MASNsports.com

Zim's deal unquestionably a win-win - Phil Wood

2012-02-28T03:13:47Z

Amazingly, the Nationals are catching some criticism for signing franchise cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman to a 6-year contract extension over the weekend. It's being suggested by some that the club should have offered Zim a much shorter pact, since they have Anthony Rendon waiting in the wings. Really? Hey, I'm as ... Read More

Rookie Rendon will start at third base vs. Georgetown - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-27T20:41:19Z

VIERA, Fla. - Now that they've locked up their present third baseman for the foreseeable future, the Nationals have made some decisions regarding third base prospect Anthony Rendon, the sixth overall pick in June's draft. General manager Mike Rizzo told MLB.com today that Rendon would play third base in the ... Read More

With Hernandez on hill, Harper may start in opener - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-27T20:10:40Z

VIERA, Fla. - Near the end of his daily briefing with the media, Nationals manager Davey Johnson was told by reporters that ex-Nat Livan Hernandez would be starting Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against Washington for the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla. "Livo?" Johnson said, his eyes growing wide and a grin ... Read More

Wang throwing "free and easy" in latest mound session - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-27T19:41:55Z

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang drew quite a crowd while pitching live batting practice Monday. General manager Mike Rizzo, manager Davey Johnson, pitching coach Steve McCatty and minor league pitching coordinator Spin Williams were all casting a critical eye at the session, in which Wang looked pretty strong. Coming off shoulder problems ... Read More

Purke ready to take the mound against Hoyas - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-27T14:35:57Z

VIERA, Fla. - When left-hander Matt Purke takes the mound Friday for the Nationals in an exhibition game against Georgetown, he'll be making his first tentative steps on a path that should land in him in Washington sooner rather than later. But it'll be different. There are no scouting reports ... Read More

Would Strasburg be open to following in Zimmerman's footsteps? - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-27T12:32:25Z

VIERA, Fla. - From the time he was drafted in 2005, Ryan Zimmerman spoke of wanting to play his whole career in Washington. Because he grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., and played college baseball at the University of Virginia, he said playing at Nationals Park felt like an extension ... Read More

Durbin and Fulchino looking to make presence felt in Nationals' camp; update on Purke - Byron Kerr

2012-02-27T05:18:57Z

A couple of right-handers with a ton of experience are looking to break through and get the last one or two slots in the Nationals' bullpen this spring. Former UConn Husky Jeff Fulchino is looking to make a nice impression as Nationals camp gets rolling along. The 32-year old right-hander ... Read More

Harper gets to face other first-rounder in live BP - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T21:12:08Z

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper, the top overall pick in the 2010 draft, drew a first-round pick from the 2009 draft as his opponent during Sunday's first day of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Just not that first-rounder. Instead of hitting against right-hander Stephen Strasburg - a possibility ... Read More

DeRosa celebrates 37th birthday by facing Strasburg - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T20:58:33Z

VIERA, Fla. - For his 37th birthday, Mark DeRosa got an unusual present: an opportunity to face hard-throwing right-hander Stephen Strasburg during the first session of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Working in a hitting group with Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina, DeRosa was the only person to ... Read More

With long-term security, Zimmerman can be a Nat for life - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T20:20:20Z

VIERA, Fla. - Stability and security meant more to Ryan Zimmerman than dollars and cents, so when the third baseman and the Nationals were hammering out what turned out to be a six-year extension to his current contract, the only stumbling block was something that's usually a deal-breaker for general ... Read More

Teammates say franchise cornerstone earned long-term security - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T14:52:54Z

VIERA, Fla. - As news of Ryan Zimmerman's long-awaited, long-term extension with the Nationals passed through the Space Coast Stadium clubhouse Sunday morning, the third baseman's teammates spoke of how much Zimmerman deserved the security afforded by the deal, which could keep him in a Washington uniform through 2020. "I ... Read More

Caught in numbers crunch, Bernadina doesn't seem concerned - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T13:57:39Z

VIERA, Fla. - If Roger Bernadina is concerned that he might get squeezed out of the Nationals' outfield picture, he isn't letting on. In previous years, Bernadina came to camp with an opportunity to win a spot on the 25-man roster. This year, his biggest challenge might be staying with ... Read More

Zimmerman on long-term deal: "It's a relief" (updated with terms) - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T13:24:22Z

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman entered the Nationals' clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium around 8:10 a.m. Sunday and tried to get to his locker without any fanfare. Fat chance. He almost made it to his stall in the far corner next to the showers. But a few yards away, he ... Read More

Deal is done between Zimmerman, Nationals - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T13:04:43Z

VIERA, Fla. - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman this morning agreed to a long-term extension with the Nationals, according to a baseball source. Terms and length of the deal are not yet known. Check back for more details as they become available. ... Read More

Zimmerman, Nationals move closer to long-term extension - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-26T03:59:49Z

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman and the Nationals moved closer to hammering out a contract extension late Saturday night, resolving some "last significant issues" that were holding up a deal, general manager Mike Rizzo said. The Nationals are hopeful that a deal can be announced Sunday. "We don't have a ... Read More

