Gott traded to Giants for cash considerations

Gott traded to Giants for cash considerations
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Trevor Gott already knew he wouldn't be reporting to Nationals spring training this morning with the rest of the club's pitchers. Now he knows he'll be reporting to the other side of the country. The Nats traded Gott to the Giants for cash considerations today, officially ending the reliever's disappointing stint with the organization five days after he was removed from their 40-man roster. Gott had been designated for assignment Friday when the Nationals needed to...

Gott designated for assignment to clear spot for Hellickson

Gott designated for assignment to clear spot for Hellickson
The Nationals have designated reliever Trevor Gott for assignment, clearing a spot on their 40-man roster for Jeremy Hellickson, whose signing was officially announced by the club. Hellickson agreed earlier this week to terms on a one-year, $1.3 million contract that also includes up to $4 million in incentives. The deal was contingent on the right-hander passing a physical, which he has now done, and on the Nationals clearing a roster spot for him. They chose to make Gott the odd man out, a...

Milone provides length to bullpen rotation, Rodriguez gets shot at No. 5 role

Milone provides length to bullpen rotation, Rodriguez gets shot at No. 5 role
Nationals manager Davey Martinez explained the reasoning behind tonight's adjustment in the starting rotation as the club called up right-hander Jefry Rodriguez and gave him the start against the Miami Marlins. Martinez said club officials have liked what they have seen the last two starts from Rodriguez, one with the Nats on Aug. 7 and an 11-strikeout performance for Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 12. Left-hander Tommy Milone, tonight's original starter, now moves to the bullpen and helps the...

Game 120 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (updated)

Game 120 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (updated)
ST. LOUIS - And we're back for another evening of exciting Nationals baseball at Busch Stadium. What does tonight have in store for the D.C. nine? It's tough to imagine anything more dramatic (or devastating) than what this team has experienced in the last 48 hours. But at this point, nothing should surprise you. We don't yet know the state of the Nats bullpen for tonight's game, but reinforcements have arrived. Ryan Madson and Sammy Solís are not listed on the lineup card for tonight's...

Harper, Murphy get day off; Gott replaces Voth on roster (Nats win 6-1)

Harper, Murphy get day off; Gott replaces Voth on roster (Nats win 6-1)
NEW YORK - The Nationals will close out the first half of their season with a lineup that doesn't include Bryce Harper or Daniel Murphy, and with a couple extra arms in their bullpen in case they're needed. Both Harper and Murphy were given today's game against the Mets off by manager Davey Martinez, who wanted to give each guy a chance to rest, for different reasons. Harper had started 93 of the Nationals' first 95 games and was used as a pinch-hitter in one other. He had started 36...

Game 63 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

Game 63 lineups: Nats vs. Giants
The Nationals usually play Sunday home games at 1:35 p.m. Except for the day after their annual Dream Foundation Gala. Wanting to give everyone some extra time to, uh, recover from that evening event, they push back the following day's game until 4:05 p.m. It makes sense. Except on a day like today, when the skies are forecasted to be dry early in the afternoon before turning ominous late in the afternoon. Oh well, nothing they can do about that now but wait and see how the weather turns out...

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)

Game 55 lineups: Nats at Braves (Madson activated)
ATLANTA - And a very pleasant good afternoon to you from SunTrust Park, here in beautiful unincorporated Atlanta. The hometown Braves have been among the biggest surprises in baseball so far, with the youngest roster in the sport playing an exciting brand of ball and (until last night) holding first place in the National League East division. That changed last night when the Nationals finished off their sweep of the Orioles and the Braves lost to the Mets, but that doesn't make this weekend's...

On middle relief woes and Harper's chance that never was

On middle relief woes and Harper's chance that never was
SAN DIEGO - Some more thoughts, observations and reactions from Wednesday night's 2-1 loss to the Padres before heading to Arizona for a four-game weekend series ... * The Achilles' heel of the Nationals' roster is no secret. It's been on display throughout the season's first month-plus, and it's a carryover from the 2017 season: the middle portion of their bullpen. And it reared its ugly head again during Wednesday's loss. In a 1-1 game, and with Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler having...

With chance to sweep Padres, Nationals lose another close one

With chance to sweep Padres, Nationals lose another close one
SAN DIEGO - On a night when Bryce Harper was held out of the lineup for the first time this season, when Gio Gonzalez needed 59 pitches just to get through his first two innings and the Nationals managed only one run off a rookie starter, the mere fact they were in prime position to beat the Padres late was telling. The fact they couldn't take advantage of that position and wound up losing 2-1 also was telling. Unable to get a clutch hit from those who did start and unable to get clean innings...

