with significant major league experience and several prospects from within their own organization, the Nationals announced today. With pitchers and catchers officially set to report Wednesday, the Nationals finally revealed the full spring roster, which still could expand given the plethora of prominent free agents who have yet to sign. For now, camp will feature a full 40-man...

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...

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Jackson helps Nats salvage nightcap of doubleheader

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Jackson helps Nats salvage nightcap of doubleheader
The major league hot stove has been ice cold so far this offseason. There are still plenty of big-name free agents available on the board with spring training less than three weeks away. Although the Nationals never figured to play a huge role in the free agent market this offseason, they have made a couple of re-signings to at least make this winter not completely uneventful. They re-signed Brandon Kintzler to a one-year deal to keep the Law Firm bullpen intact. Matt Adams was signed to a...

Nats bringing back Edwin Jackson on minor league deal

Nats bringing back Edwin Jackson on minor league deal
The Nationals are bringing back Edwin Jackson on a minor league contract, with a chance to compete for the final spot in their rotation this spring. Jackson and the Nats have agreed to terms on a deal that would pay the veteran right-hander $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster, with another $1.4 million possible in incentives, a source familiar with the contract confirmed. Though he'll get a chance to make the opening day rotation this spring, Jackson isn't guaranteed any money or...

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Harper and Trout put on a show in L.A.

#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Harper and Trout put on a show in L.A.
As we continue our Throwback Thursday posts, we'll defer to Bob Carpenter and his handy-dandy scorebook for this week's memorable moment from last season. We rarely get to see two of the best players in baseball go head to head, with Bryce Harper playing in the National League East and Mike Trout in the American League West. But the stars aligned - so to speak - in 2017 as the former MVPs met in, where else, the City of Angels for a two-game set. And, boy, did they put on a show from the...

Who makes the Nationals' NLDS roster?

Who makes the Nationals' NLDS roster?
The Nationals have until Friday morning to set their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series. And given some of the down-to-the-wire decisions they need to make, they might just use every remaining minute available to them before submitting that roster to Major League Baseball. First and foremost, of course, is the state of Max Scherzer's right hamstring. The ace insists he'll be pitching in this series, but the Nationals won't know for sure when he'll pitch until after he...