Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Spring Training Storylines; Bryce Harper in Disney + more...

In two days pitchers and catchers will report to the Washington Nationals’ Spring Training facilities in West Palm Beach, Florida. At which point... not much will happen. But then the rest of the players will show up and games will get started pretty quickly after that. At that point there will be tons of news... For now:

NATS BEAT:

Former MLB GM: Rizzo the key to Nats' continued success
"There are many factors that contribute to winning even one playoff series, a feat that unfortunately has escaped the Nats in their attempts in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017."

Nationals Baseball: Monday Quickie : Darvish a Cub, do the Nats react
"Yu Darvish is now a Cub and that matters. It doesn't MATTER like if Yu Darvish was a Met or a Phillie, but it matters because the Cubs, who are one of the teams the Nats are looking to get past..."

Spring training storylines: Free agent signings during camp?
"It’s not unusual for teams to sign players during spring training. It happens every year, with a handful of veterans still available and needs arising as a result of injuries or other camp developments."

Spring training storylines: Are Eaton, Murphy fully healed?
"Adam Eaton and Daniel Murphy suffered very different injuries to the same body part and underwent very different surgeries. But each will report to camp needing to show everyone that all is now well physically..."

Washington Nationals: 5 story lines for Spring Training
"As we count Matt Wieters’ plate appearances and launch angles, here are five storylines as the Nats prepare in West Palm Beach."

With Yu Darvish signing, National League tilts in Cubs' favor
"The fiercest competition will come from the Dodgers and Nationals, but neither team can quite match Chicago’s newly constructed rotation."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Bryce Harper and his wife took some adorable photos during their trip to Disneyland
"Bryce Harper has made no secret of his love for all things Disney over the years."

Bryce and Kayla Harper Hit The Happiest Place on Earth
"Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and his wife, Kayla, enjoyed one of their last free weekends by flying out to Disneyland to hang out with Mickey and the gang..."

Chicago White Sox Top 20 prospects for 2018
"Dane Dunning, RHP, Grade B+: Age 23, first round pick in 2016 by the Washington Nationals from University of Florida, traded to Sox in Adam Eaton deal."

The Week That Was: Mets Hope That Fraze Pays
"This off-season, which has been an eerily quiet Hot Stove season, the Mets have been arguably more active than practically every other team as they have signed free agents Anthony Swarzak, Jay Bruce, and Todd Frazier. While those moves won’t bridge the talent gap with the Washington Nationals, they should help the Mets improve in the standings."

Reality steps to plate
"Several high-revenue, high-spending teams (the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox) might be saving for a splurge eight months from now on the best free-agent class ever — the Nationals’ Bryce Harper, the Orioles’ Manny Machado, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and others."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Braves Pitcher Makes Heroic Arbitration Stand Over $100,000, Loses
"Pitcher Mike Foltynewicz went to salary arbitration with the Atlanta Braves over a difference of $100,000, the smallest gap in a hearing since 1994."

Don Mattingly excited by possibilities of new-look Marlins
"After all the deals and departures, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly says he’s enthused about the upcoming season. Really, he is."

NY Mets open camp Monday with pitchers and catchers reporting
"New manager Mickey Callaway will be directing his first spring training, and he is planning to change some of the team's routines."

How will Phillies' bench shape up?
"The Phillies report to Clearwater for spring training next week with a new manager, a new bat in the lineup and a couple of veteran additions in the bullpen."