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The Washington Nationals have until 11:59:59 PM EST tonight to add Rule-5-eligible players to the 40-Man Roster to protect them from selection in this December's Rule 5 Draft.
The latest move, made on Wednesday, was to cut ties with catcher Jhonatan Solano, a 29-year-old backstop who was out of options and didn't fit into the Nationals' plans, as MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo posted a list on Wednesday night of the Nats' prospects on MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 20 Prospects in the Nationals' organization who are eligible for selection:
• "Washington (3): No. 2 A.J. Cole, RHP; No. 6 Matt Skole, 1B; No. 7 Brian Goodwin, OF; No. 14 Drew Vettleson, OF; No. 19 Wilmer Difo, SS." - "Top prospects need protection from Rule 5 Draft" - Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com
Top prospects need protection from Rule 5 Draft http://t.co/KrSqdAEhT7 via @mlbpipeline
— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayoB3) November 20, 2014
Any players selected in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, must, of course, remain on the major league roster of the team that picks them for the entire season or be returned to the original team.
The Nationals' 40-Man roster currently stands at 38 after the move to release Solano.
MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote on Wednesday about A.J. Cole's desire to make it to the majors in 2015:
• "Don't think Cole, 22, is satisfied with what he has accomplished so far. He wants to have better command of all his pitches..." - "Cole aiming to earn spot in Nationals' rotation" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
Some of the links which follow are a day old since there was no link post yesterday...
But we didn't want anyone to miss out on this Tony Renda story:
• "At the age of 23, Renda combines good speed and contact hitting to put pressure on the defense." - "Renda provides Nationals a sparkplug infielder" - Bernie Pleskoff, nationals.com
Renda provides Nationals a sparkplug infielder http://t.co/jAJEk4XqV4 via @mlb
— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) November 18, 2014
Speaking of prospects, MASN's Byron Kerr is talking prospects with Baseball Prospectus:
• "Bautista hit .290 with 20 doubles, five triples, five homers and 54 RBIs for the Suns. But Chris Mellen, co-director of the Baseball Prospectus prospect team, says Bautista's biggest asset is his defense." - "Baseball Prospectus No. 9 Nats prospect: Rafael Bautista" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
.@baseballpro Baseball Prospectus No. 9 #Nats prospect: Rafael Bautista http://t.co/MJ7GP7tu2C
— Byron Kerr (@masnKerr) November 19, 2014
The Nationals made some more front office additions on Wednesday:
#Nats have hired Mike Cubbage & Terry Wetzel as to serve as Special Assistants and added Brandon Larson, Scott Ramsay, Justin Bloxom...cont
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 19, 2014
...Buddy Hernandez & Steve Leavitt as Area Scouts. In addition, Eddie Longosz was promoted to Asst. Director of Scouting Operations. #Nats
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 19, 2014
• "The Nationals officially announced a handful of additions and promotions in the scouting department, including the hiring of two special assistants to General Manager Mike Rizzo." - "Nationals hire Mike Cubbage as special assistant to GM" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
• "The Nationals continue to add to their baseball operations department, hiring Mike Cubbage and Terry Wetzel on Wednesday as special assistants to general manager Mike Rizzo." - "Nationals add to baseball operations department" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
So, it wasn't a BMW, Jordan Zimmermann gave Steven Souza a gift certificate, quick post something shareable!!:
• "On Wednesday, Souza revealed to MLB.com that Zimmermann gave him a Best Buy gift certificate. Souza declined to say how much the gift certificate was worth..." - "Catch nets Souza gift certificate from Zimmermann" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
Catch nets Souza gift certificate from Zimmermann http://t.co/4O9QAlV0M0 #Nats #Nationals #MLB
— William Ladson (@washingnats) November 19, 2014
• "Well, we can finally confirm the gift was not a BMW, but rather a gift card from Best Buy." - "Jordan Zimmermann gives Steven Souza gift card after no-hitter-saving catch" - Mark Townsend, Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
• "Souza joked that he’d be looking for a Beemer in his garage. (He was joking, right?)" - "Jordan Zimmermann gave Steven Souza Jr. a Best Buy gift card (not a BMW) for his no-hitter-clinching catch" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
So, were you thinking about how much Bryce Harper is worth after hearing the Stanton numbers?:
