Wire Taps: Trevor Rosenthal talks joining Nationals; Bryce Harper chatter + more...

Trevor Rosenthal spoke to reporters in the nation’s capital for the first time since signing with the Washington Nationals. There was plenty of Bryce Harper chatter from all around the baseball world. The BBWAA’s finalists were announced.

All that + more in today’s links:

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

The Worst Called Strike of the Second Half - (Fangraphs)
"Still, nothing much happened, not in the moment. Harper said a few words. Diaz heard them. The situation erupted in the bottom of the inning."

MASN won’t bring back Ray Knight for its Nationals broadcasts in 2019 - (Awful Announcing)
"He was often known for his honesty and deriding the Nats when they didn’t play well."

The good, the bad ... and the Orioles: Ranking all 30 MLB teams based on their 2018 goals - (ESPN)
"It was a failure, and it ended with an ugly season: Harper slumped for much of it; new manager Davey Martinez lost the clubhouse; and the Nationals went from overwhelming preseason NL East favorites to a third-place finish."

Best free-agent fit for all 30 MLB teams - (MLB.com)
”[J.A.] Happ is a solid No. 3 who would take some pressure off the bullpen as the Nationals try to get back to the postseason.”

Arizona Fall League roundup for November 5 - (MLB.com)
”Carter Kieboom, the Nationals’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 37 overall prospect, went 1-for-4. Daniel Johnson, the Nationals’ No. 7 prospect, hit 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run.”

TREVOR ROSENTHAL:

Trevor Rosenthal, healthy again, eyes high-leverage role for the Nationals - (WaPost)
"On Monday, Rosenthal said there were no setbacks in the recovery process and reports from his Irvine workout noted that his fastball velocity was where it used to be."

Trevor Rosenthal raring to go in return - (MLB.com)
"Initially, the plan laid out by Rosenthal's doctors was to sit out the entire season, but around the All-Star break, he began considering joining a team for the stretch run."

Rosenthal using advanced technology to help breaking pitch efficiency - (MASN)
"Rosenthal pointed out that advanced technology has allowed him to focus on the spin rate of his breaking pitches."

After "smooth" rehab, Rosenthal excited to join Nationals - (MASN)
"As he progressed in his rehab over the summer, Rosenthal began to wonder if he might actually be ready to return before season’s end."

BRYCE HARPER LINKS:

Bryce Harper will be the talk of GM Meetings, but Nationals have plenty of other business - (WaPost)
"As rumors fly and suitors come and go, the Nationals have plenty of non-Harper business to conduct."

MLB rumors: Yankees to miss on Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin, Astros’ Dallas Keuchel? - (NJ.com)
”The MLB hot stove is heating up, and the rumors are flying fast and furious about Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. The latest chatter has the Yankees passing on the former National League MVP.”

TSN’s top 50 MLB free agents - (TSN.ca)
”The Phillies are desperate for a superstar and Harper fits perfectly in right field. His intensity will be appreciated by the fans.”

Cardinals are in the market for ‘elite talent’ - (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
”We already know the 26-year-old Harper looks good in red. But no one, from Las Vegas oddsmakers to the writers who covered Harper for years in Washington, see the Cardinals as Harper’s landing spot.”

2018 BBWAA AWARDS:

Max Scherzer named finalist for Cy Young; Juan Soto for ROY - (WaPost)
"Scherzer has won back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards, adding to the American League Cy Young he won while pitching for the Detroit Tigers in 2013."

Soto (ROY), Scherzer (Cy Young) up for awards - (MLB.com)
"Juan Soto is a finalist for the Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the Year Award and Max Scherzer is a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award, both of which come as no surprise considering both players were frontrunners all season."

Soto, Scherzer are finalists for Rookie of Year, Cy Young awards - (MASN)
"Voting among active BBWAA members (two from each National League and American League city per award) was completed before the start of the postseason, so the winners actually have already been determined, just not made public."