Washington Nationals Trade Rumors

Senator Bob Casey rips Nationals' plan to keep out Phillies fans
February 10
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals' "Take Back Our Park" initiative took an unexpected political turn today as Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), via Twitter, stood against the Nationals' plan to limit ticket sales to only Maryland, Virginia and D.C. residents for the team's series in May against the Phillies. "I'm calling on the Nationals to reverse course on a reported plan to block Phillies fans from buying tickets to games at Nationals Park," Casey wrote in consecutive tweets Thursday afternoon. "Phillies have some of the best fans in the world. They shouldn't be left out in the cold because the Nats want a stronger home field adv.""
Rick Ankiel signs minor league contract with Nationals
February 6
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals signed outfielder Rick Ankiel to a minor league contract, a person with knowledge of the agreement said, adding depth to Washington's thin center field competition with a player who performed well for them when healthy in 2011. Ankiel, 32, hit .239/.296/.363 for the Nationals last season while serving two stints on the disabled list. Ankiel became a popular clubhouse figure and, more important, played outstanding defense in center, where he displayed one of the best outfield arms in the league."
Edwin Jackson, Nationals agree to deal
February 2
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals have reached a one-year agreement with right-handed starter Edwin Jackson, who traveled to Washington this afternoon to receive a physical, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Jackson, a hard-throwing 28-year-old, gives the Nationals a crowded rotation with seven qualified starting pitchers, but the they do not plan on making major changes to the complexion of their staff before spring training, a Nationals official said. The Nationals could ultimately look to trade John Lannan or Ross Detwiler but do not plan to not trade either before the start of spring training, the official said. The official also described talk of Lannan being shopped as "overblown.""
Brad Lidge, Nationals agree to terms
January 26
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran reliever Brad Lidge on a one-year deal, the team announced. Lidge gives the Nationals' bullpen, already one of the best in baseball, a right-hander with a devastating slider and mountains of experience, including recording the final out of the 2008 World Series. Lidge, 35, was limited by a shoulder injury to 25 games last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. But in the 19 innings he pitched, Lidge allowed only three earned runs, striking out 23 and walking 13. "Brad is one of the more interesting teammates I've had," said Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth, who played with Lidge in Philadelphia. "Not your average athlete. Very intelligent on"
If Nats want Fielder, now may be perfect
January 24
Foxsports.com
 
"The Prince Fielder sweepstakes finally are nearing conclusion, according to major league sources. The Nationals remain a leading contender for the free-agent first baseman, if not the outright favorite. Which is as it should be. The Nats can get by without Fielder, playing Adam LaRoche at first for one more season, then acquiring a center fielder and moving left fielder Michael Morse to first in 2013. Some members of the Nats' ownership actually would prefer such a plan, sources say; the team committed $126 million to free-agent outfielder Jayson Werth last offseason and soon might award another major contract to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman."
Nationals, Prince Fielder remain in talks
January 24
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals are among a handful of teams still working on signing free agent Prince Fielder, a person familiar with the negotiations said. The sides have yet to reach a deal but remain in communication. The Nationals have been connected to Fielder for weeks, with the owners meeting with Fielder's representative, Scott Boras, on multiple occasions. The Texas Rangers have been the team most commonly regarded as a suitor for Fielder, but another potential landing spot has emerged for Fielder, and one that could pique the Nationals' interest: the Baltimore Orioles."
Sources: Nationals know Zimmerman's price
January 24
Foxsports.com
 
"As the Nationals talk to free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, they face a significant contractual decision on one of their own players – third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman has informed the team of the exact terms he would accept long-term, according to one major-league source. He has said in the past that he does not want to sign an extension that would restrict the club from making other moves. Contract negotiations are fluid, but two other sources suggest that an agreement between Zimmerman and the Nationals is within reach. Zimmerman, 27, is under contract for $12 million in 2012 and $14 million in 2013. After that, he is eligible for free agency."
The latest Prince Fielder chatter around the league
January 22
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals have stayed quiet for some time on Prince Fielder. General Manager Mike Rizzo has been declining comment on a near-daily basis for the past week or so, even deciding against taking questions from reporters when the team announced Gio Gonzalez's contract extension. Other efforts to get the Nationals' perspective on their pursuit of Fielder have come up empty, too. There have been no signs, at least publicly, that the wait for Fielder to sign is much closer to ending. But a few executives across the league have been weighing in on the Fielder sweepstakes. Here's the latest: >>> Today in Baltimore, Orioles GM Dan Duquette indicated to reporters, including MASN.com, that the"
Nationals, Michael Morse agree to 2-year extension
January 21
Washington Times
 
