What if the Nats never traded for Jonathan Papelbon?

What if the Nats never traded for Jonathan Papelbon?
Last week, we opened our "What If?" series wondering what might have been had Jordan Zimmermann accepted the Nationals' long-term extension offer after the 2014 season, a decision that had long-lasting ramifications on the organization. This week, we look at a big decision the organization made the following summer that absolutely had immediate consequences for the club, and probably had long-lasting ones as well: The trade for Jonathan Papelbon. Prepare to cringe. As the 2015 trade deadline...

Which pre-2019 Nats team should have won the World Series?

Which pre-2019 Nats team should have won the World Series?
What's the best team in Nationals history? The one that actually won the World Series. Duh. But it's worth remembering the 2019 Nats only went 93-69 during the regular season. Four previous clubs won more games than that: the 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 clubs. Those four teams, of course, lost in the National League Division Series, often in agonizing fashion. And so they're forever viewed as underachievers. Here's the question, though: Were any of those teams good enough to win the World...

Zimmermann reflects on '14 NLDS, prepares for Sunday start

Zimmermann reflects on '14 NLDS, prepares for Sunday start
DETROIT - The Nationals face off against an old teammate and friend in Sunday's finale when right-hander Max Scherzer opposes Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. The matchup features the pitchers who combined to throw all three of the Nats no-hitters. Zimmermann was a two-time All-Star with the Nats, helping to guide them to their first two postseason appearances in 2012 and 2014. He finished in the top seven in Cy Young voting in 2013 and 2014. The 2007 second-round selection also threw...

The history of Nats managers, through Zimmerman's eyes

The history of Nats managers, through Zimmerman's eyes
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have experienced plenty of change over the years, nowhere more so than in the manager's office. Davey Martinez is now the club's seventh full-time manager in 14 seasons in Washington, with none of his predecessors having survived longer than 2 1/2 seasons. Only one player has been around for every one of the seven skippers: Ryan Zimmerman, the organization's first draft pick in 2005. Zimmerman's career has included its own share of changes, but he has...

Williams turns page on Nationals, glad to be back in Arizona

Williams turns page on Nationals, glad to be back in Arizona
PHOENIX - If there was such a thing as a perfect landing spot for Matt Williams after the disappointing and abrupt conclusion of his tenure as Nationals manager, this was it. Back in Arizona, where he has lived since his playing days, coaching third base for a Diamondbacks organization that has always valued his presence. "It's great," Williams said this afternoon, seated in the third base dugout at Chase Field. "I'm home. I've been here 30 years, and certainly I enjoy the community....

Tyler Moore working on defense, mental side of game

Tyler Moore working on defense, mental side of game
Tyler Moore signed a one-year deal worth $900,000 to stay with the Nationals through 2016. Meeting with the media at Winterfest this weekend, he was pleased to be back with the team and is eager to contribute. "Feels good to be back," Moore said. "Didn't know if I was going to be with all the changes and stuff. Obviously, it feels great to be back. Didn't know if I was going to be. Just ready to get going and spring will be here before you know it." Before the season starts, the...

Dusty Baker on Matt Williams, Sammy Solis on crowded bullpen picture

Dusty Baker on Matt Williams, Sammy Solis on crowded bullpen picture
During his briefing with the media this morning at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, new Nationals skipper Dusty Baker quipped that he didn't necessarily pack appropriately for his trip to Washington, D.C., and sounded like the unseasonably warm temperatures caught him by surprise. He made some new friends last night at the nearby Marriott Marquis, where a bunch of Nats fans hunkered down in anticipation of Winterfest weekend and took selfies with the incoming manager. This morning,...

Notes on Zimmermann, Desmond and Williams

Notes on Zimmermann, Desmond and Williams
The qualifying offers the Nationals extended to right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond last Friday expire at 5 p.m. today. Both players are expected to reject the one-year, $15.8 million deal and enter the free agent market for the first time in their careers. Reports from the general managers meetings had the Cubs beginning preliminary discussions with Zimmermann's camp. The Giants, Red Sox and Astros are a few of the other teams reportedly pursuing the 29-year-old. The...

Matt Williams returns to Arizona as third base coach

Matt Williams returns to Arizona as third base coach
After losing his job as Nationals manager on Oct. 5, Matt Williams has landed on his feet, returning to Arizona as third base coach. Williams held the same position with the Diamondbacks from 2011-2013 prior to becoming skipper in Washington. The Nats went 96-66 in Williams' first year in the nation's capital, running away with the National League East before making an early exit in the playoffs. Still, Williams was named NL Manager of the Year in his rookie campaign as a major league...

Baker on his style and how important listening to Nats players will be

Baker on his style and how important listening to Nats players will be
New Nationals manager Dusty Baker gave us a clue about his possible managing style at Thursday's news conference when he talked about being aggressive on the base paths. "We're going to run the bases," Baker said. "I think that's something that's probably last on the list on a lot of teams. Baserunning is probably the most overlooked part of baseball." It might be a welcome change from the Nationals' recent offensive style, where they waited for the three-run homer more times than they...

