Wire Taps: Washington Nationals trade Tanner Roark; Scott Boras talks Bryce Harper + more...

Scott Boras pays attention when the Nationals say the door for Bryce Harper remains open so maybe you should too. Tanner Roark is no longer part of the Nats’ rotation, and that only makes sense if they’re about to acquire a new starter or two. Oh and the Rule 5 Draft starts at 12:00 PM EST this afternoon...

Catch up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news, right now!!:

NATS BEAT - NATIONALS TRADE TANNER ROARK:

Nationals trade Tanner Roark to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Tanner Rainey - (WaPost)
"Roark endured an up-and-down year — a fitting illustration of his up-and-down career — pairing a dreadful start with a much stronger finish."

What the Tanner Roark trade means for the Nationals – (The Athletic)
"Less than two hours after telling the media that “nothing was imminent” from his Las Vegas suite, the Nationals traded right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark to the Reds on Wednesday night."

Nationals acquire pitcher Tanner Rainey - (MLB.com)
"Roark's departure leaves Washington's rotation depth thin beyond the trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Corbin..."

Rizzo hoping Taylor's offseason work will pay dividends - (MASN)
"It may be too early to think of Taylor, 27, as a reclamation project, but it’s clear he may be on the outside looking in as the Nationals configure their outfield for next season."

Mike Rizzo hopeful about Anthony Rendon deal - (MLB.com)
"Rendon has expressed his desire to remain, including earlier this month at the team's annual WinterFest event when he said he was 'up for' signing long term with the Nationals."

Anthony Rendon is open to listening to the Nationals about an extension - (NBC Sports Washington)
"When asked about his client potentially signing an extension prior to spring training next season, Boras told reporters Rendon 'has made it known he’s open to listening to what the Nationals say.'"

Rizzo: Nats doing "due diligence" on Japanese lefty Kikuchi - (MASN)
"Kikuchi, 27, could be an interesting addition to the Nationals starting rotation, especially at a reasonable salary like the six-year, $42 million contract that MLBTradeRumors.com predicts he will land."

Johnny Holliday stepping away from MASN broadcasts - (WaPost)
"Johnny Holliday, a local broadcasting legend who took on the job of Nationals pre- and postgame host shortly after the team first came to town, said Wednesday he is stepping away from his role on MASN as he cuts back his workload."

The Nationals weren’t interested in adding a second baseman, until they were - (WaPost)
"So, little by little over the last two months, Rizzo’s public stance has changed. Sure, he has to say he’s comfortable with what he has, lest he insult the capabilities of those on his roster."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Reds Bolster Rotation by Adding Roark - (FanGraphs Baseball)
"Roark has been a durable part of Washington’s rotation for six years and has thrown 180 or more innings in four of the last five seasons..."

Reds Acquire Tanner Roark From Nationals In Exchange For Tanner Rainey - (Baseball America)
"Cincinnati’s rotation posted an unsightly 5.08 ERA in 2018, placing them ahead of just five clubs. By plucking a durable, versatile piece from Washington’s rotation, the Reds should see instant benefits."

MLB -- How to spice up the winter meetings after a dull week in Vegas - (ESPN)
"The two biggest trades were Tanner Roark going from the Washington Nationals to the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates trading Ivan Nova to the Chicago White Sox."

Reds add pitcher Tanner Roark in trade with Nationals - (Cincinnati.com)
"Rainey made eight relief appearances with the Reds last season. He’s known for his electric fastball, which can reach around 100 mph, but had trouble locating it and gave up 19 runs in seven innings."

Rule 5 Draft preview - (MLB.com)
"This year's Rule 5 Draft takes place in Las Vegas today at noon ET, with a live audio stream on MLB.com."

HARPER HARPER HARPER SECTION:

Bryce Harper is no easy sell for agent Scott Boras - (SI.com)
"Let it be recorded that when Scott Boras made his annual winter meetings performance art Wednesday, this time to argue that Bryce Harper is such a great investment he “will pay for himself”, he stood not on a soap box but an equipment box for a Washington television station."

Scott Boras confident in Bryce Harper market - (MLB.com)
"'I think when they say the door is open, I would certainly pay attention to what they're saying,' Boras said."

Boras won't close door on Nationals re-signing Harper - (MASN)
"Boras spent nearly all of the first 30 minutes of his scrum fielding questions about Harper from reporters who cover several clubs in the running for the 26-year-old slugger."

Dodgers check every box for Bryce Harper — except, perhaps, ‘rational’ - (WaPost)
"Try as agent Scott Boras might to paint Harper’s market as teeming and vibrant, there were few teams, outside of perhaps the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, willing to cop to being in on the bidding."

Scott Boras circus lights up Winter Meetings - (NBC Sports Washington)
”Boras touched on Harper’s status, the extension process with Anthony Rendon, how he would change the playoffs, and dropped a nurse-thermometer reference when talking about the New York Yankees.”

Scott Boras held court on Bryce Harper, revealing little and ruling out nothing - (WaPost)
"Boras avoided naming specific teams involved with Harper. Of the Nationals, whose owner suggested the team could no longer pay for Harper but whose general manager left the door open, Boras was coy."