"The Washington Nationals agreed on a two-year contract extension with Michael Morse on Friday afternoon, thereby avoiding salary arbitration for the final two years of the slugger's existing contract. The Associated Press reported the deal was worth $10.5 million. The length and financial terms of the extension were not disclosed by the team but a source confirmed to The Washington Times that it was a two-year deal. The deal was agreed on prior to Tuesday's noon deadline for teams to come to terms or exchange figures for salary arbitration and was contingent on Morse passing a physical. Morse and the Nationals both filed figures with the league office — Morse at $5 million and the"
Nationals, Michael Morse agree to 2-year extension
January 20
Washington Times
 
"The Washington Nationals agreed on a two-year contract extension with Michael Morse on Friday afternoon, thereby avoiding salary arbitration for the final two years of the slugger's existing contract. The Associated Press reported the deal was worth $10.5 million. The length and financial terms of the extension were not disclosed by the team but a source confirmed to The Washington Times that it was a two-year deal. It was agreed on prior to Tuesday's noon deadline for teams to come to terms or exchange figures for salary arbitration and was contingent on Morse passing a physical. Morse and the Nationals both filed figures with the league office — Morse at $5 million and the Nationals at"
Nats, Zimmerman in talks for extension
January 19
MLB.com
 
"Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made it clear recently that he wants to stay with Nationals for the rest of his career. Zimmerman's current contract has two years and $26 million remaining. But according to two baseball sources, the Nats and agent Brodie Van Wagenen were discussing an extension for Zimmerman. This news comes on the heels of Washington's attempt to acquire free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. It's not known how the discussions went between Zimmerman and the team. Neither Zimmerman, Van Wagenen nor general manager Mike Rizzo was available for comment on contract talks. However, back in December, Zimmerman indicated that he wants to be with the Nationals when they start"
Nationals agree to terms with Jesus Flores, have five arbitration-eligible players to go
January 17
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals avoided arbitration with catcher Jesus Flores by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract, the team announced. Flores will earn $815,000 in 2012, a raise of $65,000 from last year, plus up to $50,000 in performance bonuses based on games played. Flores, 27, appeared in 30 games last year with the Nationals after missing all of 2010 and most of 2009 with a torn labrum. Flores hit .209/.253/.314 in 91 plate appearances and showed improvement behind the plate as he regained arm strength. The Nationals plan on Flores serving as Wilson Ramos's backup this season."
Report: Washington Nationals seriously pursuing free agent Prince Fielder
January 16
Dallas Morning News
 
"If the Rangers were hoping every other serious contender had bowed out of the race for Prince Fielder, they're out of luck. An unidentified source tole MLB.com's Bill Ladson that the Nationals are still heavily pursuing free agent Prince Fielder, and appear to be one of the few teams in serious talks with the first baseman. The source told Ladson that the most likely suitors for Fielder are the Nationals, Rangers and Marlins, and that the Cubs and Mariners, widely rumored to be interested in Fielder, aren't serious contenders at this point."
Nats still in running to land free-agent Fielder
January 15
MLB.com
 
