All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.

All the ballplayers whose careers ended in D.C.
A total of 370 players have appeared in at least one game for the Nationals since 2005. Some of them were longtime stalwarts who are forever associated fondly with this franchise. Some were only here for a year or two as part of successful careers with multiple clubs. And some of them played for a while in Washington and then never played in the big leagues again. Actually, more than some of them fit that last description. Would you believe at least 127 of the 370 players in Nationals history...

Guerra non-tendered, Nationals will bring back others

Guerra non-tendered, Nationals will bring back others
The Nationals did not tender contracts to relievers Javy Guerra and Koda Glover before tonight's league-mandated deadline, essentially releasing both right-handers, though the oft-injured Glover had already announced his retirement earlier this afternoon. The club did tender contracts to four other arbitration-eligible players: Trea Turner, Michael A. Taylor, Joe Ross and Roenis Elías. None of those players have agreed to terms on 2020 contracts yet, as Wilmer Difo and Hunter Strickland did...

Unable to overcome injuries, Glover retires at 26

Unable to overcome injuries, Glover retires at 26
Unable to get himself healthy enough to pitch this year after missing much of the previous two seasons with various injuries, Nationals reliever Koda Glover surprisingly announced his retirement from professional baseball this afternoon. "I write to you all today with great despair, that I will be announcing my retirement from professional baseball," the 26-year-old wrote in a message posted to his Twitter account. "I have experienced a number of injuries the past three years and I believe...

Nationals face several decisions at deadline (Strickland signed)

Nationals face several decisions at deadline (Strickland signed)
It's non-tender day across Major League Baseball, a day when a handful of players from each club worry they might get dumped but in most cases survive to live another day. How's this all work? Well, players who are eligible for salary arbitration - those with more than three years but fewer than six years of big league service time - must be tendered a contract by 8 p.m. today. All that means is that teams must declare their intention to sign those players to 2020 contracts. They don't have...

Martinez gives injury updates (Nats fall 5-0)

Martinez gives injury updates (Nats fall 5-0)
First basemen Matt Adams and Ryan Zimmerman each went through full swings during batting practice at Nats Park before the Nationals opened their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Adams tweaked his oblique Monday, and Zimmerman has been on the injured list since April 28 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said coaches and trainers were monitoring Adams before and after batting practice, but feels like the possibility of a trip to the...

Glover pays visit to Nats; Ross could pitch again tonight

Glover pays visit to Nats; Ross could pitch again tonight
MIAMI - Right-handed reliever Koda Glover was in the clubhouse at Marlins Park today and got the chance to work out with the Nationals as he rehabs from a right forearm strain. Glover was already at his locker when the first team bus arrived before the game. He gave outfielder Michael A. Taylor a handshake and a big bear hug as his teammates made their way over to greet him. "I can't get my grin off my face, like seeing my boy Joe (Ross) and some of the guys," Glover said. "It's awesome....

Sipp, Kendrick likely to stay in Florida extra days (Nats win 7-1)

Sipp, Kendrick likely to stay in Florida extra days (Nats win 7-1)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals head north Sunday night following their Grapefruit League finale. Tony Sipp and Howie Kendrick might not make the trip, though both will be in Washington for opening day. With Sipp and Kendrick each hurriedly trying to get ready in time to make the opening day roster but running out of time to return to game action, the Nationals are making plans to have both veterans stay back in Florida and continue to work up until the last minute. Manager Davey Martinez...

Kendrick resumes light work but faces tight timeline (Nats lose 3-2)

Kendrick resumes light work but faces tight timeline (Nats lose 3-2)
JUPITER, Fla. - Though his chances of returning from a strained left hamstring in time to make the Nationals' opening day roster are questionable, Howie Kendrick is beginning to take some steps toward his return. Kendrick, who hurt himself running down the first base line six days ago, has begun riding a stationary bicycle and taking swings in the batting cage. Those are merely the first attempts at physical activity before he's cleared to ramp things up. "He's coming along," manager Davey...

Miller's injury muddles middle relief for Nats (Nats lose 8-4)

Miller's injury muddles middle relief for Nats (Nats lose 8-4)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Right now, the strained lower back muscle that's sidelined right-hander Justin Miller has been treated like a minor injury. But it's one that could have major ramifications for the Nationals bullpen. Miller complained about the problem, which delayed his spring debut until Saturday. And after pitching an inning against the Twins, he still had a problem with lower back soreness. The Nationals shut him down, sent him for an MRI and discovered the muscle strain. Today,...

Martinez on rotation, plus other notes (Nats win 4-2)

Martinez on rotation, plus other notes (Nats win 4-2)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's only spring, but Aníbal Sánchez will be trying to keep up a most impressive streak by the Nationals rotation in today's game against the Astros. The Nats' presumed five starters - right-handers Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Sánchez and Jeremy Hellickson, and left-hander Patrick Corbin - have allowed just one earned run in 16 innings covering seven starts. Nats starters have yielded nine hits and two runs, walked three and fanned 16, posting a...

