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Juan Soto is making a name for himself in Japan. Some rumors about trades the Nationals didn’t make. Arizona Fall League updates. And the yearly search for a new backup at first.
Catch up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news...
NATS BEAT:
Looking at the market for lefty relievers - (MASN)
"The Nats’ bullpen makeover isn’t complete yet, though. They may still be in the market for another right-hander who can join Rosenthal and Barraclough in setting up closer Sean Doolittle."
Arizona Fall League roundup for November 10 - (MLB.com)
"Nationals No. 2 prospect Carter Kieboom went 1-for-5 and is hitting .284 in the AFL."
#Nationals LH-RP Jordan Mills showing what he does best tonight in televised @MLBazFallLeague Military Appreciation Game: disrupt timing and get lefties out. Extra-deceptive angle, wide frisbee slider is hard for same-side hitters to stay in on. FB t92 tonight, crisp for him.
— Adam McInturff (@2080adam) November 11, 2018
Nats again will be seeking a backup first baseman - (MASN)
"It has become something of an annual tradition for the Nationals: find a left-handed bat who can back up Ryan Zimmerman at first base..."
Why the Nationals don’t see upgrading at second base as an offseason priority - (WaPost)
"Rizzo said Wednesday that he expects Kieboom to make his major league debut at some point in 2019."
NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
Rosenthal: Astros had trade in place for Bryce Harper in July, but Nats’ ownership said no – (The Athletic)
”Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo did not respond to a request for comment. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow declined comment.”
The #Astros had a deal in place for Bryce Harper at the non-waiver deadline. #Nationals ownership said no. Story: https://t.co/mgpzjXmIK1 $
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 10, 2018
Bryce Harper was never going to take the Nationals’ offer - (Beyond the Box Score)
"The Nationals made two critical errors in their offer to Harper, and neither have to do with the amount of money that they offered."
Nationals standout rookie Juan Soto relishes All-Star Series atmosphere - (The Japan Times)
"Even though St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is the player most popular among Japanese fans, Soto has garnered more than his fair share of attention during this year’s Nichibei Yakyu series."
#Nationals LH-RP Taylor Guilbeau continues his unexpected rise to prospectdom. FB 94-96 all fall, drops down to mid-80s on his CH and has a SL. Was throwing 89-92 at season’s end and hasn’t showed this velo since college. Now looking like a LH pen arm worth adding to the 40-Man. pic.twitter.com/T9hi8ek34k
— Adam McInturff (@2080adam) November 11, 2018
Baseball Trade Winds Could Claim Dozens Of Stars - (Forbes.com)
"Should the Yankees sign Bryce Harper, for example, their outfield will become too crowded to keep [Giancarlo] Stanton..."
Bryce Harper to the Yankees? It's not happening, but here's what Yankees are likely to do this offseason - (NY Daily News)
"Suffice to say, the Harper-to-the-Yankees dream is dead. Spending $250 million-plus on another outfielder – even an outfielder who could maybe play first base – is not something they either need or want to do."
NL EAST UPDATES:
MLB All-Stars host youth clinic at Tokyo Dome - (MLB.com)
"A foursome of Whit Merrifield, Rhys Hoskins, Enrique Hernandez and Ronald Acuna Jr. held a station-by-station tutorial in the outfield area of the Dome..."
Why the Wilpons should let the Mets and Brodie Van Wagenen spend big - (New York Post)
"Let’s delve into why the Wilpons should aggressively spend this offseason."
Miami Marlins teased new blue uniform on Twitter, fans react - (Miami Herald)
"The Miami Marlins’ marketing team seems to be taking a page from the pop-star playbook by teasing its new releases with cryptic social media posts."
Braves’ Wilson, Davidson have nice days in AFL - (AJC.com)
"Izzy Wilson and Braxton Davidson, a pair of Braves prospects, helped Peoria defeat Surprise 7-4 in Saturday’s Arizona Fall League meeting."