And then there were two

And then there were two
The Nationals had a whopping 10 players eligible for arbitration this offseason, leaving assistant general manager Bryan Minniti, general manager Mike Rizzo and others with quite a lengthy to-do list when it came to finalizing contracts with these players for 2014 and possibly beyond. Minniti, Rizzo and company checked off most of the items on that list within the last handful of weeks, agreeing to one-year deals with left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, left-hander Ross Detwiler, right-hander...

Update on Nats' eight remaining arbitration-eligible players

Update on Nats' eight remaining arbitration-eligible players
Eight Nationals players filed for salary arbitration last night, bringing us closer to the deadline for players and the team to reach terms on a contract for the 2014 season. Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Ross Detwiler, Doug Fister, Wilson Ramos, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann all officially filed for arbitration, which really was a procedural move. They had all been tendered contracts for 2014 in December, ensuring that they'll be with the Nationals this upcoming season....

Another look at the loss of Ray in trade for pitcher Doug Fister

Another look at the loss of Ray in trade for pitcher Doug Fister
At No. 5 on the Nationals' top prospects list was left-hander Robbie Ray. Ray was sent to Detroit as part of the trade that brought starting pitcher Doug Fister to the Nationals this offseason. After the season and prior to the trade, Baseball America national writer Aaron Fitt placed Ray at No. 5 on the list, but thought the trade of Ray and Steve Lombardozzi to the Tigers was a win for Washington. "I thought it was a great trade for the Nationals to get an impact starter like Doug...

Which Nats starter is most likely to win the Cy Young in 2014?

Which Nats starter is most likely to win the Cy Young in 2014?
After watching a beautiful snow-filled NHL Winter Classic game yesterday that dramatically ended in a shootout, count me among those who are pumped about next year's Winter Classic in D.C. The Capitals will host the NHL's signature event next year, and according to multiple reports, the Winter Classic will be held at Nationals Park, which is viewed as the best option in the D.C. area because of the uncertainty involving the Redskins' schedule. I think it's fairly safe to say the snow...

Defensively speaking, where do Nats rank in NL East?

Defensively speaking, where do Nats rank in NL East?
Defense is the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball statistics, never garnering the respect it deserves. Chicks dig the longball, people oooh and ahhh over Web Gems on ESPN, but what about the workaholic day-to-day types who turn hard-hit ground balls and fly balls to the gaps into outs, the first baseman whose steady glovework saves his infielders from errors and the catcher whose ability to block pitches in the dirt prevents runners from advancing or scoring? The little things, unfortunately,...

What's the best move Mike Rizzo didn't make?

What's the best move Mike Rizzo didn't make?
Here's hoping you and yours enjoyed the best Christmas possible yesterday. I've taken two naps during the family festivities at the home of my stepbrother in Newark, Del. - one before dinner, one after - and am so stuffed with homemade goodness that I may not have to eat for several days. The downside of the post-turkey, tryptophan-induced food coma is that I'm wide awake as Dec. 26 dawns. You can only spend so much time counting the gift cards - and I've amassed a plethora of free dining...

Nats' offseason maneuverings getting rave reviews

Nats' offseason maneuverings getting rave reviews
We've learned that teams don't win based on how strong their offseason was. The 2013 Blue Jays and 2012 Marlins are recent proof of that. We've learned that teams don't win based on how complete their team appears to be on paper. The 2013 Nationals taught us that. Because of last season's disappointment in D.C., Nats fans probably won't get too excited about anyone declaring them the winner of the winter. It doesn't matter how strong your team looks in December or February. What...

Rival evaluators react to Nats' offseason moves

Rival evaluators react to Nats' offseason moves
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A key figure in the National League East for the last four years has decided to step away from the game. Roy Halladay has just taken to the podium in the media room at the Swan and Dolphin resort to announce his retirement, marking the end of a tremendous 16-year career. Halladay will finish with a record of 203-105 and a career 3.38 ERA. He won two Cy Young awards, finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting seven times and was an eight-time All-Star. Is he a...

Some leftovers on Fister and a wild week

Some leftovers on Fister and a wild week
What an insane week this has already been in Major League Baseball. And we're only through Tuesday. The following deals all went down in the last two days (terms are according to various media reports): Jacoby Ellsbury turned in his Red Sox for some pinstripes, agreeing to a seven-year, $153 million deal with the Yankees. The Red Sox signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year, $8.25 million deal. The Rockies inked first baseman Justin Morneau to a two-year deal worth around $13 million....

Fister deal signals Tigers are in cost-cutting mode

Fister deal signals Tigers are in cost-cutting mode
The Nationals have added pitcher Doug Fister as the No. 4 starter to their rotation. And while the debate about whether or not they have the best rotation in the National League, there's one question that remains: How did they get one of the American League's top pitchers for a utility infielder (Steve Lombardozzi), a lefty reliever (Ian Krol) and a low-level prospect (Robbie Ray)? The answer is that the Tigers are in a cost-cutting mode. And even though they have one of the most generous...

Fister on joining Nats: "There's a lot of excitement for me"

Fister on joining Nats: "There's a lot of excitement for me"
Since July 2011, Doug Fister has been with the Detroit Tigers, a team that made the postseason in each of the last three years and made it to the World Series in 2012. He's built friendships there and has pitched in a strong starting rotation. The 29-year-old is now eager to have some of those same experiences in D.C. Fister found out last night that he had been traded to the Nationals, who will now be his third organization in six major league seasons. Both he and fellow Tigers right-hander...

With Fister added, what's left to do to solidify roster?

With Fister added, what's left to do to solidify roster?
The Nationals acquired a frontline starter in right-hander Doug Fister on Monday, and now turn their sights on the rest of the 25-man roster. It appears now that the starting rotation is almost set for 2014, with Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Fister the top four. Where does this leave Ross Detwiler? Nationals executive vice president Mike Rizzo said it is not so much about Detwiler as it is that the Nats now have options for that spot this season, where they didn't...

Mike Rizzo discusses the Doug Fister trade

Mike Rizzo discusses the Doug Fister trade
Reporters didn't get a chance to discuss the Doug Fister trade with Mike Rizzo last night because Rizzo had previous obligations, but we were able to fire questions at the Nationals general manager just a bit ago during a conference call. Rizzo said that the Nationals had been talking with the Tigers about a possible trade for a starting pitcher dating to just before the general managers meetings in November, and they initially "kicked the tires" on three of Detroit's right-handed options...

Day-after reactions to the Fister deal

Day-after reactions to the Fister deal
By now, we've all had time to digest last night's trade that brought right-hander Doug Fister to the Nationals and sent infielder Steve Lombardozzi, and left-handers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray to the Tigers. Now let's break it down a bit more. There are certainly some Nationals fans who are sad to see Lombardozzi go, given that he's a local kid who has made an impact for the last few seasons and has done everything that's been asked of him, including learning new positions, without a single...

Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers for Lombardozzi, Krol, Ray (updated)

Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers for Lombardozzi, Krol, Ray (updated)
In search of another starter, the Nationals have been linked to Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer for months. Turns out, it's another Tigers right-hander that the Nats have brought on in a trade. The Nats have acquired 29-year-old righty Doug Fister from Detroit tonight in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi, left-handed reliever Ian Krol and left-handed pitching prospect Robbie Ray. "This is an exciting day for the Washington Nationals," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a...