Johnson focuses on newcomers, impressed by hitters' progress in first workout - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T20:34:12Z

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson has run enough spring trainings to be able to appreciate both the excitement that accompanies the first day of full-squad workouts and the need to wisely use the time available during spring to learn as much as he can about his players, both ... Read More

Could Harper hit against Strasburg on Sunday? - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T20:06:41Z

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper mashed a couple of pitches over the fence in right-center field during his first live batting practice session of spring training on Saturday. But he was quick to point out that the long home runs came off a spring training instructor - or what manager ... Read More

Strasburg to make Nats' first home start of spring - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T19:28:39Z

VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will start the Nationals' home exhibition opener against the Astros on March 4, with Gio Gonzalez making his first start for the club two days later when the Nats travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to visit the Braves, manager Davey Johnson said Saturday. ... Read More

Zimmerman, Nats still talking, getting "creative" on no-trade provision - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T19:08:21Z

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman's representatives continue to discuss a contract extension with the Nationals even after a Saturday morning deadline for a resolution passed, and the third baseman said a no-trade clause is "the only thing" that stands between himself and a deal with the team. "Something creative to ... Read More

Meet Joe Namath, Nats' top prospect - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T14:15:14Z

VIERA, Fla. - No one can say the Nationals aren't displaying a wicked sense of humor as full-squad workouts commence at Space Coast Stadium. Top prospect Bryce Harper arrived at the clubhouse Saturday morning to find he'd been a victim of a well-played prank. Instead of the nameplate above his ... Read More

Sturdier Mattheus ready to shoulder heavier workload - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T14:10:32Z

VIERA, Fla. - One of the inherent flaws in the bullpen that Davey Johnson inherited last season was the inability of Nationals relievers to work more than an inning at a time on a regular basis. The manager was saddled with a group that wasn't capable of longer outings - ... Read More

Zimmerman: Talks will go "right down to the last minute, I guess" (updated) - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-25T14:04:05Z

VIERA, Fla. - It's less than an hour before Ryan Zimmerman's self-imposed deadline to have a contract extension in place, and the Nationals third baseman sounds as if he's prepared to wait right until the team's first full-squad workout to see if a deal will be done. Asked after he ... Read More

Baseball America's Callis believes Rendon in D.C. some time in 2013 - Byron Kerr

2012-02-25T13:44:26Z

Baseball America had Nationals Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon ranked in the top 20 of their best 100 prospects list for 2012. Harper at No. 1 is pretty obvious, but executive editor Jim Callis believes Rendon probably deserves a top 10 ranking. "We have him No. 19 on our top ... Read More

A tale of two Ryans - Phil Wood

2012-02-25T01:17:17Z

I would hope that baseball fans in general, and Nationals fans in particular, will cut Ryan Braun some slack when the Brewers come to town this year. Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned through arbitration, and the story of why that happened is still not crystal clear. What is clear, though, ... Read More

Skipper ready for full-squad workouts to begin - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-24T20:37:58Z

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will hold their first full-squad workout Saturday morning, and manager Davey Johnson will hold a team meeting beforehand to make sure everyone's on the same page. With high expectations for the Nats, the skipper is eager to get the next phase of camp under way. ... Read More

Johnson on Zimmerman, Strasburg, Rodriguez, Hoyas - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-24T19:25:24Z

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson has a vested interest in keeping third baseman Ryan Zimmerman around long-term, so he's among those who want to see the Nationals and Zimmerman agree on a long-term contract extension. "I think it's a great idea. I hope that they come together and ... Read More

Jackson will get nod in Nationals' Grapefruit League opener - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-24T18:52:43Z

VIERA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson, the most recent starting pitcher to join the Nationals, will start the team's March 3 Grapefruit League opener against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., manager Davey Johnson said Friday. "I talked to him in throwing drills and he was up for that," Johnson said. Jackson, ... Read More

Potomac Nationals officially unveil brand new diamond - Byron Kerr

2012-02-24T17:03:56Z

For the first time since 1984, the Single-A Potomac Nationals have a new baseball field in Woodbridge, Va. It has been a struggle with bad drainage and an uneven playing field for years that some speculated contributed to the team missing out on getting to see a top prospect like ... Read More

Storen, Zimmerman weigh in on Braun's successful appeal - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-24T15:56:32Z

VIERA, Fla. - News that defending National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun of the Brewers had successfully appealed his 50-game ban for testing positive in October for elevated levels of testosterone was well-received in the Nationals clubhouse Friday morning, though some players privately questioned whether they could trust Major ... Read More

Does Zimmerman extension hinge on no-trade protection? - Nationals Buzz

2012-02-24T15:13:55Z

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman's self-imposed Saturday deadline to have a contract extension in place is moving closer, and it appears any chance the Nationals have at locking up their starting third baseman beyond 2013 hinge on a new deal containing a no-trade clause. "The point of me signing this ... Read More