"The Nationals continue to be in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes, although the club is not willing to give the free-agent first baseman a 10-year deal like the one that first baseman Albert Pujols got from the Angels, according to a baseball source. It appears that the Nationals are, however, willing to give Fielder a no-trade clause. An industry source believes that the Nationals want to give Fielder a six- or seven-year deal. The length of the contract was also a problem when the Nationals were trying to sign left-hander Mark Buehrle. The club wanted to give him a three-year deal, but Buehrle ended up signing a four-year, $58 million contract with the Marlins. The source also said the"
Prince Fielder deal could cement Nationals-Scott Boras marriage, for better or worse
January 14
Washington Post
 columnist Thomas Boswell
"If the Washington Nationals sign Prince Fielder but don't extend the contract of Ryan Zimmerman whose deal runs out after two more seasons, then by Opening Day 2014 almost the entire Washington starting lineup — seven players — may be clients of agent Scott Boras. These pieces would fit together ideally, putting each player in his natural place in the batting order and in his preferred defensive position, while creating a balanced lineup that combines speed, power and hitting from both sides of the plate. So many of the players would be young, the total Nats payroll might remain at mere mid-market levels. And with just a few sane contract extensions to non-Boras pitchers, this entire team"
Yoenis Cespedes debuts in Dominican, leaves Nationals off suitor list
January 14
Washington Post
 
"In an interview with the Associated Press, center fielder and Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes excluded the Nationals from a list of potential suitors once his paperwork to attain a visa and become a free agent processes. Thursday night, Cespedes debuted in the Dominican Winter League for Aguilas Cibaenas, going 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and a hit by pitch. Cespedes told the AP he has received the most interest from the Marlins, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles, Tigers and Indians. The fact that Cespedes, a 26-year-old power hitter who could play in the majors right away, did not name the Nationals does not mean Washington will not be in play. The Nationals have tracked Cespedes for years and"
Boras: Prince will sign before spring's first pitch
January 12
MLB.com
 
"Free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder will sign a contract before the first pitch of the spring, his agent said on Wednesday. "Certainly we're going to have him signed well in advance of Spring Training," said Scott Boras, who was at the Owners Meetings on Wednesday to discuss contracts for his various clients. "I can't give you the exact date. These things take some time. That's why we have January and early February. Spring Training doesn't start until late February." Fielder is the highest-profile free agent left on the market, and Boras certainly has a history of taking things down to the wire. In 2009, Boras negotiated with the Dodgers for Manny Ramirez well into Spring Training."
Nationals unlikely to sign Prince at current price
January 11
MLB.com
 
"There is a "99 percent" chance that the Nationals will not sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, according to a baseball source. The news comes a few weeks after ownership met with Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, in the nation's capital. The source indicated that Fielder's price must come down in order for the team to think about acquiring his services. The Nats are not willing to give Fielder anything close to the 10-year, $240 million contract the Angels gave first baseman Albert Pujols."
Nationals continue to be linked to Fielder
January 3
MLB.com
 
"Reports continue to surface that the Nationals are the front-runners to land free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, but they did not say if both sides were close to a deal. For weeks, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that Adam LaRoche would be the starting first baseman for 2012. During Spring Training, LaRoche was diagnosed with a torn labrum and rotator cuff. He ended up playing in 43 games, hitting .172 with three home runs and 15 RBIs."
Nationals a favorite for Fielder
January 2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"An MLB official told me over the weekend that word is spreading in the industry that the Washington Nationals have emerged as a favorite to sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. The market was slow to develop for Fielder, even after Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Angels during the winter meetings in December. But now that the calendar has turned to 2012, you have to assume Fielder and agent Scott Boras will try to get a deal done soon. For public record, the Nationals have played down any interest they might have in Fielder. General manager Mike Rizzo said recently that "unless something extraordinary and out of the ordinary" happened, he was planning to"
Nationals acquire lefty Gio Gonzalez in trade
December 23
Washington Post
 
"A year ago, Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo was prepared to trade four young players to the Kansas City Royals for former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, the deal falling apart only because Greinke, with a full no-trade clause, refused the Nationals' nine-figure contract offer in exchange for accepting the trade. But the Nationals' thirst for a front-line starter to join Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann atop their rotation never lessened, and Thursday the team agreed in principle to a blockbuster deal for Oakland Athletics all-star lefty Gio Gonzalez in exchange for four of their best prospects. Keith Law of ESPN.com first reported details of the trade, which is"
Nationals nearing a deal with utility player Mark DeRosa
December 22
Washington Times
 
