clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wire Taps: Nationals news, links, AFL Updates, roster reviews, tweets...

This is not the link post you're used to, because there is not a whole lot of Washington Nationals news out there right now, but what there is out there, we've found and collected here so you can get caught up if you were busy with life this weekend...

By Patrick Reddington
H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

So this is what passes for a link post at this time of year...

The World Series starts tomorrow night in Kansas City where the San Francisco Giants and Royals battle it out to see which is the best Wild Card team...

The Washington Nationals' season, however, has now been over for 13 days, but it seems like a lot longer than that right now.

So what passes for news at this time of the year?

Well, the Nationals might have a new Asst. GM targeted...

The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore reported last week on the Nats' interest in Bob Miller, who was the Cincinnati Reds' VP and Asst. GM from 2006-2014...

The Nationals are in the process of hiring a new Asst. GM because Bryan Minniti left his position with the team, and one report this weekend said he might be close to finding a new home...

Writers on the Nationals beat are still in the process of looking back on the recently-completed campaign with a series of roster review posts...

Nats season in review stories...

• "Speaking of things you forget … do you remember where Rendon resided in the Nationals’ Opening Day lineup? He hit eighth." - "Nationals Roster Review: Anthony Rendon" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Adam LaRoche wants to end his career with Washington (natsinsider.com). I'm not sure he'll have that choice, though..." - "MLB news and rumor roundup for Oct. 18" - Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com

• "Jordan Zimmermann, Ian Desmond and Doug Fister all have their current contracts expire after the 2015 campaign..." - "Nationals Pastime: Rotation likely to return intact" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Cabrera’s stint in D.C. started off with a bang: He hit .273 with three homers, 11 RBI and an .847 OPS in his first 22 games after the trade." - "Nationals Roster Review: Asdrubal Cabrera" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

Speaking of Cabrera, MLBTraderumors.com's series of free agent profiles, or potential free agent profiles in this case, focused on the second baseman/shortstop the Nats acquired at this past July's non-waiver trade deadline...

• "At just 28 years old (29 in November), Cabrera has youth on his side, especially when surveying the rest of the available talent pool." - "Free Agent Profile: Asdrubal Cabrera" - Zach Links, MLB Trade Rumors

If Cabrera were to leave, where would the Nationals find their next second baseman?

• "Sounds like it'll be easy to wrap this up, right? Cabrera wants to be back and the Nats want him back. Let's do this." - "Nationals Pastime: Examining the free agent second base options" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

Already looking forward to the winter and eventually, the 2015 campaign? Here are some dates to keep in mind going forward...

• "The Nationals could see several players in the running for awards this season. The headliner would probably be Matt Williams, who has a solid chance to win NL Manager of the Year." - "Important dates to keep in mind for Nats’ offseason" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider

The players the Nationals sent to the Arizona Fall League this season are not the most exciting class sent to the so-called "finishing school" for the game's top prospects, but there are some talented members of the organization out in the AFL right now...

AFL UPDATES:

• "Second baseman Tony Renda had his biggest hit of the fall, a two-out two-run triple that catapulted the Sox to an early 3-0 advantage." - "Mesa notches 8-4 win behind Rivero and Renda" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

As for the rest of the NL East?

One of the Phillies' coaches said this about Ryan Howard...

• "Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is now 35 years old and though his power numbers spiked in 2014, his best days appear far behind him." - "Phillies coach admits Howard may be better off in AL" - Chase Hughes, Comcast SportsNet Washington

The Mets are looking to get J.P. Ricciardi signed to an extension...

• "J.P. Ricciardi is working out an extension with the Mets as a special assistant to GM Sandy Alderson." - "Hitting coaches blamed for lack of offense" - Nick Cafardo, The Boston Globe

The Marlins will never be Royals, Royals, but they really want to be...

• "The Marlins have, for years, been trying to do the same thing that the Royals have accomplished." - "Marlins want to emulate Kansas City Royals' World Series defense" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes

Down in Hotlanta?

• "After weathering significant pitching injuries early on, however, Atlanta faded badly down the stretch and is now staring at front office changes..." - "Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves" - Jeff Todd, MLB Trade Rumors

More From Federal Baseball