• "Baseball salaries are determined very much like real estate prices, using a thorough perusal of the surrounding properties in the neighborhood – the 'comps.'" - "Will Giancarlo Stanton’s historic contract ever impact Bryce Harper?" - Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post
The Marlins are in the midst of announcing Giancarlo Stanton's deal. Will it ever impact Bryce Harper? On Baseball: http://t.co/rEv5LnQGYP
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) November 19, 2014
Speaking of big contracts:
• "Really, who wants to be on the hook for $86 million (the minimum Zimmerman is still owed) to a guy who can no longer play the position he played when he signed the deal?" - "Point/Counterpoint: Will the Nationals regret Zimmerman’s contract?" - Mark Zuckerman and Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
.@Nationals fans created a 9-foot tall Jayson Werth gnome with seafood cans: http://t.co/txvYjGqsDg pic.twitter.com/0KlmeFHv8h
— MLB Fan Cave (@MLBFanCave) November 19, 2014
Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama)
The value of compassion and forgiveness is not confined to matters of religion. These are human values that we shouldn’t neglect.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) November 18, 2014
ICYM: Tony Beasley left the Nats for the Rangers earlier this week:
• "Beasley, a Virginia native and resident, said the hiring happened quickly and was unexpected. The Rangers called last week for permission..." - "Minor league instructor Tony Beasley named Rangers third base coach" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
Congrats to former #Nats Minor Lg coordinator Tony Beasley on his appointment as @Rangers 3B coach. We wish him the best of luck!
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 18, 2014
• "Nationals minor league coordinator Tony Beasley has left the organization to become the new third base coach of the Texas Rangers..." - "Former Nats coach Tony Beasley lands with Texas" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
• "Beasley has a working relationship with Rangers manager Jeff Banister that dates back to the early 1990s, when both were with the Pirates." - "Beasley leaving Nats, joining Rangers as third-base coach" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
• "Perry Hill, a widely respected infield coach with Miami, offered his endorsement of the Texas Rangers’ hire of Tony Beasley on Tuesday." - "Former co-worker endorses Texas Rangers hiring of Beasley eniring" - Gerry Fraley, Dallas Morning News
• "I'll miss the various onion jokes that were tossed around when Solano delivered for the Nats in 2012 and 2013 - that Solano had peeled off another hit or that he was cooking up a good game." - "Nationals Pastime: Beasley back in the bigs, possible landing spot for LaRoche (plus scouting hires)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
NL EAST UPDATES: Marlins make LaRoche an offer; Braves DFA Venters:
• Marlins: "According to a source, the Marlins have made a two-year, $20 million offer to free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, who hit .259 with 26 homers and 92 RBI for Washington in 2014." - "Update on Marlins' free agent moves; Behind-the-scenes nuggets on Stanton negotiations" - Barry Jackson, Miami Herald
• "Who the Marlins pursue remains to be seen, but first baseman Adam LaRoche and right-hander James Shields are a couple of free agents that could fill needs on Miami's roster." - "With Giancarlo Stanton locked up, Miami Marlins turn focus to adding more talent" - Christina DeNicola, FOX Sports
#Marlins have made 2-year, $20 million offer to Adam LaRoche via @flasportsbuzz http://t.co/llwHBhYAwt
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) November 20, 2014
• "The Marlins may not have to look outside of their own division to find a middle-of-the-order hitter. Miami reportedly has a two-year, $20 million offer on the table to free agent Adam LaRoche..." - "Marlins reportedly make offer to LaRoche" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com
• Phillies: "The litigation ended late last month in a U.S. District Court in Missouri, with Howard and his family reaching an undisclosed settlement out of court." - "The family legal fight over Ryan Howard's finances" - David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News
Heavy heart impacts Ryan Howard on, off field http://t.co/P1D5P6cf2C #PhilliesTalk
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) November 19, 2014
• Braves: "The Braves bid adieu to the longest-tenured member of their organization to create 40-man roster space for top prospect Jose Peraza..." - "Top prospect Peraza among Braves' roster additions" - Mark Bowman, braves.com
The #Braves DFA'd Ramiro Pena and Jonny Venters, who underwent a third TJ surgery in September
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) November 20, 2014
• Mets: "The Cubs prefer to hold onto their shortstop surplus, a source familiar with their thinking said, a group that includes major league starter Starlin Castro and prospects Javier Baez and Addison Russell." - "Another reason why Mets may stick with Flores at shortstop" - Ken Davidoff, New York Post