Could Cavalli's injury change how Nats handle Gray, Gore?

Tuesday’s news about Cade Cavalli, who is going on the injured list and could be done for the season with right shoulder inflammation, was incredibly discouraging for the Nationals.

Now here’s an even more discouraging thought: What if Cavalli’s injury prompts the team to shut down MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Gray before season’s end as well?

That’s certainly on the table, when you consider what Davey Martinez said when asked if the Cavalli situation might make the club more cautious about handling its two other young starters the rest of the way.

“Yeah, we’re going to look at all that stuff,” he said, later adding: “We’re going to spend the next few weeks just watching these guys, watching them progress, and see where we’re at.”

There are concerns about all three of them, for varying reasons.

Spring training storylines: Another new manager at the helm

Spring training storylines: Another new manager at the helm
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 continue today with the first camp run by new manager Dave Martinez ... When Nationals pitchers and catchers officially report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday, they'll walk down the hallway from the clubhouse, peek into the manager's office and find a new face there. Next door, in the coaches' locker room, will...

"MASN All Access" to have live daily coverage at start of Nats spring training

"MASN All Access" to have live daily coverage at start of Nats spring training
It is finally time. The sun is shining and the tank is clean. Baseball is back. Nationals pitchers and catchers are set to report to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and if you can't make it down to beautiful West Palm Beach, don't worry, "MASN All Access" is bringing it to you. We'll have daily shows on Facebook Live around 3 p.m. each day throughout the first weekend of spring training! Be sure to tune in from Feb. 16-19 as hosts Sara Perlman and Paul Mancano...

Scherzer receives Cy Young, pair of Nats honored by Cavaliers

Scherzer receives Cy Young, pair of Nats honored by Cavaliers
It's been more than two months since he was named the National League's Cy Young Award winner, but on Sunday night, Max Scherzer officially was presented with the award itself. Scherzer was among several players honored at the annual New York Baseball Writers' Dinner, joined by fellow winners of the BBWAA's annual end-of-season awards along with the winners of awards given out specifically to New York players. It was Scherzer's second straight January trip to the Big Apple to receive a Cy...

Can the Nats improve on a 50 road-win season?

Can the Nats improve on a 50 road-win season?
It is pretty amazing to look back at how dominant a team the Nationals were on the road in 2017. They went 50-31 away from home, far and away the best road record in the National League. Only the Indians and Astros had better road records (53-28) in all of baseball. The 50-31 record on the road for the Nats was five games better than their 45-36 road record in 2016. The Nats even won two out of three games in late August at Houston, the eventual World Series champions. In 2012, the Nats went...

Top stories of 2017: Baker fired, Martinez hired

Top stories of 2017: Baker fired, Martinez hired
As we count down the final days of 2017, we're counting down the most significant stories of the year for the Nationals. Some are positive. Some are negative. All helped define this baseball season in Washington. We'll reveal two per day through New Year's Eve, continuing right now with ... No. 2: Baker fired, Martinez hired The question of Dusty Baker's future with the Nationals lurked underneath the surface for most of the 2017 season, but it never truly felt like that much of a question...

Chip Hale on Dave Martinez, analytics, Max Scherzer and more

Chip Hale on Dave Martinez, analytics, Max Scherzer and more
It didn't take long for Dave Martinez's coaching staff to come together. Barely two weeks after Martinez was introduced as Dusty Baker's successor, he and general manager Mike Rizzo assembled a staff deep in savvy baseball men that included a pair of former managers, first base coach Tim Bogar, who skippered the Rangers for 22 games late in the 2014 season, and bench coach Chip Hale, who managed the Diamondbacks for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Martinez and his coaches - Hale, pitching coach...

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities

Bobby Henley adds outfield coach to responsibilities
Only one coach was kept from the previous regime: third base coach Bobby Henley, who has been with the organization for more than 20 years, dating to its time in Montreal. It is an important point. Henley is obviously very good at his job, but he also can be a sounding board for the players to help in the transition to the new coaching regime. Henley was thrilled to stay with the Nationals when we caught up with him at Winterfest. "It means a lot. I been here so long," Henley said. "I been...

Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop

Turner healthy for 2018, confident as everyday shortstop
It will be exciting to see what shortstop Trea Turner can accomplish after a season that was interrupted by injury. Turner was limited to 98 games after missing all of July and most of August, yet still hit .284 and stole 46 bases. One big question for Turner: How will he handle the regime change at manager? Turner valued his time with the experienced Dusty Baker. "Unfortunate," Turner said of Baker's dismissal over the weekend at Nationals Winterfest. "I really enjoyed Dusty as a manager...

On Kintzler's return, pitchers batting eighth and Long's hiring

On Kintzler's return, pitchers batting eighth and Long's hiring
The Nationals' first major league signing of the offseason still isn't official because Brandon Kintzler still needs to pass his physical. But that didn't stop those who were at Nats Winterfest on Saturday from raving about the re-signing of the veteran reliever, which preserves the three-man unit that so effectively locked down games late this season. "That was awesome to see," said Sean Doolittle, who along with Ryan Madson joined Kintzler to form the so-called "Law Firm" bullpen over...