"The Washington Nationals continued their efforts to restock their bench, closing in on a deal with utility man Mark DeRosa late Wednesday night, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. DeRosa, who has missed much of the previous two seasons with a wrist injury, can play infield and outfield and will serve as a right-handed bat off the bench. The utility player has been a target of the Nationals all offseason, their courtship starting early in November when manager Davey Johnson called DeRosa to recruit him. Johnson, who managed DeRosa in the World Baseball Classic in 2009, speaks highly of the 36-year-old."
Mariners, Nats, O's among teams eyeing Prince
December 21
CBSSports.com
 
"Indications are the Mariners, Nationals and Orioles are among about a half-dozen teams still eyeing star free agent Prince Fielder. The Fielder derby is heating up, as some teams have made offers or at least given an indication where they'd be willing to go monetarily for the slugger. The Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays, Marlins and incumbent Brewers also have been mentioned as possibilities for Prince. The Mariners are one of the teams that's suggested their price range for Fielder, although it's unclear how serious Fielder might be about willing to play on the West Coast. Some close to the Florida product and longtime Brewer have suggested he'd prefer to stay in the East or Central time zones."
Nationals actively pursuing A's ace Gonzalez
December 21
MLB.com
 
"Trying to acquire A's left-hander Gio Gonzalez is the Nationals' top priority, according to a baseball source. The clubs are trying to work out a deal that would send four players to Oakland, and it is believed that Gonzalez will be traded soon. Two of the players the A's are looking at are right-hander Brad Peacock and catcher Derek Norris. Peacock is arguably Washington's best pitching prospect. He went a combined 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse this year. Peacock was promoted to the big leagues late in the season and allowed one run in 12 innings."
Nats working hard to land Gonzalez
December 19
Foxsports.com
 
"The Nationals, continuing their quest to add a left-handed starting pitcher, are pushing hard to land the Athletics' Gio Gonzalez, according to major-league sources. Gonzalez, 26, is perhaps the hottest pitcher available on the trade market, and the Marlins, Red Sox and Rangers are among the other teams showing strong interest in him. The Nats want an established lefty to go with their two young right-handed starters, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. They were the runner-up for free-agent left-hander Mark Buerhle, who signed a four-year, $58-million contract with the Marlins."
Nationals trade Collin Balester to Tigers for Ryan Perry
December 10
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals cut ties with one-time top prospect Collin Balester today, dealing him to the Detroit Tigers for reliever Ryan Perry, a 2008 first-round choice who threw 37 innings in 36 games last season, compiling a 5.35 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 21 walks. Balester shuttled between the majors and Class AAA Syracuse last season and had a 4.54 ERA in 35 2/3 major league innings, primarily as a long reliever. The Nationals were motivated to move Balester because he has run out of minor league options, while Perry still has one remaining. Essentially, they can do with Perry what they did with Balester last year – toggle him up and down for roster management purposes without the threat of"
Yu Darvish will be posted, and the Nationals are interested
December 9
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals missed out on Mark Buehrle yesterday when he signed with the Miami Marlins, but they will have another chance to land a pitcher to slot into the top of their rotation — a younger, more expensive and more captivating option. Japanese superstar Yu Darvish announced last night he will be posted today, meaning teams can begin bidding for the right to negotiate with the 25-year-old who has for years been considered the best pitcher in Japan and perhaps the best pitcher in the world not currently playing Major League Baseball. The Nationals have extensively scouted Darvish, and General Manager Mike Rizzo watched Darvish pitch in person last year. Rizzo would not divulge whether the"
Ivan Rodriguez, Nationals to part ways, agent Scott Boras says
December 8
Washington Post
 
"It has seemed clear for some time that the Nationals and Ivan Rodriguez will part ways, and Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, confirmed that tonight. While several teams are considering Rodriguez as a backup catcher, the Nationals are not one of them. "I think their plan at the moment excludes him," Boras said. As of now, the Nationals are considering Jesus Flores, who is eligible for arbitration but will likely make less than $1 million, as the backup for Wilson Ramos. With Jhonatan Solano now on the 40-man roster and top prospect Derek Norris likely to move to Class AAA, the Nationals are well-stocked at catcher."
Nori Aoki a possible backup plan for the Nationals in center field
December 7
Washington Post
 
