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All the focus in the Arizona Fall League championship game was on Bryce Harper, but it was ultimately Steve Lombardozzi that won the game for the Scorpions. Also not to be missed is the fact that a National started and got the win, closed and got the save, and all three runs were either scored by or driven in by Nationals prospects. --Byron Kerr from masnsports.com
Lombardozzi not only got to play hero in the championship game, but won the Stenson award for sportsmanship and leadership. I can see Lombardozzi becoming the new vampire of the internet baseball community if people keep referring to him as gritty and a player stats can't define. --Jonathon Mayo at nationals.com
Nationals prospects did quite well for themselves in the AFL as a whole. --Sue Dinem at nationalsprospects.com
Scorpions hitting coach adds his name to the list of people impressed with Harper. --Byron Kerr from masnsports.com
Aside from Harper a couple other Nationals prospects stood out in the AFL. If you aren't in a guessing mood it was Derek Norris and Sammy Solis. --Jonathon Mayo at mlb.com
The DC baseball academy is set to get underway soon. --Mike Henderson from nationalsdailynews.com
The Nationals add three to the 40 man. --Bill Ladson at nationals.com
But some fans are confused as to why Wil Neives is still around*. --David Lint from flotn.com
*I honestly don't understand why Neives is around anymore either, but I have to believe that there is some penalty in place from the union for just outright cutting non-tender candidates. If anyone has more information please place it in the comments.
News on possible free agent offers and trades after the jump.
The Nationals could be close to making an offer for Javier Vazquez. --Bill Ladson at nationals.com
At this point in timeit looks likely that Josh Willingham won't be a National come Opening Day. --Phil Wood at masnsports.com
When deciding whether to keep Willingham or trade him the Nationals and the trading club both need to understand exactly what Willingham is worth. --Jack Moore at fangraphs.com
During his career Willingham has been a model of consistency, but also of constant injury. It will be a tough decision for the Nationals to keep or trade him. --Mark Zuckerman at natsinsider.com
Around the NL East
The Mets hire Terry Collins as new manager. --AP via si.com
General Baseball
Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo won his freedom with Korea's win over Taiwan in the Asian games. --Ben Nicholson-Smith at mlbtraderumors.com
It is very confusing to some as to why the Diamondbacks seem so committed to trading Justin Upton. Clarification is defiantly in order. --Nick Piecoro from azcentral.com
The Yankees name Rothschild as new pitching coach. --Marc Carig at nj.com