Host of 2018 Nationals still seeking jobs in tepid market

Host of 2018 Nationals still seeking jobs in tepid market
For all the attention lavished upon Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and their long, slow quest to sign with somebody before the start of spring training, there are a ton of other free agents still unemployed as we reach late January. And that includes a whole bunch of guys who played for the Nationals in 2018. Let's look at those still-unsigned free agents and figure out what it might take to get them in a uniform before pitchers and catchers report ... MATT WIETERS Wieters had to know he was...

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves
A year ago, there would have been no inkling that lefty Wade Miley could be a consequential pitcher in the 2018 postseason, not when you consider his league-leading 93 walks and 5.61 ERA last season for the Orioles. But as the postseason begins, Miley, 31, is one of a list of former Orioles and Nationals players with a chance to make the World Series, most of whom were on the rosters of the local nines at the start of 2018. Manny Machado bleeds Dodger blue and Zach Britton wears Yankees...

Kelley traded to A's for international bonus slot value

Kelley traded to A's for international bonus slot value
Shawn Kelley's tenure with the Nationals officially came to an end today when the club traded the veteran reliever to the Athletics in exchange for international bonus slot value. Kelley had been designated for assignment Wednesday, the morning after he upset team officials when he slammed his glove to the ground after giving up a home run in the top of the ninth inning of a 25-4 rout of the Mets. That transaction unofficially ended his time with the Nationals, but officially they had seven...

Nats drop Kelley, citing "disrespect" in Tuesday's game

Nats drop Kelley, citing "disrespect" in Tuesday's game
Citing the "disrespect" they felt he displayed toward his manager and the organization as a whole when he slammed his glove to the ground in frustration in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 25-4 win over the Mets, the Nationals designated reliever Shawn Kelley for assignment this morning, perhaps making a broader statement in the process to a clubhouse of players that has been through a tumultuous season to date. "You're either in or you're in the way," general manager Mike Rizzo said....

Cordero didn't sleep after getting first call to majors

Cordero didn't sleep after getting first call to majors
The Nationals welcomed right-hander Jimmy Cordero to the club after right-hander Shawn Kelley was designated for assignment. Cordero, 26, has done well with Triple-A Syracuse. He is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA, compiling six saves in 38 games. "He's been lights out," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's throwing 97 mph to 99 mph. He's got a really good slider. The biggest thing for us after seeing him in spring training is that he's throwing strikes both with his fastball and his...

Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Cordero up, Kelley DFA)

Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Mets (Cordero up, Kelley DFA)
The Nationals rolled to an impressive offensive display for the second consecutive series with a 25-4 win over the Mets last night at Nationals Park. Last weekend in Miami, the Nats dropped the Marlins 10-3 and 9-1 to begin their four-game series. But on Saturday and Sunday, the club managed just one run in 19 innings in losing two in a row. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-run homer and a run-scoring single in the rou last nightt, but fully understands his team must find a way to...

Liz Barr: Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace have been quietly effective

Liz Barr: Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace have been quietly effective
Are the Nationals doing well? To put it simply, no. But if we keep focusing on the negatives, we will all drive ourselves crazy. So instead, we're going to focus on a few bright spots, and today we're going to look in an unorthodox place at a few guys who have had some under-the-radar good years: in the bullpen at Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace. Kelley has gotten a little bit of a bad rep in town, especially coming off his poor 2017 season. Fans feared that 2018 would be more of the same, and it...

Martinez on Turner benching and Harper's sickness

Martinez on Turner benching and Harper's sickness
MILWAUKEE - Manager Davey Martinez planned to speak to shortstop Trea Turner during pregame Tuesday as the Nationals prepare for the Brewers. Martinez decided to bench Turner for tonight's game after the shortstop didn't run to first base on a bunt attempt in Monday's 6-1 loss. "I haven't talked to him yet but (the) conversation will be had," Martinez said. "Honestly, I really felt after yesterday he really needed a day off. He's available, but let him ponder about it and let's get him...

For one night, Nats do something they'd never done before

For one night, Nats do something they'd never done before
It's easy, in hindsight, to claim you believed you could come back from nine runs down to win a major league baseball game. Deep down, there had to be plenty inside the Nationals dugout who figured they were headed for one of their most demoralizing losses of the year when the Marlins put up nine runs to their zero in the first 3 1/2 innings tonight on South Capitol Street. And yet, the vibe inside the home bullpen suggested the sense of hope was real. Even when things looked their worst,...

Long night ends with Nats shut out for fourth time in nine games

Long night ends with Nats shut out for fourth time in nine games
The diehard few who decided to wait out a 2-hour, 43-minute rain delay tonight at Nationals Park were rewarded for their patience with an offer from the club to move down to the best seats in the house for the final five innings of this game. By night's end, you couldn't help but wonder if those fans would happily have remained in their original nosebleed seats in exchange for a more inspiring offensive performance from the home team. Alas, that's a lot to ask for right now out of a...

