Wire Taps: Bryce Harper and celebrity suitors; Where will Nationals find the pitching they need?

We’re still recovering from the round trip to D.C. this weekend for Nationals’ Winterfest. So just read your links and try to keep it quiet, please...

NATS BEAT:

Howie Kendrick expects to be ready for start of spring training - (MASN)
"The Nationals sorely need Kendrick. And they sorely missed his presence for the final 4 1/2 months of the 2018 season..."

Max Scherzer excited to work with new catchers Gomes and Suzuki - (MASN)
"So what does the Nats’ No. 1 starter, Cy Young Award winner and most important player think about these changes to the person that will call his games?"

Anthony Rendon sounds like Stephen Strasburg in contract extension talks -- and that's a good thing - (NBC Sports Washington)
"While the rest of the baseball world fixates on Bryce Harper, Rendon’s contract status simmers in the background -- which is his preference."

For Dave Martinez to see improvement, it’ll come down to the little things - (WaPost)
"For a variety of reasons, some out of the front office’s control, no coaching staff has survived a non-playoff season since 2011."

Nationals looking at starting pitchers - (MLB.com)
"Rizzo began his pursuit of a starter last week in D.C., when he and team owner Mark Lerner went to dinner with free-agent left-hander Patrick Corbin..."

Monday Quickie - Looting the corpse of the Mariners - (Nationals Baseball)
"In the meantime the Nats picked up Yan Gomes. Is this a good deal? Let's start off with what they gave up."

Washington Brings The Hammer, Re-Signs Sammy Solis - (NatsGM)
"Somewhat lost amidst news that Yan Gomes was coming to Washington, Friday the Nationals agreed to terms with LHP Sammy Solis on a 1-year deal worth $850,000."

Juan Soto continued year of torrid hitting on Japanese tour - (Washington Times)
“He mashes fastballs,” Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long said of Soto. “He is a quick learner; he gets it. He is going to be just fine. His mechanics are sound.”

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Diamondbacks Have Difficult, Though Not Impossible, Task In Trading Greinke - (Forbes)
"Yet there are two times, the Astros and Nationals, that line up for a Greinke trade among those that don’t need his permission."

What Yankees’ Brian Cashman is saying about Gary Sanchez-for-J.T. Realmuto trade rumors - (nj.com)
"According to Cashman, last week’s reports that the Yankees and Miami Marlins had recent trade talks about swapping Sanchez for Miami Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto were false."

Dragons acquire former major league lefty Enny Romero - (The Japan Times)
"The Chunichi Dragons announced Monday the acquisition of Dominican pitcher Enny Romero, who participated in last year’s World Baseball Classic."

BRYCE HARPER FREE AGENCY BEAT:

Bryce Harper: Chicago Cubs' coffers have plenty of cash, camaraderie - (USA TODAY)
"Bryce Harper, a National League MVP at 23, is a free agent at 26, peddling his services in an industry that’s grown to nearly $11 billion in annual revenues."

Bryce Harper free agency rumors soar after high-profile concert - (NY Daily News)
"Nelly wants Bryce Harper to ride with him to St. Louis. The rapper took Harper backstage at a Las Vegas concert over the weekend and begged the high-profile free agent to sign with the Cardinals."

Sources: Officials from four MLB teams meet with Bryce Harper, including Magic Johnson - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Recently, according to sources, [Magic] Johnson and other Dodgers officials traveled to Las Vegas to meet with Harper."

WATCH: Nelly makes emotional plea to the Cardinals to sign Bryce Harper "I got this!" - (Missourinet)
Nelly, raised in St. Louis and a lifelong Cardinals fan tells the organization from his Instagram account that he can help seal the deal to sign free agent outfielder Bryce Harper.