Wire Taps: Kevin Long and the Nationals; Boswell on NL Cy Young race; and some Mason Denaburg info...

Did you see what happened in that game last night? Crazy, right? I mean, who would’ve guessed. What? What do you mean you don’t think we watched the games? You’re sooo wrong, dude. Read your links now and stop it...

NATS BEAT:

Health, not production, will again be key for [Ryan] Zimmerman in 2019 - (MASN)
"On the heels of perhaps the best season of his career, Zimmerman surprised many with his spring training plan to play almost exclusively in minor league games..."

Instructional League wrap-up: RHP Mason Denaburg - (MASN)
"I checked in with Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart and asked him about several of the organization’s pitching prospects and how they fared in instructionals."

Did Kevin Long bring the launch angle revolution to the Nationals? - (WaPost)
"Long came to Washington as one of the game’s more respected hitting coaches and nothing about his handling of Nationals players has altered that reputation."

Could Washington trade outfielder Adam Eaton? - (MLB.com)
"How the Nationals handle their potentially crowded outfield will be one of the most fascinating storylines of the offseason."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Short Relief: The Edge of the Void - (Baseball Prospectus)
"The organization had at least two backup plans for Harper, Víctor Robles and Juan Soto, and Soto in particular has shown himself to be a worthy successor."

MLB All-Star Bryce Harper shares meeting President Nelson and Elder Uchtdorf in Instagram posts - (Deseret News)
"Major League Baseball All-Star Bryce Harper and his family were in Salt Lake City for 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past weekend."

Brevard athletes make impact on national, international scene - (Florida Today)
"The former Merritt Island High star and former Washington Nationals pitcher is playing in the four-team Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan for the Fubon Guardians."

NLDS Game 3: Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. makes history with grand slam - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Acuña hit 26 homers in 2018 in 111 games with the Braves, while hitting .293/.366/.552. He’s in the running for NL Rookie of the Year with Washington Nationals‘ outfielder Juan Soto."

MLB rumors: Cubs? Phillies? Yankees? Latest odds on Bryce Harper's free agency - (NJ.com)
"Washington, the only franchise Harper has ever played for, makes sense. But Harper's end-of-year remarks and demeanor suggested a player knowing he's destined to move on."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Marlins part ways with four coaches - (Miami Herald)
"A 63-98 record and last-place finish usually doesn’t bode well for a coaching staff, and the Marlins on Monday informed four instructors that their contracts wouldn’t be renewed."

Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects Updated - (Fangraphs)
"The Phillies have a pitching-heavy Top 10 list but there are some intriguing bats sprinkled in..."

Tyler Flowers talks Mike Foltynewicz, Rich Hill - (AJC.com)
"Braves catcher Tyler Flowers spoke with the media before Game 4. He explained what to expect from Foltynewicz and the challenge of facing Hill."

Boswell: Jacob deGrom deserves the Cy Young over Max Scherzer - (WaPost)
"Everybody who ever voted for the Cy Young Award, and I did for many years, knows that deGrom is going to win easily."