Nats extend qualifying offers to Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond (plus Williams note)

Nats extend qualifying offers to Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond (plus Williams note)
The Nationals extended qualifying offers to right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, but not center fielder Denard Span, prior to today's 5 p.m. deadline. Neither Zimmermann nor Desmond, who have both played their entire careers for the Nationals, are expected to accept the qualifying offer worth $15.8 million for the 2016 season (the average of the top 125 salaries in the majors). Both have until Nov. 13 to decide whether to take the qualifying offer or pass and enter free...

Nats' talks with Black reportedly hit snag; Baker back in play?

Nats' talks with Black reportedly hit snag; Baker back in play?
Though the Nationals were expected to announce this week that they had selected former Padres skipper Bud Black as their new manager, multiple reports tonight suggest that talks between the parties have hit a snag and that the team will move instead to hire Dusty Baker. According to John Heyman of CBSSports.com, the reported deal between the Nats and Black has not been finalized and the team is thought to be turning its attentions to Baker, the former manager of the Giants, Cubs and Reds. Bob...

Looking back at the Nats' top 10 quotes from the second half: "It's pretty tired"

Looking back at the Nats' top 10 quotes from the second half: "It's pretty tired"
When we reflected on the Nationals' top 10 quotes of the first half of the season during the All-Star break, the list was mostly filled with awestruck comments after Bryce Harper homers or sheer euphoria following epic comebacks. Back then the Nationals held a two-game division lead over the Mets. Now as we take inventory of the most significant words uttered during the Nationals' second half collapse, we can't help but notice the theme of the Jonathan Papelbon disturbance littered...

On Mike Rizzo and the Nationals' managerial search

On Mike Rizzo and the Nationals' managerial search
Well, the parade has begun. Just not the one Bryce Harper envisioned when he uttered, "Where's my ring?" and thought hopefully of what a Constitution Avenue celebration might look like. The procession of potential candidates to replace the fired Matt Williams as manager of the Nationals is under way on South Capitol Street. Well, we assume the candidates are interviewing at the team's Nationals Park offices. The way the Nationals are handling this managerial search is so surreptitious that...

Salt River wins first game, Nats rank high in ESPN fan voting

Salt River wins first game, Nats rank high in ESPN fan voting
Salt River beat Scottsdale 5-3 in its Arizona Fall League opener Tuesday night. The Rafters pitching was the story here, allowing the Scorpions only five hits in their first game in AFL play. Chris Bostick went 0-for-4, but scored a run thanks in part to his two stolen bases. Dakota Bacus came on in relief and pitched a scoreless frame late in the game, striking out two. Former Nationals prospect Danny Rosenbaum went 1 1/3 innings for Scottsdale, allowing two hits, no runs, one walk and struck...

Nationals would be wise to continue relationship with Ripken, just not as manager

Nationals would be wise to continue relationship with Ripken, just not as manager
Major League Baseball came down swiftly on Dodgers infielder Chase Utley following his slide into second base Saturday night that broke Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's leg in the National League Division Series between New York and Los Angeles. Utley was suspended for Games 3 and 4 of the series. Utley will appeal the suspension, and because the series shifts to New York, where MLB is headquartered, expect a speedy resolution to the appeal. "After thoroughly reviewing the play from all...

Manager search: Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. brings wealth of experience to post

Manager search: Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. brings wealth of experience to post
The Nationals open their search for their next manager looking for a skipper who has a good amount of experience in the job and communicates well with his players and staff. Triple-A Syracuse's Billy Gardner Jr. just finished his 21st consecutive season as a manager in the minor leagues. Very few can match his resume as far as pure baseball experience goes - and at almost every level. In 2007, his Montgomery club won the Double-A Southern League title. In 2012, he was named Southern League...

Experience is key for Mike Rizzo in searching for new manager this time around

Experience is key for Mike Rizzo in searching for new manager this time around
With a turbulent season in the rear view mirror, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo immediately begins the task of staging a run back to the postseason in 2016. This morning, Rizzo took a giant first step in firing Matt Williams as manager. "We're going to immediately begin the process of the search of the manager," said Rizzo, wasting no time. "It will start this afternoon here in the front office and continue painstakingly until we have a manager under contract that we think is going to...

Mike Rizzo explains decision for firing Matt Williams

Mike Rizzo explains decision for firing Matt Williams
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with Matt Williams early this morning in his office just outside the clubhouse to inform him that the organization decided to end his two-year run as manager. "It was face-to-face, man-to-man," Rizzo said. "Matt took it as a professional. He was very thankful of the opportunity to manage this baseball team. He also was thankful for me showing a faith in him to give him his first managerial job. He's obviously very disappointed in the result and the...

Mike Rizzo speaks after firing Matt Williams: "A tough day for our entire organization"

Mike Rizzo speaks after firing Matt Williams: "A tough day for our entire organization"
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo addressed the media after firing Matt Williams a short time ago. Here are Rizzo's opening comments from a conference call: "Really a tough day here at Nationals Park. A tough day for me personally. A tough day for our entire organization. But these are the first of the decisions we thought we needed to make as we meticulously evaluate why the 2015 season didn't go the way we had hoped. As I've said, this entire season was a disappointment not only to...