Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper In AFL, Adam Dunn Talk, Listach Interview.

• #Nats AFL Update: The only writer out there in Surprise, Arizona to cover Bryce Harper's arrival at the Arizona Fall League was Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore, who reported (w/ video of Harper's swing) on the BP HR's and initial activities of the 18-year-old 2010 no.1 overall pick who'll make his AFL debut Wednesday. The only Nats' prospect in today's game was '07 1st Round pick Mike Burgess, who started in right and went 1 for 3 with a two-out single in the fifth and an RBI sac fly in the ninth. The 22-in-two-days Tampa Bay, FL high schooler, taken 49th overall with the Nationals' third 1st Round pick in the '07 Draft, Burgess is now 3 for 13 (.231) with 3 walks and 5 K's in 4 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions, who are 4-2 after today's 6-4 loss to the Rafters.

(ed. note - "Apparently Mr. Kilgore isn't the only writer in Arizona. MASNSports.com's Byron Kerr just posted an exclusive one-on-one interview with the Nats' '10 1st Round pick: Byron Kerr - "AFL Preview: Exclusive 1-on-1 with Bryce Harper.")

• Chicago Loves Them Some Dunn...

MLB.com's Carrie Muskat is the Chicago version of D.C.'s Bill Ladson, the MLB beat writer covering the Cubs, and in the Cubbie-version of the latest "Inbox: Is Colvin back on track?", Mrs. Muskat echoes what ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine said last week about the Cubs' intentions this winter, responding to reader's question about Chicago's short-term goals by writing that the, "Top priorities after the Cubs name their new manager will be adding a left-handed bat, most likely at first, and possibly another starting pitcher." Mrs. Muskat doesn't mention Adam Dunn by name though the reader asking the question does, and what they're asking, like some Nats fans, is why the team would spend big money on Dunn as opposed to, say...pitching?

• Reports Out Of Milwaukee: Pat Listach came to DC on then-Cubs' Skipper Lou Piniella's recommendation, joining the Nats first as Manny Acta's and then Jim Riggleman's third base coach after Acta was relieved of his duties and replaced on the bench by his bench coach, Mr. Riggleman, who'd been hired along with Listach as part of the Acta-and-D.C.-GM-Jim-Bowden-approved bench staff which replaced Acta's handpicked crew from 2008. And if Listach were to leave to become the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, (who'll interview Listach Tuesday) or any other team out there looking for a skipper, he'll do so with Riggleman's recommedation as well. The Nats' skipper told Chicago Tribune reporter Paul Sullivan in a late-August article entitled, "Nats' Listach was interviewed for Cubs job in 2006", that he didn't want to disrespect the Cubs' interim skipper, Mike Quade, but "Listach would be a good choice if the Cubs call.'" "'I'd just say it in generic terms, not just for the Cubs,'" Riggleman continued, "'Pat's a good strategist, and he really has a good feel for situations.'" 

• Kyle Lobner at the SBN's Milwaukee Brewers site, Brew Crew Ball asked me for a quick write-up with my thoughts on Listach as a potential skipper for Milwaukee a few weeks back. Check out his article featuring my response HERE. 

• Greinke Chatter: Think there's any chance the Royals' 26-year-old right-hander Zack Greinke will be more impressed with the prospects the Nationals have on the verge of emerging in Washington than he is with what Kansas City's got coming? In an article by Kansas City Star writer Bob Dutton entitled, "Greinke available for trade at right price", Mr. Dutton writes that the Royals' '02 1st Round pick, "...leaves little doubt that he won’t sign a new deal if the club remains uncompetitive,":

"...and [Greinke] has been openly skeptical that a much-touted wave of prospects can turn the Royals into a contender before his current contract expires."

Mr. Dutton, who writes that neither Kansas City's GM Dayton Moore or anyone with the Royals had denied ESPN.com's Buster Olney's reports on the Royals' willingness to part with the soon-to-be-27-year-old starter if the right deal is offered, says KC will be looking for, "...multiple ready-now prospects in return for a player making $13.5 million over each of the next two seasons." So Javier Vazquez? Yu Darvish? Matt Garza?