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Wire Taps: Nationals to interview Ron Wotus for managerial opening? + Chris Bostick in AFL

There wasn't much news out there about the Washington Nationals on Thursday, but there was one rumor out of San Francisco about another candidate for the managerial opening, and out in Arizona, Chris Bostick homered twice in AFL action.

By Patrick Reddington
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo talked to reporters this past December, at NatsFest, about the return Washington received when they shipped lefty Ross Detwiler to Texas. He said then that Rangers' infield prospect Chris Bostick and right-hander Abel de Los Santos were both players that Nats' scouts knew well and liked.

"The prospects, we scouted them extremely well," Rizzo said. "They were both seen on multiple occasions this year and throughout their careers.

"Bostick is an offensive middle infielder. We feel that his power is on the come. He hit eleven home runs last year. He's an athletic player, runs well, has enough arm to play shortstop..." -Mike Rizzo on acquiring Chris Bostick from the Rangers in Ross Detwiler deal

"Bostick is an offensive middle infielder. We feel that his power is on the come. He hit eleven home runs last year. He's an athletic player, runs well, has enough arm to play shortstop and a very versatile athlete that can play both shortstop and second base.

"de Los Santos is a starter-made-reliever and since he's gone to the bullpen his velocity and stuff has spiked. Had a terrific year last year and we think that he'll come really quickly."

In his first year of Double-A ball, with the Harrisburg Senators, de Los Santos, 22, put up a 3.43 ERA, a 3.39 FIP, 12 walks (1.87 BB/9) and 55 Ks (8.58 K/9) in 57 ⅔ innings, saving eight games on the year, and he made his MLB debut in July, in a brief stint in the Nationals' bullpen which saw him throw a 94.1 mph fastball (average speed) that got up to 96.3, a 77.5 mph curve, changeup (84.6) and slider (84.6 mph).

Bostick, also 22, split his time between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, putting up a .274/.344/.393 line with 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs in 62 games and 234 PAs with the P-Nats and a .247/.286/.402 line, 12 doubles, five triples and eight home runs for the Senators in 75 games and 317 PAs.

Sent to the Arizona Fall League as a replacement for Wilmer Difo, who suffered a fractured left hand while with the Nationals late this season, Bostick made some noise with his bat last night, launching two home runs in a 9-7 win.

Bostick credited the environment with one of the two blasts he hit for the Salt River Rafters when he spoke to MiLB.com's William Boor about his three-hit game:

"That one was up a little bit, probably an Arizona home run," Bostick said. "You don't get too many of those in the Eastern League."

• "Nationals prospect Chris Bostick isn't known for his power, but the second baseman had no trouble putting the ball over the wall on Thursday..." - "Nationals' Chris Bostick homers in AFL win" - William Boor, MLB.com

• "Christopher Bostick wasn't sure whether he'd head to Arizona after a long season, but he's already making it worth his while." - "Washington Nationals prospect Christopher Bostick goes yard twice for Salt River Rafters" - Robert Emrich, MiLB.com

NATS BEAT: Bud Black the early (rumored) frontrunner for managerial opening

• "While consistently dealing with cheaper payrolls, Black's Padres only finished above .500 in two of his nine years and never made the playoffs." - "Nationals Pastime: Bud Black reportedly set to interview with Nationals today" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "The Washington Nationals didn't make the playoffs this year, after getting to the postseason in 2012 and 2014. But some former Washington players did." - "A Look At Former Nationals Who Made The Playoffs" - David Driver, Pressbox DC

• "Turner has been called the shortstop of the future in some publications, but he played only six games at shortstop with the Nationals and 12 games at second base." - "All talk about Trea Turner for 2016, but where will Danny Espinosa fit in?" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Only 10 days removed from the Matt Williams-era, a former MLB manager has already established himself as the leading candidate for the Nationals' open managerial job." - "Paint it Black" - Sam C. LaPaille. WUSA9

NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Spring Training traffic + Mets-related Nats mentions

• "This was supposed to be Year 4 of the Washington Nationals’ reign atop the N.L. East..." - "Mets Savor a Moment That Doesn’t Come Along Every Day (or, Perhaps, Decade)" - Tyler Kepner, The New York Times

• "Even before bulldozers clear the first dirt, activity swarms around the wooded, 160-acre site that in two years will house the spring training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals." - "West Palm Beach's most dangerous intersections" - Tony Doris, www.mypalmbeachpost.com

• "When he spoke last year about his contract situation, Greinke said what he would do would be based in part on the contracts Max Scherzer and Jon Lester landed." - "Zack Greinke's Game 5 start against Mets could be his last for Dodgers" - Dylan Hernandez, LA Times

• "The Washington Nationals, who fired manager Matt Williams after the season ended, have sought and received permission to interview longtime Giants bench coach Ron Wotus for the job, according to a major-league source..." - "Nationals planning to interview Wotus" - Henry Schulman, San Francisco Chronicle

NL EAST UPDATES: deGrom vs dodgers; Oivera's in ATL; Marlins man

• Marlins: "Marlins Man is Laurence Leavy, a Miami lawyer who does his worker’s compensation cases during the day on the computer and turns into a pumpkin at night." - "Miami Marlins: Here’s how Marlins Man could draw even more attention" - Dave George, Palm Beach Post

• Braves: "Time will tell whether it was wise to include both top prospect Jose Peraza and Alex Wood, a controllable and talented young left-handed starter, for the 30-year-old Olivera." - "Braves focused on Hector Olivera's development" - Mark Bowman, braves.com

• Mets: "Jacob deGrom thought manager Terry Collins might pull him during a visit to the mound in the third inning. Instead, deGrom got a vote of confidence." - "Jacob deGrom: 'That's probably the hardest I've had to work'" - Adam Rubin, Mets Blog - ESPN

• Phillies: "The Phillies are inching closer to deciding on Ruben Amaro Jr.'s successor as general manager, and a new name has surfaced in the mix of candidates." - "Report: Matt Slater interviews for Phillies GM" - Anthony Castrovince, phillies.com

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