Light on actual movement, Winter Meetings are heavy on speculation

Light on actual movement, Winter Meetings are heavy on speculation
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The second day of baseball's Winter Meetings were light on moves, but, as usual, heavy on speculation. The biggest move on Tuesday involved the Yankees, who traded third baseman Chase Headley to the Padres, leaving them without a proven third baseman, as well as an established second baseman. The Yankees traded second baseman Starlin Castro to the Marlins in the deal that brought Giancarlo Stanton to the Bronx. So what will the Yankees do? For now, the Yankees have...

Maddon on protégé Martinez: "Davey is going to do a great job"

Maddon on protégé Martinez: "Davey is going to do a great job"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - No matter how prepared he thinks he is, new Nationals manager Dave Martinez cannot escape one indisputable fact that will dog him until March 29: He's never managed in the major leagues. Baseball history is rife with learned men who have been unsuccessful in their first go-around at the helm of a big league club. Joe Torre finished in last place his first three seasons as Mets skipper and was fired from three jobs before he latched on with the Yankees, where he won...

Nats think reduced workload will be beneficial for Wieters

Nats think reduced workload will be beneficial for Wieters
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters will be back behind the plate for the Nationals next season, having exercised his $10.5 million player option. But the guaranteed contract doesn't mean he'll carry the same workload. The numbers the veteran backstop amassed during his first season in D.C. were abysmal. He caught in 118 games as the Nats grew increasingly dissatisfied with backup Jose Lobaton's lack of offense and unusually poor defense, and had little positive to show for it....

Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?

Can Nats convince top reliever to sign up for seventh-inning role?
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals are in the market for at least one experienced reliever, preferably right-handed. Whether they're willing to jump right now into a market that has quickly become the most active of any position at the Winter Meetings remains to be seen. Another veteran right-handed setup man came off the board Monday when Pat Neshek returned to the Phillies for a two-year deal worth a reported $16.25 million. That came on the heels of a pair of signings Sunday: Brandon...

Martinez on Harper's future: "Can I lobby right now?"

Martinez on Harper's future: "Can I lobby right now?"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Dave Martinez has been the Nationals manager for about six weeks, but the mere mention of superstar right fielder Bryce Harper elicits the same reactions as a kid rushing down the steps on Christmas morning and finding just the present he wanted neatly wrapped in colorful paper under the tree. Saucer-sized eyes, unbridled excitement, a guy who can't wait to try out his new toy. Santa delivered and he couldn't be happier. In his meeting with the media at the Winter...

Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"

Martinez plans to bat Eaton leadoff, says Murphy "on schedule"
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - There is much Dave Martinez still needs to learn about his Nationals roster, and much of that won't happen until he gets a chance to see them on practice fields under the spring Florida sun, but the rookie manager was willing to admit he's already made one key lineup decision: Adam Eaton will bat leadoff in 2018. In his first media session since he was introduced as the Nationals' new manager last month, Martinez held court with reporters at the Winter Meetings for...

Grounds crew gig, mascot visit highlight Nats auction items

Grounds crew gig, mascot visit highlight Nats auction items
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Ever wonder what it would be like to help prepare the field at Nationals Park for a game? Ever wish you could have Teddy or Screech visit your school event or birthday party? Or wonder what it's like to cover the Nationals from the press box high atop the ballpark on South Capitol Street? If so, have I got a deal for you. Those are among the items available this year in Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings Charity Auction, which is now ongoing through Thursday at...

No experience? For today's managers, no problem

No experience? For today's managers, no problem
The Nationals took some grief earlier this fall for firing an experienced manager like Dusty Baker and handing over a 97-win team challenged to win a World Series right now to a first-time skipper like Dave Martinez. Who knew they'd actually end up hiring one of the most experienced guys of the six who filled major league managerial openings this fall? The Yankees' surprise hire of Aaron Boone over the weekend was the final piece to the puzzle, yet another inexperienced managerial hire for a...

Friday morning Nats Q&A

Friday morning Nats Q&A
It's been quite a long time since we did one of these things. And quite a bit has happened to the Nationals since then. Dusty Baker was let go. Dave Martinez was hired. Daniel Murphy had knee surgery. Max Scherzer won another Cy Young Award. Plus a lot of other stuff. So let's take a step today and give all of you an opportunity to ask what's on your mind. Leave your questions in the comments section below, then check back throughout the morning as I do my best to answer as many as I can ...

Nats' new staff complete with hiring of Blanco as bullpen coach

Nats' new staff complete with hiring of Blanco as bullpen coach
The Nationals announced the hiring of Henry Blanco as bullpen coach this morning, officially filling the final position on new manager Dave Martinez's staff. Blanco is no stranger to Martinez, having served as the Cubs quality assurance coach the last three seasons while the latter was bench coach. He previously was an assistant coach and bullpen catcher for the Diamondbacks. The 46-year-old former catcher has crossed paths with almost everyone in baseball over nearly three decades in the...