The big news of the day, which came out in just the last hour or so is that Jerry Blevins came out on the winning end of his arbitration hearing with the Washington Nationals. Blevins, 31, will earn $2.4M in 2015. The Nats offered the lefty $2.2M and the two sides apparently couldn't bridge the gap without a hearing. Blevins' win was just the third in nine arbitration cases with the Nationals since 2005.
Blevins was the first player to go to arbitration with the Nats since John Lannan in 2012 and the first player to come out on the winning end since right-hander Shawn Hill in 2009.
Jerry Blevins won his arbitration hearing against the Nats. He had asked for $2.4M and Nats had offered $2.2M.
— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) February 11, 2015
Want a quick look back at the Nationals' history in arbitration hearings? Read it HERE. I'll sum it up quickly. The first player to go to arbitration with the Nats was Alfonso Soriano, who asked for $12M for 2006 but lost and received $10M.
In 2007, both reliever Chad Cordero and starter John Patterson went to arbitration.
Cordero won his case, earning a raise from $525,000 to $4.15M vs the $3.65M the Nationals offered.
Patterson lost his case and made $850,000 in '07 instead of the $1.85M he asked for from the Nats.
In 2008, the Nationals prevailed in their arbitration hearing with Felipe Lopez, who made $4.9M instead of the $5.2M he asked for from the Nats.
Shawn Hill was the second player to win an arbitration case against the Nationals, receiving a raise from $442,000 to $775,000 after the Nats offered $500,000.
In 2010, the Nationals prevailed in both of their arbitration hearings. Brian Bruney received $1.5M instead of the $1.85M salary he was after. Sean Burnett received a raise to $775,000 from the $408,500 he earned in 2009, though he was seeking $925,000.
Before this year's hearing, John Lannan was the last National to go to arbitration. The left-hander lost his hearing and received $5M instead of the $5.7M he filed for that winter.
With Blevins' win, the Nationals are now 6-3 in arbitration hearings since the franchise moved to the nation's capital in 2005.
Okay... enough of that and on to your daily links...
Blevins wins arbitration hearing with Nationals:
• "Blevins joins Shawn Hill (2009) and Chad Cordero (2007) as the only Nationals players to defeat the club in arbitration since the franchise arrived in D.C." - "Blevins wins arbitration case vs. Nationals, will make $2.4 million" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "After a rough several months to begin his Nationals career, Blevins finally found his groove late in the regular season..." - "Nationals roster preview: Jerry Blevins" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
Blevins is 3rd player to beat #Nats in 9 arbitration cases over last decade. You know you want to see the full list: http://t.co/ajiybG753L
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) February 11, 2015
• "Blevins, who earned $1.675 million last season, became the ninth player the Nationals have taken to arbitration in the franchise’s 10 seasons." - "Left-hander Jerry Blevins wins arbitration hearing, will earn $2.4 million in 2015" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post
NATS BEAT: ST preview; #RSOD, D-SPAN; Werth finishes sentence
• "Post Sports Live discusses the biggest questions facing the Nationals heading into spring training and offer expectations for John Wall's NBA All-Star Game appearance." - "Post Sports Live: Nationals spring training preview" - Jayne Orenstein, The Washington Post
I found @Teddy26Nats! Excited to announce @Nationals will give away 2012 NLDS Gm 4 walk off bobbleheads on 8/30! pic.twitter.com/bDZgQsuRvY
— DaRealDeal (@vicovich) February 11, 2015
• "Sure, sure. But the money, Shepard asked Scherzer, had to factor in at some point, right?" - "Nationals’ Max Scherzer on his $210 million contract: ‘This was never about greed or I need more money per se’" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
#Nats 2B Danny Espinosa has decided to give up switch hitting for the time being and hit right-handed exclusively during Spring Training.