"Depending on how the Nationals' pursuit of landing a center fielder in a trade develops in the next few days, there's a chance Washington will bid on Japanese outfielder Nori Aoki, a team official said. It's certainly not the Nationals' first choice, but they're considering the option in case they cannot find a willing, desirable trade partner. Aoki will be available through the posting system, in which teams bid on a the right to negotiate with a player, with the winning bid money going to the player's team. Aoki will be posted shortly after the winter meetings, and so the four-day bidding period should come to a close by the end of next week. The Nationals will have until then to decide"
Whole new game if Darvish is involved
December 7
MLB.com
 columnist Anthony Castrovince
"Part of the private art collection housed in the Hilton Anatole are two life-sized, three-ton elephant statues that stand in the tower lobby -- eight-foot creatures looming over all the Hot Stove hubbub of these Winter Meetings. They are the actual elephants in the room, though there are, of course, figurative ones in play here, too. The first, undoubtedly, is Albert Pujols, and the Marlins' reported 10-year offer for his services had the lobby buzzing early Tuesday and through the night. Pujols' next move is going to have a big bearing not only on the Fish and Cardinals, but also on many free-agent moves to follow. But another elephant in the room -- one not drawing nearly as much focus"
Sources: Phillies sign free-agent Nix
December 5
CSN Philly
 
"Scratch another item off the Phillies' off-season to-do list. According to sources, the team has reached agreement on a two-year contract with free agent Laynce Nix. The deal is pending a physical. Nix made $700,000 in a one-year contract with Washington last season. Nix, 31, bats left-handed and primarily plays left field. His signing likely closes the door on free-agent Raul Ibanez returning to the Phillies. It also likely signals the end of the team's pursuit of free-agent Michael Cuddyer."
Nats, Marlins, Rangers after Buehrle
December 4
Foxsports.com
 
"The Nationals, Marlins and Rangers are the most aggressive teams on free-agent left-hander Mark Buehrle, according to major-league sources. All three clubs also are pursuing free-agent lefty C.J. Wilson, but the Nats would prefer Buehrle on a shorter deal to Wilson on a longer one, sources said. The Rangers, meanwhile, are wary of overpaying Wilson, who also is drawing interest from their biggest rival, the Angels."
Nationals officials watch Yoenis Cespedes in private workout
December 1
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals' pursuit of a center fielder took General Manager Mike Rizzo to the Dominican Republic yesterday, when he watched and evaluated one of the most high-profile, talented and priciest Cuban players in recent memory. The Nationals staged a private workout for Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes at their Dominican academy in Boca Chica, a person with knowledge of the workout said. Both Rizzo and Nationals international scouting director Johnny DiPuglia attended, the person said."
Nationals' holiday shopping about to start in earnest
November 27
Washington Examiner
 
"Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has known what he wants since summer, when he repeatedly tried to fill a massive hole in his lineup via trade. It did not happen then. But there is another, better chance coming soon as baseball's chaotic offseason begins in earnest this week. So far, there have been a few minor deals signed. Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon inked the one high-profile contract when he agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with Philadelphia. Even Rizzo made a quick move after the World Series by re-signing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year, $4 million deal, thereby maintaining the starting rotation depth Washington built by the end of its season. But that"
Phillies didn't offer Roy Oswalt arbitration, which matters for Nationals
November 26
Washington Post
 
"We're catching up on a piece of news that's small but potentially important for the Nationals. On Wednesday, the Phillies did not offer right-handed starter Roy Oswalt arbitration. The decision ensured Oswalt will be a more valuable commodity on the free agent market and could have a possible effect on the Nationals. Since Oswalt is a Type A free agent, the Phillies would have received a first-round draft pick from the team that signed Oswalt had they offered him arbitration. But Philadelphia decided it did not want to risk paying Oswalt the one-year salary it would have owed him — about $17 million — if he accepted an arbitration offer. And so now, the team that signs Oswalt will not lose"
Nats' Wilson Ramos returns to the field in Venezuela
November 23
Washington Post
 
