Wire Taps: Anthony Rendon open to extension; Sean Doolittle feels healthy; Chip Hale to Orioles?

The Mariners, Nationals, Mets, and Phillies seem interested in making this offseason the antithesis to the 2017-18 offseason: full of activity and exciting. Step it up, everyone else.

Here’s the news from Natsfest:

Anthony Rendon, Nationals plan to keep talking extension (MASN)
"It all sounds so simple, but of course it’s not. Rendon, who is represented by Scott Boras, is going to command a massive deal. And though he may not approach [Bryce] Harper in terms of total dollar amount or hot stove spotlight, he’s still going to ask for fair market value."

Foot healthy again, Doolittle can focus on home repair (MASN)
“It’s kind of a mixed bag,” [Sean Doolittle] said. “I’m really happy with how I pitched when I was healthy. But going into the season, my biggest goal was to pitch a full season, and I didn’t get to do that again. ... I was happy with how I pitched, but I still feel like I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish, because I wasn’t able to stay healthy for the full season.”

Carter Kieboom on playing second base: "They have that trust in me" (MASN)
Kieboom played second once a week in the AFL, and he's excited about the attention.

Anthony Rendon ‘up for’ further discussing long-term extension with Nationals (WaPo)
Rendon offered a somewhat morbid outlook on his future ("a plane might crash or something"), one in which he wants to focus on "keeping the baby alive" — but he said he has a soft spot for sticking with his first team, and said that he and the Nats have been talking about extensions, something that he's "up" for.

Nationals move quickly while waiting on Bryce Harper (The Athletic)
The Nationals have made more moves than anyone this side of Seattle or perhaps Queens — indicating that they will happily wait for Bryce Harper, but they have no intention of planning around him.

Nationals bench coach Chip Hale not tipping his hand on Orioles rumors (NBC Sports Washington)
Baltimore has a managerial opening, and Chip Hale, the bench coach for the Nationals, has come up multiple times in the discussion regarding who would fill the job. Hale managed the D-Backs before coming to the Nationals.

For Nationals closer Sean Doolittle, the fix is in this offseason (NBC Sports Washington)
Sean Doolittle and Eireann Dolan have spent the offseason... fixing up their house in Chicago, watching DIY YouTube videos, caulking showers, and doing other tasks (instead of hiring other people to do it for them, because he wants "skin in the game.") In the meantime, he also thinks his foot is healthy, as is the rest of his body.

Howie Kendrick, possible second base solution, hopes to be ready for spring training (WaPo)
“Hopefully I’m still on track for spring training. I’m expecting to be ready for spring,” Kendrick said. “I know things happen, and I can say that, but something might happen. But if all things keep going the way they’re going right now, I should be ready for spring training.”

Erick Fedde on potential spot in rotation: "It's everything" (MASN)
Fedde said he's trying to come in at 205 pounds and stay healthy next year to go deep into games, perhaps finally breaking through at the Major League level.

How the trade for Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz changes MLB (SI)
"New York still needs to add some help, but you don’t have to squint too hard to see a team that can hang with Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington."