Wire Taps: Washington Nationals in AFL; Will the Nats look to bring back Jeremy Hellickson? + more...

So, seven hours and twenty minutes later, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series, down 2-1, after Max Muncy hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 18th inning to end Game 3 at around 2:30 AM on the East Coast. Will there be anyone left to pitch in the game tonight? Are you even watching baseball any more?

Or are you just waiting for your Nationals links every morning?

NATS BEAT:

Whom the Nationals sent to the Arizona Fall League — and why - (WaPost)
"Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba said the Nationals still 'believe in him at shortstop,' but the franchise has a long history of prospects shifting to second because there was no room at shortstop."

Would the Nats take another flyer on Hellickson? - (MASN)
"The Nationals’ late-spring signing of Hellickson to a modest $2 million contract didn’t exactly wow fans who wanted them to go after a big-name (and higher-priced) starter..."

Identifying Washington’s Next Starting Catcher - (NatsGM)
”Remember him? [Wilson] Ramos suffered a catastrophic knee injury late in 2016 and needed most of 2017 to rehabilitate this injury.”

Offseason Position Discussion : Catcher - (Nationals Baseball)
”Presumed Plan: The Nats bring in someone through trade or FA, while Severino, Kieboom, and Read fight for the back-up role.”

2018 Nationals Position Review: The Nats have big decisions to make with their infield - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Rendon now enters an interesting offseason. He isn't a free agent until 2020, but stands to receive a big-time raise in arbitration."

A letter to Nationals fans from Marla Lerner Tanenbaum: 2018 Washington Nationals Youth Baseball… - (Curly W)
”First and foremost I want to begin by thanking you for your support of the Nationals, the Dream Foundation and the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.”

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Cubs considering bringing back Daniel Murphy in 2019 - (CBSSports.com)
"Veteran infielder Daniel Murphy could be back with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. Murphy is set to become a free agent when the World Series ends, and the Cubs may try to re-sign him this offseason."

Elegy for ’18 – Washington Nationals (FanGraphs)
"While Washington has had above-average payrolls, it’s not a team that historically has dipped that deeply into the free agent market."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Gabe Kapler determined to win over skeptical Phillies fan base, trusts his team’s process to win -(Philly.com)
"It wasn't enough for Gabe Kapler to ask his players and members of the front office for feedback about his job performance or to hand out anonymous surveys to his coaches to elicit honest ideas for how he might improve."

Marlins begin to relocate home run sculpture - (MLB.com)
"Step one in the removal process of the Home Run Sculpture at Marlins Park has begun."

Mets Negotiating to Make Brodie Van Wagenen Their General Manager - (The New York Times)
"Now the Mets are negotiating with Van Wagenen in a different and unorthodox way: to have him fill their general manager vacancy."

Atlanta Braves preliminary prospect grade breakdown - (Minor League Ball)
"I have finished my first run through the Atlanta Braves farm system and here are the preliminary grade distributions. Can you match the prospect with the grade?"