"Thirteen days after he was kidnapped in front of his home, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos made his season debut tonight for the Aragua Tigers in the Venezuelan winter league. Ramos batted cleanup as the designated hitter and went 0 with 5 in the Tigers' 6-4 loss to La Guaira. Ramos's performance, in his first game since the end of the Nationals season in September, paled compared to the simple fact he took the field. On Nov. 9, Ramos was taken at gunpoint outside his house in Valencia, Venezuela and held for 51 hours before a team of 30 Venezuelan commandoes made a dramatic rescue."
Randy Knorr hired as Nationals bench coach
November 18
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals finalized their 2012 field staff by naming former Class AAA Syracuse Manager Randy Knorr as bench coach, a position that makes Knorr a candidate to become Manager Davey Johnson's successor. Knorr, 43, has been with the organization since 2001, when he played catcher for the Montreal Expos. After playing for three more years in the minor leagues, Knorr became a coach. Since then, he has served as the bullpen coach in 2008 and 2009 and managed both Class AA Harrisburg and Syracuse. Knorr spent the month of September with the Nationals and helped Johnson get to know the young players on the roster, almost all of whom he has managed in the minor leagues."
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo lays groundwork in trade for a center fielder
November 17
Washington Post
 
"After two days of meeting with his fellow general managers at the Pfister Hotel, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has a different sense than after past similar gatherings. After losing 196 games in his first two years at the helm, Rizzo entered these meetings with a third-place team led by a young core. The league took notice. "The early sense I got is that there's a lot of interest in a lot of our players, which is good," Rizzo said. "It hasn't been like that for many of these meetings.""
The Nationals' bench coach could become their next manager
November 17
Washington Post
 columnist Adam Kilgore
"The Nationals need only to hire a bench coach to finalize their 2012 field staff, and they will make their hire with an eye on the future. The Nationals, General Manager Mike Rizzo said, plan to fill the bench coach position with a potential successor to Manager Davey Johnson. Now, the bench coach will not necessary become the Nationals' next manager. But the Nationals intend to promote Johnson's successor from within the organization, and Rizzo wants the next bench coach to be a candidate, along with current third base coach Bo Porter, first base coach Trent Jewett and Class AAA Manager Randy Knorr."
Former National Cole Kimball claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays
November 17
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals lost hard-throwing reliever Cole Kimball today when the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him off of waivers. Kimball, 26, made his major league debut this year for the Nationals and looked like one of their most promising relief pitchers until he tore the labrum in his right shoulder. Kimball will be able to pitch again in the majors by the all-star break at the earliest. The Nationals were trying to sneak Kimball through waivers in order to open space on their 40-man roster. By Friday, the Nationals will need to add several minor leaguers to the roster in order to keep from potentially losing them in the Rule 5 draft. "It's a bummer," one Nationals official said. "That's the risk"
Nationals at the GM meetings
November 14
Washington Post
 
"Thank goodness we can talk about baseball now. Wilson Ramos is safe, the offseason churns forward and Mike Rizzo will not be going Venezuela, but to Milwaukee for the annual General Manager meetings. We'll be touching down in Milwaukee today and will have updates over the next three days from the event. We'll delve more into the below topics this week, but as this offseason mile-marker gets going, here's a quick primer: What will happen: The GM meetings typically bring far less action than the annual winter meetings, which will come in early December in Dallas. Owners will also convene in Milwaukee, and the discussions will range from competition issues to finalizing the final remaining"
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos kidnapped in Venezuela
November 10
Washington Post
 
"Wilson Ramos, one of the Washington Nationals' most promising young baseball players, was kidnapped at gunpoint Wednesday night from his family's home in Venezuela, leaving the team in a state of shock and raising questions about the safety of playing in a country ravaged in recent years by kidnappings and street crime. The 24-year-old Ramos, the starting catcher for the Nationals, had returned to his native country for the winter and planned to participate in roughly 10 games for his Venezuelan winter league team, the Aragua Tigers, starting Thursday."
Report: Wilson Ramos kidnapped in native Venezuela
November 9
Washington Post
 
