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Matt Adams signed a second consecutive 1-year/$4M deal with the Washington Nationals, returning to the nation’s capital for another run after an impressive season filling in at first and hitting a career-high in home runs (21, 18 of them for the Nats). With the big left-hand bat on the bench locked up, what’s next for the Nationals?
Catch up on the last 24 hours... RIGHT NOW!!!:
NATS BEAT - MATT ADAMS IS BACK!:
Nationals set to bring back Matt Adams - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Adams flourished last season with the Nationals when he delivered an .842 OPS with an 118 OPS-plus in 306 at-bats as a part-time player."
Matt Adams returning to Nationals - (MLB.com)
"Adams signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Nationals almost exactly one year ago, and even after he was waived he raved about his time in D.C. and said then he would be open to a return."
Nationals agree to deal with first baseman Matt Adams - (WaPost)
"This offseason he was able to lock up his short-term future a week sooner, and the new deal does not necessarily mean he will make less money for the coming season."
Nats/Rizzo often trade players to teams where THEY'D like to go, like Suzuki to Oak in '13 when they were 96-win contender, Adams to Cards in '18. Both were their original teams where they were popular. Now, Suzuki & Adams both sign w Nats as free agents. Bread on the waters?
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) December 16, 2018
Adams returning to Nats for 2019, with mutual option for 2020 - (MASN)
"Even after he was traded to the Cardinals as the Nationals’ season collapsed in August, Matt Adams spoke glowingly of Washington as an organization and a city and said he’d be interested in returning."
What really happens in Vegas: Things we overheard at baseball’s winter meetings - (WaPost)
"And if you happened to walk past the events center Wednesday afternoon, you may have overheard Scott Boras, standing on a raised platform by a giant Christmas tree, selling Bryce Harper to the dozens of reporters at his feet."
NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
Only Red Sox, Nationals owe luxury tax in 2018 as MLB teams combine for smallest bill in 15 years - (CBSSports.com)
"Only two teams, the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, exceeded the $197 million luxury tax threshold this past season, according to the Associated Press."
Sources: Free agent Mike Fiers drawing interest from multiple clubs, including the Reds, Giants, Nationals and Rangers. Fiers, 33, is coming off a year in which he posted his best full-season ERA as a starter (3.56). @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 15, 2018
Free agent Anibal Sanchez's marketplace has some overlap with that of Fiers. The Braves (Sanchez's most recent team), Reds and Nationals have shown interest in Sanchez, sources say. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 15, 2018
NL EAST UPDATES:
Philles interested in Rangers' Mike Minor - (MLB.com)
"The Phillies have said throughout the offseason that they want to make moves that move the needle. The Phillies believe that Rangers left-hander Mike Minor is one of those guys."
What Mets' Van Wagenen will never get about trading Syndergaard - (NY Post)
"If Syndergaard goes, Van Wagenen would no doubt offer a hundred different reasons a deal made sense, and he may be right on most of them. Doesn’t matter."
J.T. Realmuto is one of the best baserunning catchers ever - (Beyond the Box Score)
"J.T. Realmuto is at the top of the wish list for a number of teams during the Winter Meetings in Vegas, and for good reason."
Braves no longer pursuing J.T. Realmuto trade - (MLB.com)
"While Atlanta has continued to be linked to J.T. Realmuto rumors, a source said Saturday night the Braves exited the Winter Meetings with the understanding there will not be any further reason for them to discuss trading for the Marlins' All-Star catcher."