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The Starting Nine: Nationals Links; Pitching Search; GM Meetings

So you're not sitting around monitoring Twitter, searching #Nats, sifting through aggregators and sorting through hundreds of random blog posts and stories about the Washington Nationals? We try to make it easy for you with "The Starting Nine," a collection of the stories you need to read...

By Patrick Reddington
Jeff Curry

We understand, sort of, not really, that not everyone can spend their offseason waiting around for some news on the Washington Nationals to break. So if you find yourself wondering what you missed in the last week, catch up every Monday with The Starting Nine. Nine topics/stories that will keep you in the know as far as what's going on with the nation's capital's Nats. We're also including "The Rotation" below, the Top 5 Stories from the last week on Federal Baseball...

1. Nats' Pitching Search Update:

• "... the Nationals are expected to also discuss Cubs’ right-hander Jeff Samardzija, according to a person familiar with the Nationals’ thinking." - "Jeff Samardzija, a David Price/Max Scherzer alternative for the Nationals" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

2. Trade Talk Again For Span:

• "Only a year after acquiring him, the Nationals appear willing to listen to trade inquiries on center fielder Denard Span, officials on other teams say." - "Nationals are willing to listen on center fielder Denard Span" - Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com

3. AFL Final Week:

• "Nationals prospect Mirowski highlighted the relief corps with an impressive two innings of work. He struck out two batters and allowed no runs and no hits. His AFL ERA is 1.64." - "Host of Nationals prospects contribute in latest Mesa win" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

4. Purke Not On BA Top 10, But Impressing:

• "Purke, a former third-round draftee and the No. 8 prospect in the Nationals' organization according to MLB.com, is making a strong comeback from a left shoulder procedure that slowed his development." - "Matt Purke continues to build strength in win over Surprise" - Spencer Fordin, MLB.com: News

5. Jewett To Seattle?:

• "Jewett became the Nationals’ third base coach before the 2013 season, replacing Bo Porter who left to become the manager of the Houston Astros." - "Trent Jewett to interview for Mariners’ bench coach job" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "The Nationals allowed Jewett to interview for the Mariners' bench coach job because it's a promotion. That's the standard policy." - "Nationals Pastime: A possible shakeup on the coaching staff" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

6. Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter:

7. Lett Him Stay!!:

• "Although he is no longer the bullpen coach for the Nationals, Jim Lett could stay in the organization, MLB.com has learned." - "Lett in talks to remain with Nationals in some capacity" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

8. Say Goodbye To Turner Field - Strasburg Will Dominate In Cobb County:

• "The Atlanta Braves plan to build a new stadium in Cobb County and move there from Turner Field at the start of the 2017 season, team officials said today." - "Braves plan to build new stadium in Cobb" - Tim Tucker, www.ajc.com

9. Trade Det?:

• "Then again, perhaps the Tigers could acquire an immediate replacement such as Nationals lefty Ross Detwiler in a trade." - "Infield talent glut means Ian Kinsler or Elvis Andrus could face Texas squeeze-out" - Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports on MSN

The Rotation:

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