• THE RZO: MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported last night that D.C. GM Mike Rizzo had made a detour to the Dominican Republic on the way to Dallas, TX for next week's Winter Meetings to have a closer look at 26-year-old soon-to-be international free agent Yoenis Cespedes. We wrote about Cespedes yesterday before the MLB.com's writer's report. Reports this morning from FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal say that it was actually a private workout. Apparently the Nationals are legitimately interested in adding the outfielder whose YouTube video a few weeks back got the whole baseball world talking. Will D.C. GM Mike Rizzo find the center fielder he's looking for in the Dominican Republic?
• THE BIG STORY:
• "According to a baseball source, general manager Mike Rizzo is currently in the Dominican Republic scouting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes..." - "Nationals scouting Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• Your Daily Message From FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal On Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal): "Source: Cuban OFer Cespedes had private workout for #Nationals yesterday. GM Rizzo was in attendance. #MLB"
• MOAR YOENIS CESPEDES STUFF:
• Your Daily Message From FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal On Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal): "Cespedes workout for #Nationals took place in Dominican Republic. Expected to establish temporary residence in DR and become FA soon. #MLB"
• NATS BEAT:
• "'I’m not going to miss the whole year,' Marrero said. 'If you talk to people who had this injury, it takes a couple months to rehab from.'" - "Chris Marrero tears hamstring, leaves Nationals looking for insurance at first base" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "When paired with the fact that Adam LaRoche is coming off shoulder surgery, Marrero's surgery is certainly an unnerving development..." - "Revisiting the Nationals' first base situation" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "The Nationals' top priority during that week in Dec. 2005? Acquire a veteran starting pitcher." - "Nats have surprised at Winter Meetings before" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• Your Daily Message From The Nats On Twitter (@NationalsPR): "2B Danny Espinosa named to TOPPS MAJOR LEAGUE ROOKIE ALL-STAR TEAM. #Nationals"
• "[Don] Lock was a slugging outfielder from Wichita, Kan., who signed with the Yankees out of Wichita State in 1958." - "Looking back at Lock" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa, who finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year race, was named to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team." - "Danny Espinosa named to All-Rookie team" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• NATS MINOR LEAGUES/WINTER LEAGUES:
• "The Harrisburg Senators today were named winners of the annual Bob Freitas Award, given out by Baseball America magazine to the top Class AA franchise in the minor leagues." - "Harrisburg Senators win AA award" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "'On behalf our our ownership group, front office and game day staff and Senators fans throughout Central Pennsylvania, I humbly and gratefully accept this honor,' said Senators President Kevin Kulp." - "The Senators are the 2011 Bob Freitas Award Winners" - Terry Byrom, Harrisburg Senators News
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Aragua 5, Caribes 3 - Wilson Ramos (ARA) - Wilson Ramos - 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Margarita 3, Zulia 2 - Carlos Maldonado (ZUL) - 1 for 3, 2 RBI's, 2 K's; Sandy Leon (ZUL) - 0 for 1 - Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Toros 1, Licey 0 - Atahualpa Severino (LIC) - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K - Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico: Caguas 9, Ponce 5 - Hassan Pena (PON) - (BS) 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K's; Joe Testa (PON) - 0.2 IP, 0 H - Box Score.
• "Crowdsourcing Redux" - NationalsProspects.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Even as our world continues to develop materially, there is increasing need for similar progress in our sense of inner values."
• NATSTOWN:
• "[Chris] Marrero, who was likely gonna be the back-up first baseman next year because... well because..." - "The ChrisMarreroEra Part I comes to a close" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "Jayson Werth - Age 32 - Due $110 Million through 2017. How he became a Nat: Signed a 7 year - $126 Million deal in December of 2010." - "A Few Good Men: 33 - Werth" - Mac, Capitol Baseball
• "Mike Rizzo stuck to his guns though, with the firm belief that Desmond had to get better at shortstop." - "Biggest Surprises Of 2011 - #3: Ian Desmond's Defense" - Will Yoder, The Nats Blog
• "A source who is right more often than he is wrong about Nats-related things gave us a little wink about the headline above..." - "Did the Nationals ask the Orioles about Adam Jones?" - Nats Enquirer
• "More than anything, Pudge’s influence has always been more important off the field. He has played a key role in helping to develop the younger pitchers on the staff..." - "Nats 2011 Grades: Ivan Rodriguez" - Keara Dowd, Win For Teddy
• "Ask Boswell 11/28/11 edition" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race
• "Here are a few of the names that keep popping up, and my thoughts on whether they should try to sign them..." - "Yay or Nay on Free Agent Possibilities" - The Nationals Review
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "When we inadvertently created the 'Who?' meme to describe Nick Evans's lack of attention from the organization two or three years ago...." - "Saying Goodbye To Nick Evans" - Eric Simon, Amazin' Avenue
• Phillies: "The Phillies on Tuesday made three of the least sexy moves you will find in a transaction column this offseason..." - "Phils add depth with Podsednik, Misch, Frandsen" - Corey Seidman, CSNPhilly.com
• Marlins: "The Marlins have never had a manager like Ozzie Guillen. Nor has any other team – except the White Sox, who had eight years of Ozzie." - "Ozzie Guillen offers glimpse at his life on personal web site" - Craig Davis, SunSentinel.com
• Braves: "Will they fork over a very large amount to sign the local kid who’s become a team leader and the best-hitting catcher in the NL..." - "Will Braves pony up to keep Brian McCann in Atlanta long-term?" - David O'Brien Atlanta Journal-Constitution