:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58621479/915211456.jpg.0.jpg)
Less. Than. One. Week. Until. Baseball. Things.
Here’s the news from Nats Park:
Meet Juan Soto, Nationals’ next great slugging hope who ‘you’d want to marry your daughter’
The scout who found Soto in the D.R. initially saw him as a pitcher — until he played outfield the next game and showed incredible defensive skills and not a bad bat either. Now, viewed as the top overall hitting prospect for the Nats, he's more mature than most players his age and could make an impact sooner than you think.
Could the Nats pursue Jake Arrieta?
"In Washington, Arrieta would be the third power right arm to go with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, who are also Boras clients."
Dave Martinez's dress rehearsal starts next week
Dave Martinez promised a level of creativity and analytics-usage that the Nats supposedly have never employed, and a level of looseness unseen since Davey Johnson. Now, he has two months to figure that out.
Raudy Read suspended for PEDs
Read, the No. 2 catching prospect in the system, attempted to appeal, but failed.
Nationals' Raudy Read first on Nats' 40-man to ever test positive for PEDs
The Nats have never, ever had PED trouble. Until yesterday.
Statement from Mike Rizzo re: Raudy Read
"This is a very serious matter - one that I do not take lightly. We educate players across our system on the program and set the expectation that they fully abide by it. I am deeply disappointed in Raudy."
MLB free agency: Where J.D. Martinez, Yu Darvish and 6 others will land
Prediction for Jake Arrieta: Washington Nationals, five years, $120 million.
BLOMBERG COLUMN: Teams already saving money for next year's offseason
"At the end of the 2018 MLB season, two of the game's youngest and brightest stars will become eligible for free agency. The first of this dynamic duo is Bryce Harper, the powerhouse MVP who drives the Washington Nationals."
Baseball and Union Point Fingers Over Free-Agent Stalemate
"Of course, some players do perform well after free agency, like Max Scherzer, a Boras client who has won two Cy Young Awards in the three seasons since the Washington Nationals gave him a seven-year, $210 million contract."
2018 MLB All-Underrated Team
"Rendon finished sixth in the National League MVP Award voting last year, but he had a good argument to land higher."
Sources: MLBPA could hold spring camps for free agents
"Camp collusion," here we come!
The Twins Really, Really Need Starting Pitching
The situation is apparently comprable to that of the 2015 Nats: A very strong front line, a mediocre middle line, and a forgettable rest of the team.
With spring training approaching, MLBPA working to create destination for free agents
The union is looking to establish a free-agent's camp in either Arizona or Florida, so any players still waiting to be signed can have somewhere to go.
Predicting surprise: Young players who could shine for Nationals, Astros in 2018
"[Wilmer] Difo might be an unhealthy Daniel Murphy away from fully breaking out in 2018."