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Wire Taps: Nationals Looking For New Skipper For Triple-A Syracuse; Tony Beasley In New Role

The Nationals made a number of announcements on Thursday, adding a bullpen arm on a minor league deal and reshuffling the front office in the wake of Roy Clark's departure. One move within the organization was announced last night. Tony Beasley is leaving Syracuse...

By Patrick Reddington
Greg Fiume

Though it wasn't mentioned in the press release on the promotions the Washington Nationals made Thursday as Kris Kline, Doug Harris, Mark Scialabba and others moved up the depth chart in the Nats' front office, there was apparently another change in the organization yesterday. In an article by Lindsay Kramer at syracuse.com, Harris, who served as the Nationals' Director of Player Development before being promoted to Assistant GM and Vice President of Player Development, is quoted saying Tony Beasley, who managed in Syracuse for the last two seasons, is leaving the Chiefs' bench and, "has been moved to the job of roving minor-league coordinator."

Harris explains in the article that the Nationals are early in the process of finding a new skipper for the Nats' top affiliate, which Mr. Kramer notes, "will have an entirely new field staff in 2014. Pitching coach Greg Booker was let go while hitting coach Troy Gingrich was moved to minor-league hitting coordinator." Harris also suggests that the replacement for Beasley could come from outside the organization since Matt LeCroy moved from managing the Nats' Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg, PA to managing the Nationals' relievers as Matt Williams' bullpen coach in the majors.

Read the entire article by Lindsay Kramer at syracuse.com below:

Now on to the links, and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• Top Story:

• "The word was reasonable, and it was applied to Michael Weiner, over and over, long before he became the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association." - "A Leader ‘Both Brilliant and Humble’" - Tyler Kepner, NYTimes.com

• NATS BEAT:

• "The Cubs view Samardzija as a building block and would want top prospects in order to part with him – which for the Nationals would mean Lucas Giolito, plus another prospect or two." - "Where do the Nationals stand in their search for a starter?" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "Below are the six major transactions the Nationals made, with revisited analysis of each…" - "Revisiting the Washington Nationals’ transactions last winter" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Harris, who has spent the last four seasons overseeing the Nats' farm system, will now have the official title of assistant general manager and vice president of player development." - "Nationals Pastime: Nationals announce front office promotions" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Kline begins his fifth season as the head of Washington's amateur scouting efforts. He joined the organization in the fall of 2006..." - "Nationals announce promotions in front office" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Who should the Washington Nationals sign to a long-term contract: Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg? Mark Zuckerman and Chase Hughes debate." - "Point/Counterpoint: Should the Nationals lock up Harper or Strasburg?" - Mark Zuckerman Nats Insider

• "All six men have worked with Rizzo for several years and Rizzo has now loyally rewarded those who have played roles in helping change the direction of the organization..." - "Nationals announce front office changes; Doug Harris and Kris Kline promoted to assistant GMs" - James Wagner, Washington Post


• "Kris Kline, a longtime Rizzo confidant who had served as scouting director since 2009, will continue to run the Nationals’ scouting department but with a new title..." - "Washington Nationals announce front office promotions" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "In 2006, his final year as the Diamondbacks' scouting director, Rizzo selected Stange with Arizona's seventh-round pick in the First-Year Player Draft." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats sign right-hander Daniel Stange to minor league deal" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Stange, who has a career 4.21 ERA in the minors, pitched in independent baseball before the Padres signed him." - "Nationals ink reliever Daniel Stange to minor league deal" - James Wagner, Washington Post

• "Stange, who pitched in college at UC-Riverside, was originally selected by the Diamondbacks in the seventh round of the 2006 draft." - "Washington Nationals sign reliever Daniel Stange to minor-league deal" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "There’s no doubt that the Nationals will continue to play Harper against all but the toughest lefties." - "Bryce Harper: A Catch-34" - Brad Johnson, FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball

• "Matt Purke looked unhittable pitching for TCU three years ago. Now, injuries have slowed his progress. What does the future hold for the talented lefty?" - "Arizona Fall League prospect: Matt Purke" - Chris Moran, Through the Fence Baseball

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

• NATSTOWN/NATS MINORS:

• "He was less accommodating to a group of oversized presidential mascots known for their fourth-inning races during Washington Nationals games." - "WASHINGTON: Biden welcomes Delaware-born sandwich shop to DC" - Josh Lederman, National Elections | Macon.com

• "On the street he implored patrons and onlookers of the eatery to try the place, as the colorful mascots of the Washington Nationals baseball team goofed off in the background." - "Biden Motorcades to His Favorite Sandwich Chain’s DC Opening" - Matthew Larontonda, ABC News

• "Ian Desmond of the Washington Nationals has appeared; Anthony Rizzo, a young star with the Cubs, will be there; as will Scooter Gennett, the Milwaukee Brewers top rookie this past season." - "Baseball camp gives kids chance to learn from local pros" - Don Brennan, Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7: Local

• "The Syracuse Chiefs will have a new manager in 2014. Tony Beasley, who has run the team the past two seasons, has been moved to the job of roving minor-league coordinator, according to Doug Harris, assistant general manager of the Washington Nationals." - "Tony Beasley won't return as Syracuse Chiefs manager in 2014" - Lindsay Kramer, syracuse.com

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Braves: "Craig Kimbrel was named Major League Baseball's Delivery Man of the Year on Thursday afternoon." - "Braves closer Craig Kimbrel named Delivery Man of the Year" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News

• Marlins: "It was a historically bad year for the Miami Marlins offense." - "Marlins Offense Hinders Giancarlo Stanton" - Mike Podhorzer, FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball

• Mets: "According to John Harper of the Daily News, Mets ownership won't give general manager Sandy Alderson more than $30 million to spend on 2014 payroll this winter because of the high price of free agent players." - "Mets owners won't increase payroll because of free agent costs" - Chris McShane, Amazin' Avenue

• Phillies: "Ruiz's signing has been known since Monday, which has had Phillies fans asking one very important question the past few days..." - "Philadelphia Phillies bank on catcher Carlos Ruiz's return to form" - Todd Zolecki, phillies.com: News

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