Why the Nats keep finding themselves in need of catchers

Why the Nats keep finding themselves in need of catchers
The Nationals' acquisition Thursday evening of Alex Avila was no surprise. Which is to say, we'd known for months they were going to need to acquire a catcher from outside the organization to replace Kurt Suzuki and share the job with Yan Gomes. Whether it was Avila or one of the other available free agents, the Nats had to get themselves another catcher this winter, one way or the other. Why? Because they didn't feel like they had a viable in-house candidate for that job. And truth be told,...

Martinez on Eaton's return; Elías has Grade 1 strain (Nats lose 5-4)

Martinez on Eaton's return; Elías has Grade 1 strain (Nats lose 5-4)
ATLANTA - Nationals manager Davey Martinez elected to get Adam Eaton back in the lineup tonight for the third game of four at SunTrust Park against the Braves. This will be Eaton's first start since Sept. 2. Eaton is batting second and in right field. "It'll be nice to get him up there, get him at the top of the order," Martinez said. "Between him and Trea (Turner), get on base, get something going." Martinez said getting feedback from Eaton last night on how he felt running during the...

Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles
This year's Battle of the Beltways doesn't have the same juice as some previous versions did. Some of that is due to the two participants' very different records. Some of that is due to the odd scheduling, with two weeknight games in each city, one month apart from each other. Whatever the case, the Nationals and Orioles renew acquaintances tonight. And from the Nats' perspective, these are must-win games. They split the two games at Camden Yards in July. That won't cut it this time, not...

Voth to start Tuesday at Baltimore (Nats fall 4-3)

Voth to start Tuesday at Baltimore (Nats fall 4-3)
PHILADELPHIA - Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that right-hander Austin Voth will be called up for Tuesday's first game of the series against the Orioles. "I like what Austin's done when he was up here and then his last outing down there he pitched really, really well," Martinez said. "I like the fact that he goes out there and he has presence. he has poise. He's throwing the ball well. We're going to give him another opportunity to start." The 27-year-old has no record and a...

Flurry of cuts bring Nats to brink of final roster decisions

Flurry of cuts bring Nats to brink of final roster decisions
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals pared their roster down to 30 following today's 4-4 exhibition tie against the Cardinals, leaving only a handful of candidates still competing for the final spots in their opening day bullpen and bench. Right-hander Joe Ross was optioned to Triple-A Fresno, where he'll be stretched out as a starter. Fellow starter Erick Fedde and catcher Spencer Kieboom also were optioned, though they will open the season at Double-A Harrisburg because the organization...

Ross sharp in his longest outing of spring as Nats win 6-5 over Mets

Ross sharp in his longest outing of spring as Nats win 6-5 over Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Right-hander Joe Ross looked comfortable and his pitches were sharp in his first start of spring since returning from Tommy John surgery. Ross allowed a two-run shot to Michael Conforto, but finished three innings looking strong, mixing four pitches and hitting mid-90s with his fastball. Ross fired 61 pitches, 44 for strikes, scattering four hits, allowing two runs with no walks and striking out three. It was his longest outing of spring training in his sixth overall...

Highlights from today's opening workout

Highlights from today's opening workout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The first workout of the spring featured an extended "Circle of Trust," some serious talk, some laughter, a moment of silence, a bunch of bullpen sessions, and plenty of grunts and curse words out of Max Scherzer. Suffice it to say, the Nationals ran through the full gamut during the nearly two-hour session outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, and there was an extra bounce in their steps. "I got here a little early because I was ready, biting at the bit,"...

Nats hoping two new catchers will be better than one star

Nats hoping two new catchers will be better than one star
As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ... The Nationals didn't get enough production from their catchers the last two seasons. Of this, no one can deny. Matt Wieters, well-liked as he was by members of the pitching staff and the rest of the clubhouse, simply could not hit well enough to justify as much playing time as he received. Trouble was, none of the Nats'...

Harper and Machado are connected as teams pursue them

Harper and Machado are connected as teams pursue them
It appears again that the Bryce Harper hot stove is connected to the Manny Machado hot stove. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the White Sox have made a formal offer to Machado. The former Orioles and Dodgers infielder is reportedly seeking a 10-year deal worth more than $300 million. Ironically, that is the same offer that the Nationals reportedly made to Harper and his agent when their negotiations began after the 2018 season. Sports-talk radio station 670 The Score in Chicago...

Carter Kieboom on playing second base: "They have that trust in me"

Carter Kieboom on playing second base: "They have that trust in me"
Carter Kieboom was able to play second base once a week during the Arizona Fall League this year after playing shortstop exclusively in his entire professional career. Kieboom said at Nationals Winterfest he understands the Nats think very highly of him to fast track him a bit, working at another position and getting a shot to play against the best in the AFL. "It always feel good when you receive that sort of positive attention," Kieboom said. "I think as a player that's kind of what you...