Glover has forearm strain, has "no doubt" he'll be ready

Glover has forearm strain, has "no doubt" he'll be ready
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - An MRI of Koda Glover's elbow revealed a forearm strain but no ligament damage, the reliever said this morning, though he will be shut down from throwing for now while the Nationals map out a plan to try to keep their oft-injured right-hander healthy at last. "Just a forearm strain," Glover said. "Nothing crazy. UCL was great. That's good news. It's just one of them things where we think maybe some weakness in there or some fatigue. But I'll be fine. I'm really...

Glover getting MRI on elbow today

Glover getting MRI on elbow today
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Koda Glover will get an MRI on his right elbow this afternoon, leaving the oft-injured reliever and the Nationals waiting anxiously for results that could determine whether this is a mere spring training bump or cause for the club to re-examine its bullpen plans. Glover had to depart from his Grapefruit League debut Sunday afternoon after walking three consecutive Cardinals batters and complaining of elbow tightness. He threw only 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes and...

Glover departs with elbow tightness in spring debut

Glover departs with elbow tightness in spring debut
JUPITER, Fla. - If he had a track record of good health, the sight of Koda Glover walking off the mound at Roger Dean Stadium this afternoon with what he described as "elbow tightness" might not have been enough to send red flags up throughout the Nationals dugout and front office. Alas, Glover has an extensive track record of arm trouble, having been through Tommy John surgery while he was in college and then two years of rotator cuff problems once he reached the majors. And so that image...

Heeding advice from Scherzer, Glover healthy and motivated

Heeding advice from Scherzer, Glover healthy and motivated
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Modern pitchers have had it drilled into their heads from the moment they become professionals. Take days off. Don't throw too much. Especially in the offseason. Give the arm time to recover before you ramp it up again. Koda Glover tried that, and all it got him was two mostly wasted seasons dealing with a rotator cuff injury. So this winter, after he had just made it through the second half of the season healthy, the Nationals reliever decided to try something...

Beyond Doolittle, Nats bullpen is full of question marks

Beyond Doolittle, Nats bullpen is full of question marks
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 bullpen ... A position of instability and turbulence for years, the Nationals bullpen entered the 2018 season as a legitimately perceived strength. The three-headed "Law Firm" of late-inning relievers general manager Mike Rizzo acquired during the summer of 2017 all returned, and the rest of the group featured a balanced combination of...

More changeups could help keep Glover healthy

More changeups could help keep Glover healthy
The Nationals couldn't end the season on a run that netted a playoff spot, but right-hander Koda Glover was able to finish the season healthy for the first time in two campaigns. The 6-foot-5, 215-lb. right-hander hasn't been able to pitch more than 25 innings or appear in more than 24 games in his three seasons with the Nats. Glover, 25, returned to the lineup in August of last season, his first meaningful baseball since June 2017. It was an up-and-down return, but in the last month, he got...

Glover returned healthy, but can he now be effective?

Glover returned healthy, but can he now be effective?
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Koda Glover, who after a long rehab from a shoulder injury returned during the second half and had an eventful few months. PLAYER REVIEW: KODA GLOVER Age on opening day 2019: 25 How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2015 draft MLB service time: 2 years, 51 days 2018 salary: $551,700 Contract status: Under club control in 2019, arbitration-eligible in 2020,...

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies

Bullpen update: Martinez "hopeful" to have Herrera back versus Phillies
Along with having Stephen Strasburg return for the Nationals' critical series this week against the Phillies, manager Davey Martinez believes there is a very good chance his bullpen will get an important arm back in closer Kelvin Herrera. Herrera, who arrived from the Kansas City Royals in a trade in mid-June, struggled to begin the second half of the season, going just 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA and three saves since the All-Star Break. In the first half of the season, most of that time with the...

Glover looking for more consistency in current up and down start

Glover looking for more consistency in current up and down start
It has been a bit of the good with the bad for reliever Koda Glover as he looks to find consistency in his first few games back with the Nationals after a long road back from injury. The flame throwing right-hander got two outs on four pitches in Chicago on Aug. 10. He followed that up with one solid inning Aug. 12 against the Cubs, allowing a hit but no runs. Then on Aug. 13, the Cardinals walked him off with a solo shot by Paul DeJong. On Aug. 16, Glover recorded the save in the Nats' 5-4...

Nats lose another wild one, fall to Marlins in 10 (updated)

Nats lose another wild one, fall to Marlins in 10 (updated)
The Nationals know they can't win every game the rest of the way, that there are going to be nights they simply don't put themselves in position to win and have to shrug off a loss. But they also know there have been and will continue to be games that are right there for the taking, games they absolutely must win if they have any hope of a meaningful, late-season charge. Games like tonight's contest against the Marlins, in which opportunities were abundant and victory was so close they could...