Martinez on Rendon, Gott, Zimmerman and the mariachi band

Martinez on Rendon, Gott, Zimmerman and the mariachi band
Manager Davey Martinez discussed the Nationals activating third baseman Anthony Rendon from the 10-day disabled list. Adrian Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Rendon played two games for high Single-A Potomac in the last two nights. "He looked good playing the last couple of days," Martinez said. "His at-bats were really good. He's moving a lot better than what I anticipated. I just expect him to go out there and do his thing like normal. He's excited about being back and he says...

On Rendon's return, Gott's injury and Adams' robbery

On Rendon's return, Gott's injury and Adams' robbery
Some news and notes to tide you over before the Nationals return to the field this afternoon against the Phillies, seeking to extend their winning streak to seven games ... * Though nothing was formally announced Friday night, Anthony Rendon is all but certain to be activated off the disabled list today. The Nationals third baseman completed his second rehab game with Single-A Potomac, going 3-for-4 with a double and playing in the field for the first time since fouling a ball off his left big...

Nats remind Phillies who's still boss with sixth straight win

Nats remind Phillies who's still boss with sixth straight win
For six years, the Phillies - once the titans of the National League East - have been forced to watch the Nationals seize control of this division and undergo their own long and painful rebuild. That dynamic could change at some point, though, and the folks from Southeast Pennsylvania are hoping this is the year it happens, with a young and talented roster beginning to take shape and getting off to a strong start. There are still nearly five months for this all to play out, but in their first...

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 takes ownership of 4-3, extra-inning loss to D-backs

Martinez takes ownership of 4-3, extra-inning loss to D-backs
The Nationals were again entrenched in a close game, again against the Diamondbacks. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson entered the top of the sixth inning nursing a 2-1 lead and then allowed a solo shot to David Peralta, his second homer of the game. The blast to right field tied the game at 2-2. Hellickson had not labored, holding at just 57 pitches, 43 for strikes. Later in the 10th inning, manager Davey Martinez wanted to pitch Austin L. Adams because he thought Arizona was going for...

Injuries, lack of depth costing Nationals in tight games

Injuries, lack of depth costing Nationals in tight games
LOS ANGELES - The Nationals head to San Francisco for the final leg of their three-city road trip with a 10-12 record that feels like it should at least be flipped around, if not even better than that. The Nats are 1-5 in one-run games so far this season, the lone victory coming way back in the opening series in Cincinnati after Sean Doolittle gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth before hanging on. Surely they could have pulled out wins in a couple of those tight ballgames had...

Game 17 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 17 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - It is the middle of April and the two-time defending N.L. East champion Washington Nationals find themselves six games behind the first place New York Mets. There are 146 regular season games remaining. The Nats have yet to play a regular season game with Daniel Murphy in the lineup. Adam Eaton has been sidelined with a bone bruise on his left ankle. Anthony Rendon has missed the last two games after fouling a ball off his left big toe. Hitters Ryan Zimmerman and Michael A. Taylor...

Nats appear to set roster after optioning Reynolds, Sanchez

Nats appear to set roster after optioning Reynolds, Sanchez
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals will open the season with an eight-man bullpen and a four-man bench, a decision that may have as much to do with ensuring they didn't lose anyone from their organization who was out of options as it was about in-game strategy. As the club's flight home to Washington was departing this evening, the Nats announced they had optioned infielders Matt Reynolds and Adrian Sanchez to Triple-A Syracuse. The domino effect of that: All the relievers remaining in big...

Breaking down the remaining bullpen candidates

Breaking down the remaining bullpen candidates
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Perhaps the most difficult roster question the Nationals face in the final days of spring training is how to fill in the final vacancies in their bullpen. It doesn't help that more vacancies have opened up during the course of the spring. Koda Glover's recurring shoulder woes and now Joaquin Benoit's forearm strain have created some openings that might not previously have existed. Not that there's an easy answer to this quandary. Let's begin with the bullpen slots...

Benoit won't open season on active roster (Nats lose 8-3)

Benoit won't open season on active roster (Nats lose 8-3)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are going to need to tap into their right-handed bullpen depth to open the season. Already down one arm all spring when Koda Glover reported to camp with a sore shoulder, the Nats now acknowledge they won't have veteran Joaquin Benoit for opening day after the 40-year-old was diagnosed with a strained forearm. Benoit, who was signed to a $1 million major league contract one week after camp opened, made three Grapefruit League appearances, most recently...

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?

With one week to go, what's left for Nats to decide?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We are down, if you can believe this, to the final seven days of spring training. Yep, one week from now the Nationals will be home in Washington, getting settled into their digs for the season and preparing to face the Twins in one last exhibition game on South Capitol Street before heading out to Cincinnati for opening day. Which means it's crunch time down here in Florida. All those decisions that have been looming for five weeks? It's about time to make them. All...