Kurt Suzuki returns to Nats on two-year deal

Kurt Suzuki returns to Nats on two-year deal
The Nationals have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent catcher Kurt Suzuki, pending a physical, a source confirmed to MASNsports.com. If Suzuki passes the physical, the club will announce the deal Tuesday. Suzuki, 35, will be returning to the Nationals, where he was catcher for parts of the 2012 and 2013 campaigns. He arrived in D.C. in 2012 from Oakland, where had caught for five and a years. After leaving D.C. his batting average went up. In 2013, he hit .222 with the Nats and .303 in...

Did Kieboom show enough to merit No. 2 catching job in 2019?

Did Kieboom show enough to merit No. 2 catching job in 2019?
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Spencer Kieboom, who was supposed to be in D.C. short-term but wound up sticking around most of the season. PLAYER REVIEW: SPENCER KIEBOOM Age on opening day 2019: 28 How acquired: Fifth-round pick, 2012 draft MLB service time: 149 days 2018 salary: $545,000 Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2021, free agent in 2024 2018...

Martinez sees good things from Kieboom

Martinez sees good things from Kieboom
Nationals manager Davey Martinez has been impressed with the progress he has seen from backup catcher Spencer Kieboom this season. Kieboom got his opportunity early in the season when Pedro Severino struggled at the plate and Matt Wieters battled injury. This season, Kieboom, 27, has demonstrated the biggest key element for young catchers working with Nats pitchers: being able to call the game to give that pitcher the best chance to succeed. He played one game for the Nats in 2016. This season,...

Nats give away extra outs in 10th, allowing Cubs to take 4-3 win

Nats give away extra outs in 10th, allowing Cubs to take 4-3 win
In a game that stretched to extra innings, and close to four hours, the Chicago Cubs found a way to generate enough offense in the 10th to score a run on closer Sean Doolittle and beat the Nationals 4-3. The Nats' (74-73) win streak ends at five games. They now quickly head to Atlanta for a three-game series against the Braves. In the top of the 10th with one-out against Doolittle (3-3), Kris Bryant doubled to left-center field. Former Nats second baseman Daniel Murphy reached on an infield...

Fedde, Kieboom lead Nats to 3-1 win in opener (updated)

Fedde, Kieboom lead Nats to 3-1 win in opener (updated)
PHILADELPHIA - The infield was playable. The rain held off. Gabe Kapler used 23 of his 39 available players. Erick Fedde put forth the best start of his young career. Spencer Kieboom lost a tooth and then hit his first career home run. And there's still another game to be played tonight at Citizens Bank Park. Who knows what the nightcap of this doubleheader has in store, but the Nationals certainly can't complain about what took place during their 3-1 victory over the Phillies in the...

Given another shot, Kieboom makes most of opportunity

Given another shot, Kieboom makes most of opportunity
Painted into a corner in May when their lack of catching depth was exposed, the Nationals gave Spencer Kieboom a shot. Suffice it to say that the 27-year-old rookie has seized the opportunity. KIeboom, whose major league experience was limited to a single at-bat (he walked) on the final day of the 2016 season, was pressed into service when starting catcher Matt Wieters was injured and placed on the disabled list on May 11. Pedro Severino took over the regular backstop duties and Kieboom had his...

Scherzer good for Nats, Nola better in 2-0 Phillies win

Scherzer good for Nats, Nola better in 2-0 Phillies win
On this day, in a battle of National League Cy Young candidates, Max Scherzer was good, but Aaron Nola was just a little bit better. Scherzer went seven innings, allowing only a two-run homer by Odúbel Herrera in the seventh that lifted the Phillies past the Nationals 2-0, preventing a three-game sweep. Scherzer allowed just one other hit, struck out 10 and walked four. He threw 109 pitches, 65 for strikes. It was the 14th time this season he has stuck out 10 or more batters in a game and...

Wieters relieved, determined to improve after trade deadline

Wieters relieved, determined to improve after trade deadline
Like everyone else in the Nationals clubhouse, Matt Wieters was well aware of the dilemma his team's front office faced earlier this week as the July 31 trade deadline approached. And Wieters knew he might be affected more than just about anyone else, given his struggles the last two seasons and the sense general manager Mike Rizzo might be seeking a catching upgrade. So when 4 p.m. Tuesday came and went and Wieters realized that his situation - like the majority of the roster - hadn't...

Nats left frustrated by 10-inning loss, on multiple levels

Nats left frustrated by 10-inning loss, on multiple levels
MIAMI - They could have made it all moot had they simply scored at any point during the first eight innings of tonight's game, or added the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth after tying things up with an impressive rally, despite that runner standing only 90 feet away with one out. But the Nationals did none of that, and so they left themselves in a position where an odd - and ultimately controversial - bottom of the 10th proved the difference between a potentially uplifting win and yet...

Kieboom's communication with starters one key to his success

Kieboom's communication with starters one key to his success
On July 6, Nationals catcher Spencer Kieboom sensed starter Gio Gonzalez was a bit frustrated at not being able to go past five innings. Gonzalez tied a season high by throwing 114 pitches, forcing him from the game despite only allowing two runs. Gonzalez backed up that start July 6 with a quality start yesterday in the 2-0 loss at Pittsburgh. With Matt Wieters as his catcher, Gonzalez went six innings and again allowed only two runs. Back-to-back starts with two runs or less is a good sign...