Wire Taps: Carter Kieboom in the AFL; Nationals’ ability to pull off big trade + more Nats links...

The Arizona Fall League prospects finally get to go home after a long season for the young players in the Washington Nationals’ system. The Hot Stove should start heating up ... any... day now. There are some Bryce Harper rumors below. Some reviews of the prospects in the AFL + more... including the latest take on the MASN dispute from Baltimore’s end:

NATS BEAT:

Carter Kieboom wraps up strong AFL season - (MASN)
"Kieboom, who played both second and short in the AFL, put up a strong offensive showing, one that will either raise his trade stock or convince the Nats that he truly is their second baseman of the future."

Rule 5 Draft Prospects who could be protected (District on Deck)
James Bourque pitched to a 1.70 ERA in between High-A and Double-A, and very well could be a bottom-barrel bullpen pick if the Nationals need the help next year. Meanwhile, Telmito Agustin and Drew Ward also look likely to be spared.

Do the Nats have the prospects to pull off a winter blockbuster? - (MASN)
"So is there reason to wonder if the Nationals might have their eye on one of several prominent players whose names have cropped up in trade rumors since the season ended?"

BRYCE HARPER BEAT:

Bryce Harper gets a weird new haircut (MLB.com)
Bryce Harper went perm for the most important winter of his life, because teams certainly don't care how he looks if he can hit the ball 450 feet.

Would Harper accept hometown discount from Nats? - (MASN)
"MLBPipeline.com’s Jim Callis says retaining Harper is possible, but not likely, given the track record of Harper’s high-profile agent, Scott Boras."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Orioles, Nationals finish arguments in TV dispute rehearing (Baltimore Sun)
The committee included Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, Mariners president Kevin Mather, and Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro. We should know the deal in roughly a month.

Players who stood out in 2018 AFL championship - (MLB.com)
"Normally a shortstop, [Kieboom] displayed a strong arm while turning two double plays at second."

Each MLB team's biggest free agent in 2020 (MLB.com)
It's Joaquin Benoit! (It's not, it's Anthony Rendon, close your eyes and pray.)

Breaking Down The 2018 Arizona Fall League Championship & Annual Awards - (Baseball America)
"[Braxton] Davidson’s home run to right-center field off southpaw reliever Taylor Gilbeau (Nationals) marked just the second time in the AFL’s 27-year history that the championship was decided by a walk-off home run..."

NL EAST UPDATES:

"How the Philadelphia Phillies can be smart spending stupid amounts of money" - (ESPN)
"The Thanksgiving turkeys aren't in the oven yet and we already possess the most evergreen quote of baseball's winter, courtesy of Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton."

Noah Syndergaard trade talk proves Mets’ approach all wrong - (NY Post)
"Don’t trade Noah Syndergaard. Don’t entertain such notions. That goes against every stone the Mets have rolled up their steep hill."

Marlins Jordan Yamamoto strong AFL title game - (MLB.com)
"The strong game from the duo of Marlins' prospects came at an opportune time as the pair were debuting the organization's brand-new uniforms."

Braves Prospect Appears To Break Foot After Hitting Walk-Off Homer In AFL Championship Game - (Deadspin)
"As he rounded third on his way to home, the prospect started hopping on one foot not for the sake of showboating, but because he was in a lot of pain."