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Wire Taps: Nationals Name Bobby Henley 3B Coach; No Javier Lopez For Nats?

The manager is hired. The void in the third base coach's box has been filled. Some minor league pitching depth has been signed. What's next for the Washington Nationals and Nats' GM Mike Rizzo this winter? Can they find a lefty? A fourth/fifth starter?

By Patrick Reddington
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore reported on the Washington Nationals' interest in left-handed reliever Javier Lopez recently, but according to reports out of San Francisco on Tuesday, the Giants are close to a deal that will bring the late-inning lefty back into the fold. CSN Bay Area reporter Andrew Baggarly wrote last night that the Giants and Lopez were close. That's one bullpen option off the market. The Nats tried and failed to replace the likes of Tom Gorzelanny, Sean Burnett and Michael Gonzalez last winter, and they've been tied to several relievers already this time around. Will the Nationals find the left-hander they want? Going with right-handers with good splits against LHBs didn't work, but the Nationals tried to find a left-hander last Hot Stove season before settling for what they had in the organization.

Will Nats' GM Mike Rizzo find his southpaw this winter? The WaPost's Mr. Kilgore also reported on interest in Manny Parra, Oliver Perez, Boone Logan and J.P. Howell. Rizzo told the reporter recently he wouldn't rule out the possibility of an in-house candidate like 2010 2nd Round pick Sammy Solis getting a look at some point this year, and he said the Nationals are already in a better position than they were with the likes of Xavier Cedeno, Fernando Abad and Ian Krol as options. Will Rizzo get his man this time around? With some of the names coming off the market already, it's looking like the Hot Stove season is picking up quickly...

Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "Henley, 40, who has spent nearly his entire baseball life in the Expos/Nationals organization, was considered one of the organization’s best minor league instructors." - "Bobby Henley hired as Nationals third base coach" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• NATS BEAT:

• "Henley, 40, takes over for Trent Jewett, who left the Nationals to become Mariners bench coach for recently hired manager Lloyd McClendon." - "Nats hire Bobby Henley as third base coach" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Henley started his professional baseball career with the Expos; he was Montreal's 26th-round pick in the 1991 amateur draft and played parts of seven seasons in the organization." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats hire Bob Henley as third base coach" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Henley was the team's Minor League field coordinator the past four seasons, and he's been in the organization for 10 years." - "Nationals tab Bobby Henley as next third-base coach" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Instead of adding another coach from Arizona's staff or going through his personal rolodex to replace Jewett, however, Williams trusted what he heard on Henley, and promoted from within the organization." - "Nationals Pastime: Top three reasons the Henley hire was a good one" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Young pitched a combined 37 innings and allowed 28 runs for Syracuse, Class A Auburn and the Gulf Coast Nationals." - "Nationals re-sign righty Chris Young to Minor League contract" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News


• "Young signed a minor league deal with the Nats during spring training last year, and he impressed during his spring action, posting a 2.25 ERA in 16 innings." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats re-sign Chris Young to minor league deal" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Young was expected to be an emergency starter for the Nats in 2013, but spent much of the year on the disabled list." - "Nats re-sign RHP Chris Young to minor league deal" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "The Nationals have re-signed right-handed starter Chris Young to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp." - "Nationals re-sign Chris Young to a minor league deal" - Adam Kilgore and James Wagner, Washington Post

• "The Edwin Jackson and Dan Haren deals didn't work out, but those were only one-year commitments, and the old saying is there's no such thing as a bad one-year deal." - "Nationals Pastime: The market for starters might be starting to open up" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Returned to the Nationals from Detroit via the Rule 5 Draft in March, Jeff Kobernus himself probably didn’t expect to make an impact at the major league level this season." - "Washington Nationals roster review: Jeff Kobernus" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

• "The Nationals, like all 30 teams, must set their 40-man roster and protect players they wish to make ineligible for the Rule 5 draft..." - "Nationals have 40-man roster decisions to make" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "Mr. Bernanke also said he is 'cautiously optimistic' that he’ll be able to attend more Washington Nationals games after he leaves the Fed." - "Bernanke Plans to Write, Speak After Leaving Fed" - Jeffrey Sparshott, WSJ

• "Four of the six new managers -- Brad Ausmus of the Tigers, Bryan Price of the Reds, Rick Renteria of the Cubs and Matt Williams of the Nationals -- will be Major League rookie skippers next season." - "Trend of hiring managers with no Major League experience continues this offseason" - Paul Hagen, MLB.com: News

• NATSTOWN/MINORS:

• "Osteria Morini expects nearby Nationals Park to bring many more customers to the area when baseball season restarts in the spring..." - "Osteria Morini first tenant to open in Lumber Shed" - Rebecca Cooper, Washington Business Journal

• "The Washington Nationals, the team that now uses Space Coast Stadium, has said it wants to leave Brevard, perhaps as early as 2015." - "Brevard tourism tax tangled in legislative loophole" - Dave Berman, floridatoday.com

• "Rule 5 Thoughts" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• "'The breaking ball is as good as you want to see,' [Doug] Harris said. 'I know that's a bold statement. It's a legitimate swing-and-miss power curve. He's learning to repeat it and throw it for strikes.'" - "Pipeline Perspectives: Nationals' Lucas Giolito ahead of Orioles' Dylan Bundy" - Jonathan Mayo, nationals.com: News

• "Do you like Huey Lewis and The News?" - "Drew Storen is your go-to 'Christian Bale movie character' artist" - Cut 4, MLB.com

• "The Nationals Review Podcast Episode 26" - Josh Coleman, The Nationals Review

• "Nationals Buzz: Nationals seeking new in-game video host" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com

• "Eckstein, the brother of former Angels shortstop David Eckstein, spent almost five years as Washington’s hitting coach before being fired last July." - "Angels add Rick Eckstein to coaching staff" - Mike DiGiovanna, latimes.com

• "Tim Kurkjian is a long-time supporter of the Big Train. 'I went to Walter Johnson High School.  I played all of my baseball games growing up at Cabin John Regional Park, where the Big Train is located.'" - "A Winning Night at the Big Train Holday Auction" - Matt's Bats

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets: "Jay Z is out there selling his client, and that is what he is supposed to do, and at least the Mets sat down and listened." - "Cano signing key to making Mets ‘big market’" - Kevin Kernan, New York Post

• Braves: "When trying to put a positive spin on Uggla's potential, the Braves will be left to point out that he has drawn more walks than any second baseman over the past two seasons." - "Inbox: Can Braves make successful Dan Uggla trade?" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News

• Marlins: "If the organization is to get back to contender status in the next few seasons, run prevention will once again be essential." - "Marlins know defense will be key factor in resurgence" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com: News

• Phillies: "The Phillies have brought infielder Reid Brignac along for the ride in 2014, signing the 27-year-old to a minor league deal Tuesday afternoon." - "Phillies ink Reid Brignac to minor league deal" - Justin Klugh, Philly.com

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