"Awful news to pass along. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela, according to his Venezuelan winter league team. Ramos, 24, had gone home for the winter and planned to participate in roughly 10 games with Tigres de Aragua, starting Thursday. He is one of the Nationals' best, most promising players, a rookie this past season who became the Nationals' regular catcher. Four people, armed, went into Ramos's family's house Wednesday night and took Ramos, and only Ramos, out of the house, put him in a green vehicle and sped away, according to multiple news reports out of Venezuela. Ramos's family has not established communication with the"
Nationals have pitching depth, and they want more
November 5
Washington Post
 
"With Chien-Ming Wang in the fold, the Nationals have a commodity all teams pine for: starting pitching depth. In Mike Rizzo's eyes, the Nationals have "eight or nine" starting pitchers who could join their rotation at some point in 2012, and some pitchers who could pitch in the majors will spend the majority of their year in the minor leagues. After Wang's signing became official today, the Nationals control the 2012 contract rights to eight pitchers who started for them in the majors in 2012: Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan, Ross Detwiler, Brad Peacock, Tom Milone, Tom Gorzelanny and Wang. "I really like the way the rotation is set right now," Rizzo said. "We have great"
Chien-Ming Wang set to re-sign with Nationals
November 4
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals took a significant step toward setting their 2012 starting rotation Thursday afternoon, finalizing a one-year contract with right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a team official said. The deal, pending a physical, is worth $4 million plus performance bonuses. For Wang, 31, the contract represents another milestone in his recovery from the torn shoulder capsule and major surgery that derailed his career with the New York Yankees in 2009. The Nationals signed Wang to one-year contracts in 2010 and 2011, supporting him as he rehabbed. They paid him $2 million in 2010, and he did not throw a pitch."
How Bryce Harper's Arizona Fall League performance can affect the Nationals' offseason plans
November 3
Washington Post
 columnist Adam Kilgore
"The Nationals could use a left-handed power hitter to slide into their 2012 lineup around Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Jayson Werth, and one might just be surfacing out in the Arizona desert. After a slow start in the Arizona Fall League, Bryce Harper has emerged as one of the best players amongst the toughest minor league competition available. He slammed another home run for the Scottsdale Scorpions last night, giving him five homers and 17 RBIs over his last eight games. (Per ESPN's Jason Grey, General Manager Mike Rizzo was there watching in person.) In 16 games total, Harper is hitting .290/.357/.613."
Nationals, Chien-Ming Wang have 'conceptually' agreed on deal
November 3
Washington Times
 
"A deal between the Washington Nationals and right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang has been agreed upon "conceptually," his agent Alan Nero said Wednesday. But it's not expected to get done before 12:01 a.m. on Thursday when Wang officially hits the open market as a free agent. "Things are progressing as normal," Nero said in a phone interview. "In good faith we're trying to get it done but I don't anticipate it getting done tonight." A team source later confirmed that things are "progressing, but not there yet.""
Washington Nationals name Davey Johnson manager for 2012 season
November 1
Washington Post
 
"On the final day of the 2011 season, as the Washington Nationals prepared to put the final touch on one of the franchise's best months, Davey Johnson called players into his office one by one. The Nationals had guaranteed a third-place finish and improved by 10 victories over the previous year. For Johnson, the progress represented a signpost, not an end point. He wanted his players to know. "I'm in this for the long haul, and I want to finish this up," Johnson told them. "I don't want to come in here for a year. I want to stick around.""
Nationals waiting to announce Davey Johnson as their next manager
October 27
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals have finished their managerial search and are simply waiting until after the World Series concludes to make an official announcement, General Manager Mike Rizzo said today in a conference call with reporters. Barring an absolute shock, Davey Johnson will retain the position for the 2012 season. MLB asks teams not make any formal announcements during the World Series so as to detract attention from the sport's marquee event. "We're just waiting for an opportunity to make an announcement," Rizzo said."