Roster decisions await Nationals before tonight's game

Roster decisions await Nationals before tonight's game
Monday was an eventful day on South Capitol Street. The Nationals split a pseudo-doubleheader with the Yankees. Juan Soto hit a home run five days before making his major league debut. Kelvin Herrera was acquired from the Royals for three minor leaguers. Today might not quite rival that, but it figures to be a newsworthy day at the ballpark nonetheless, with multiple roster moves on tap before the Nationals and Orioles open the second half of this year's Battle of the Beltways. It begins with...

Overtaxed pitching staff suffers 4-2 walk-off loss to Braves

Overtaxed pitching staff suffers 4-2 walk-off loss to Braves
ATLANTA - After going 14 innings on Saturday, after watching Jeremy Hellickson depart with an apparent hamstring injury in the first inning today and then after watching the Braves rally to tie the game late, the Nationals reached a point late this afternoon where the need for their series finale to end was about to become more important than the need to win. That point didn't quite arrive, but it came close. The Nationals were forced to send Tanner Roark to the mound for the bottom of the...

Solís, Kelley, Madson finish off another close win for Nats

Solís, Kelley, Madson finish off another close win for Nats
PHOENIX - Much as he wants to hand the ball to Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle every chance he gets while holding a slim lead late in games, Davey Martinez knows those three elite relievers won't make it to September if he keeps calling their names over and over and over. No, there are five other relievers sitting in that bullpen every night, and sometimes they have to be the ones to take the mound in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and try to secure a victory for the...

Behind "B" bullpen, Nationals eke out 2-1 win over D-backs

Behind "B" bullpen, Nationals eke out 2-1 win over D-backs
PHOENIX - If the Nationals are going to insist on playing low-scoring, tight ballgames every night, Davey Martinez is going to have no choice but to ask the members of his "B" bullpen to record some key late outs every once in a while. Such was the case this afternoon at Chase Field, where Brandon Kintzler and Sean Doolittle were unavailable after pitching the previous two nights (both low-scoring victories) and Ryan Madson was being saved to pitch the ninth. So it was that Martinez asked...

Kelley activated off DL, Zimmerman expects to return Tuesday

Kelley activated off DL, Zimmerman expects to return Tuesday
SAN DIEGO - The Nationals have Shawn Kelley back in their bullpen tonight. And they expect to have Ryan Zimmerman back in their lineup Tuesday night. Kelley was activated off the 10-day disabled list this afternoon, one day after completing a six-pitch rehab assignment for Single-A Potomac and only 14 days after he walked off the mound in San Francisco suffering from what some feared was a significant elbow injury. Kelley, who twice has had Tommy John surgery in his career, was relieved to...

Rendon could return Saturday, Kelley and Grace getting closer

Rendon could return Saturday, Kelley and Grace getting closer
Anthony Rendon is playing third base for the Potomac Nationals tonight. If all goes well, he'll be playing third base for the Washington Nationals tomorrow. After taking five plate appearances as the designated hitter Thursday night in Woodbridge, Rendon is again in the P-Nats' lineup tonight, batting third and this time playing third base. Manager Davey Martinez said he will get three or four at-bats, and assuming there are no problems with his bruised left big toe, Rendon will "probably"...

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?
Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...

Martinez on switching Zimmerman and Kendrick in lineup

Martinez on switching Zimmerman and Kendrick in lineup
Nationals manager Davey Martinez decided to tweak the lineup a bit for Saturday's second game of the series against the Diamondbacks and their 4-0 left-hander Patrick Corbin. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor is back after just pinch-hitting in game one. But the bigger eyebrow raiser was seeing Ryan Zimmerman moved up to the No. 2 spot and Howie Kendrick placed in the cleanup spot at No. 4. "I kind of like it," Martinez said. "I've done it before with Joe (Maddon), moving guys around. Just...

Injury updates on Murphy, Rendon, Eaton and Kelley

Injury updates on Murphy, Rendon, Eaton and Kelley
Here is a rundown on the latest injuries the Nationals are dealing with after 25 games. Nationals manager Davey Martinez put Andrew Stevenson in the starting lineup because Michael A. Taylor is dealing with a sore groin. "He's fine. Little scare with his groin," Martinez said of Taylor. "Did it on a check swing. But he's available today. I just want to make sure that he's OK, so we gave him another day. "It was a cramp. ... I just want him to be cautious and make sure that's all it was....

Nats throw Sanchez right into lineup, hope Bautista stays hot

Nats throw Sanchez right into lineup, hope Bautista stays hot
SAN FRANCISCO - With Shawn Kelley headed to the disabled list, but two workhorses starting the final games of this road trip in advance of an off-day, the Nationals decided to go with an extra bench player tonight and Wednesday against the Giants. That led to the recalls today of infielder Adrian Sanchez and outfielder Rafael Bautista from Triple-A, the two taking the roster spots previously held by Kelley and infielder Matt Reynolds (who was optioned to Syracuse). And manager Davey Martinez...