• HE DIDN'T KILL HIS WIFE!!!: The Washington Nationals lost Cole Kimball to the Toronto Blue Jays when they tried to outright the injured right-hander to Triple-A Syracuse. Kimball's not expected to be back on the hill in the majors until after the All-Star Break, but apparently former Nats' scouting director and current assistant to Toronto's GM Dana Brown and the Jays are willing to take a chance on his full recovery from surgery to repair his rotator cuff. Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore says that Nats' GM Mike Rizzo's laying the groundwork for a future deal for a center fielder out in Milwaukee this week at the MLB GM Meetings (link below). Today's the last day of the Arizona Fall League for the Nats' prospects who are participating. Can Bryce Harper hit one more AFL HR? On to the links...
• THE BIG STORY!!:
• Nats On Twitter (@NationalsPR): "RHP Brad Peacock named a 2011 Topps Double-A All-Star."
• NATS BEAT:
• "Kimball, once considered Washington's closer of the future, appeared in 12 games in 2011, posting a 1.93 ERA before missing time due to a sore right shoulder." - "Nationals lose reliever Cole Kimball to Blue Jays, outright outfielder Corey Brown to Triple-A Syracuse" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Though Kimball won't be 100 percent healthy for a while, the Blue Jays decided to take a chance and acquire him now..." - "Kimball claimed by Jays, Brown outrighted" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "The Nationals were trying to sneak Kimball through waivers in order to open space on their 40-man roster." - "Former National Cole Kimball claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "After the surgery, Kimball was in good spirits but knew the road ahead of him would be a long, trying one. The procedure required one anchor and two sutures in his shoulder." - "Nationals' injured RHP Cole Kimball claimed off waivers by Blue Jays, OF Corey Brown outrighted to Triple-A" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is not expected to play for Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League until next week, his PR person, Marfa Mata, said on Twitter." - "Nationals won't rush Ramos back to action" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The trade was a classic now-for-later deal, and in 2002, it didn't work out badly; Colon went 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA for the Expos..." - "What if ... the Expos hadn't traded for Bartolo Colon?"- Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "As Rizzo has bounced trade ideas off of other clubs – 'foundation-laying things,' he said – his main focus has been finding the right fit to deal for a center fielder." - "Nationals GM Mike Rizzo lays groundwork in trade for a center fielder, says his players are drawing interest" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'Mark Buehrle was the leader of the rotation,' Harris said. 'We had Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland and Jose Contreras, but Buehrle led the way.'" - "Free-agent left-hander Mark Buehrle has support of former Nationals outfielder Willie Harris" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "'We want to have a successor to come from our staff,' Rizzo said. 'We want to add a person that could be that successor.'" - "The Nationals’ bench coach could become their next manager" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• AFL/WINTER LEAGUE UPDATES:
• Arizona Fall League: Javelinas 4, Scorpions 3 - Pat Lehman - 1.0 IP, 1 H; Rafael Martin - 1.0 IP, 1 BB - Box Score
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Cardenales 7, Bravos 0 - Ryan Tatusko - 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 0 K - Box Score
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Tiburones 13, Navegantes 2 - Jesus Flores (MAG) - 0 for 2 - Box Score.
• Your Daily Message From the Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "When we are motivated by wisdom and compassion, the results of our actions benefit everyone."
• NATSTOWN:
• "40-Man Moves: Kimball Claimed, Brown Outrighted" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Is it a loss? Yes, but not a big one. After spending 2009 adjusting to being a reliever, Kimball had been very successful in that role..." - "Coley Kimbrall we hardly knew ya" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "When Cole finally arrived in Washington, it would have been hard to miss the joy and wonder in his face and posture." - "Good luck, Cole Kimball" - Jenn Jenson, Natsfangirl
• "Why would the team choose to expose Kimball to waivers? Possible reasons..." - "Why did Rizzo expose Kimball to Waivers?" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race
• "On Tuesday, Wilson Ramos started practicing for the Aragua Tigers. What seems like such a normal activity for baseball player has taken on a new significance for Ramos." - "Additional arrests in Ramos case; Nationals lose Kimball" - Kristen, Win for Teddy
• "The guy had a complete babyface, but the competitive intensity of a man-eating lion fighting off a pack of rabid baboons." - "Nationals Lose Cole Kimball, Blame Canada" - Danger Nat, Nationals Inquisition
• "Gah. Here's hoping Rizzo's rotation upgrade is Buehrle. And failing that, Oswalt." - "The first and last time you'll ever see C.J. Wilson in a Nats cap" - Nats Enquirer
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "The Braves have added left-handed pitcher Luis Avilan and right-handed pitchers Jaye Chapman and J.J. Hoover to their 40-man roster." - "Braves add three Minors pitchers to roster" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News
• Marlins: Twitter Clark Spencer (@clarkspencer): "Source: H. Ramirez is not at all pleased at prospect of changing positions if #Marlins sign Reyes; the two aren't the friends many portray."
• Phillies: "[Cole] Hamels will be eligible to free agency after the 2012 season. Amaro has said umpteen times that he would like to sign Hamels to a contract extension..." - "Amaro downplays talk of trading Hamels" - Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com
• Mets: "The left field fence at Citi Field, currently in the process of shrinking from 16 to eight feet tall, will be perfect for leaping, home-run robbing, Endy Chavez-type catches." - "Endy Chavez could catch on with NY Mets again in 2012" - Andy Martino, NY Daily News