Wire Taps: Nationals add bench coach Chip Hale; Max Scherzer & Ryan Zimmerman get Players Choice awards...

Chip Hale brings experience to the Washington Nationals’ bench as the latest addition to new skipper Dave Martinez’s staff. They still have to add a pitching coach, first base coach, bullpen coach, and an assistant hitting coach, but the Nats are well on their way to assembling the team behind the team that will try to guide the club to the playoffs for the third straight season. Hale’s addition, some thoughts on Mike Rizzo in D.C., and some awards for some Nationals, all below in today’s links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals Hire Chip Hale As Bench Coach
"Hale joins the coaching staff of new manager Dave Martinez, who is coming over after having served as the bench coach of the Chicago Cubs, replacing Dusty Baker as the man in charge in D.C."

Nationals hire former manager Chip Hale as bench coach
"One of the questions surrounding the Washington Nationals’ hiring of Dave Martinez as manager was his lack of experience."

Nationals hire Chip Hale as bench coach
"The Nationals have started to emphasize putting together a veteran staff around Martinez, which included hiring Kevin Long as hitting coach last week."

Nationals duo wins 2017 Players Choice Awards
"Two Nationals players were recognized by their peers for their achievements during the 2017 season."

Baseball America: Nationals system strong at catcher and shortstop
"Carlos Collazo, national writer at Baseball America, rates the Nationals system in the middle 10 overall."

Nationals bullpen: What's next for Brandon Kintzler, Matt Albers, Oliver Perez
"The Nationals have Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson, mid-July acquisitions from the Athletics, to populate the back end of their bullpen in 2018."

Thom Loverro Insists Someone’s in Nats Owner Ted Lerner’s Ear
“What I do know is the connection between the ownership and Scott Boras, and I do think, whether it’s Scott Boras or somebody else, that somebody’s in Ted Lerner’s ear giving him advice that’s contrary to what Mike Rizzo wants to do."

Scouting Report – Jakson Reetz
"Defensively Reetz possesses quality arm strength, with a quick release and reasonable accuracy, giving him the profile as a future solid-average arm."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

A’s coach Chip Hale joins Washington Nationals staff
"A’s bench coach Chip Hale has decided to leave for Washington to assume the same role with the Nationals."