— William Ladson (@washingnats) February 10, 2015
• "Espinosa will play spring games both with the Nationals and their Minor League clubs in order to get accustomed to right-handed pitching." - "Espinosa to hit exclusively right-handed" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com
• "Span underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia on Dec. 3, and he said he feels great a little more than two months later." - "Recovering Span expects to be ready for camp" - Adam Berry, nationals.com
• "If the 2014 Postseason was any indication, Bryce Harper could be on the verge of posting a career season." - "Spring Training Preview, Part V: Outfielders" - Amanda Comak, Curly W Live
@Bharper3407 one day you will be old like me and your metabolism will come to a screeching halt. Then you have to eat skinny cow....barf
— dan haren (@ithrow88) February 10, 2015
• "Escobar, who has played shortstop most of his career, will be the fourth person to hold down second base on a regular basis since the start of the 2013 season." - "Yunel Escobar Hopes To Settle In At Second Base For Nationals" - David Driver, Pressbox DC
• "Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth has completed a five-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge late last month." - "Nationals' Jayson Werth completes five-day jail sentence" - Tom Schad, Washington Times
• "On Tuesday night, the Miami Herald reported that the 2017 All-Star Game will be played at Marlins Park, officially confirming the Nationals will have to wait at least another year." - "Nationals Pastime: The All-Star waiting game continues for D.C." - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com
It's getting so close, you guys. #Nats #BaseballBegins #PitchersAndCatchersReport pic.twitter.com/26VlXhNN9U
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 11, 2015
Nats Minors News: Buy the Sun(s)?; Reynaldo. Lopez.:
• "A group of investors is seeking to buy the Hagerstown Suns, The Herald Mail reports." - "Maryland investors group reportedly trying to buy Hagerstown Suns" - Pamela Gould, Fredericksburg.com
• "A local group of investors is interested in buying the Hagerstown Suns baseball team, city Mayor David S. Gysberts announced Tuesday night during a Hagerstown City Council work session." - "Mayor: Local investors interested in buying Suns" - Dave McMillion, Herald Mail Media: Local News
• "'What impressed me the most about him is that he can maintain velocity, his arm strength, his quickness,' Scialabba said." - "Mechanical adjustment helps Reynaldo Lopez dominate low Single-A in late 2014" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
Mechanical adjustment helps Reynaldo Lopez dominate low Single-A in late 2014 http://t.co/y5b4ixdZUj
— Byron Kerr (@masnKerr) February 11, 2015
• "The Syracuse Chiefs AAA minor-league baseball club has hired Eric Gallanty as the team’s new assistant director of broadcasting & media relations." - "People news: Syracuse Chiefs name Gallanty assistant broadcasting director" - Business Journal News Network
NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Best rotations; Anger with Nats?; More Scherzer talk
• "By most objective measures, the Nats had the best rotation in baseball last season, and they added Scherzer without any subtractions." - "Ranking baseball's top 10 rotations for 2015" - Anthony Castrovince, SportsonEarth.com
There is anger among the teams that Major League Baseball permitted Max Scherzer's deal to have such a high percentage of deferred money.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 10, 2015
• "The Washington Nationals essentially have three aces in Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann to pair with Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez." - "Organizational report: Scherzer's deal to have domino effect" - Stephen Borelli, USA TODAY Sports
• "Scherzer’s stats will get an automatic boost moving from the AL to the NL. He’ll be pitching for a team that’s one of the preseason favorites to reach the World Series." - "Fantasy baseball winners, losers among offseason league-switchers" - Steve Gardner, USA Today Fantasy Sports
Pitcher Andy Suarez ready to lead UM baseball team after turning down major-league money http://t.co/TjcYY2TJ8s @smillerdegnan
— Miami Herald Sports (@HeraldSports) February 11, 2015
• "'I’ve been hearing I’m crazy ever since I didn’t sign,' Suarez, 22, a redshirt junior said Tuesday during media day at Mark Light Field." - "Andy Suarez ready to lead UM after turning down major-league money" - Susan Miller Degnan, The Miami Herald
88-year-old badass doesn't appreciate high pitch, charges mound at Rockies Fantasy Camp http://t.co/rsDziAr0wk pic.twitter.com/UB0MrFh08Z
— SB Nation MLB (@SBNationMLB) February 11, 2015
• "19. Steven Souza, OF, Rays: Impact offense is supposed to be his calling card, though Souza made his mark in the majors with the spectacular catch that saved Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter last season." - "MLB's 100 names you need to know: Nos. 1-25" - Paul White, USA TODAY Sports
NL EAST UPDATES: Wheeler's free-wheeling mouth; Phillies' vets; ASG in MIA
• Phillies: "We’re talking awkward -- painfully awkward. And unless things change before the Phillies’ first workout a week from Thursday, their offseason will look like a major fail." - "Philadelphia Phillies have four high-priced veterans they wanted to move" - Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports
• Mets: "Zack Wheeler likes what he sees about the Mets, and he is not afraid to talk about it." - "Big-talking Zack Wheeler: Mets are ‘like the Royals’" - Kevin Kernan, New York Post
Zack Wheeler comparing Mets to Royals is latest example of how confident team is heading into spring training http://t.co/fvOvWRdkya
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 11, 2015
• Marlins: "The 2017 All-Star Game will be played at Marlins Park." - "Marlins Park will host 2017 All-Star Game" - Clark Spencer, The Miami Herald
When you found out #GiancarloStanton was a #FishForLife #FaceOfMLB pic.twitter.com/NYN6TejTbB
— Billy The Marlin (@BillytheMarlin) February 11, 2015
• Braves: "Remember when then-rookie Alex Wood got thrown out of a game he was already removed from at Washington in 2013, for shouting at and arguing with an umpire as Wood came off the mound after being replaced?" - "Go ahead and doubt Alex Wood, Braves lefty thrives on it" - David O'Brien, AJC.com