Wire Taps: Washington Nationals holding parade in nation’s capital today, Matt Adams a free agent + more Nats news...

There will be a parade in the nation’s capital today, so that the Washington Nationals and their fans can celebrate the Nats’ World Series win together. Enjoy parade if you’re going, and as we suggest in another story today, make good decisions. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Roster Talk - Matt Adams’ option declined; Stephen Strasburg decision(?):

Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg could test free agency - (WaPost)
"World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg has until Saturday night to exercise an opt out in his contract. He is expected to, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation..."

Questions facing Nationals after 1st WS title - (MLB.com)
"The Nationals do not have Major League-ready prospects in their farm system to replace Rendon, like they did to replace Bryce Harper in the outfield after his departure last season."

Nationals decline $4 million mutual option on Matt Adams - (MASN)
"Adams was a key presence in the lineup for much of the regular season, hitting .226 with 20 homers, 56 RBIs and a .741 OPS over 333 plate appearances."

Matt Adams now a free agent after Nationals decline mutual option - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals declined their side of a $4 million mutual option attached to Matt Adams' contract for 2020, the team announced Friday."

To everyone asking Ryan Zimmerman if he's retiring: he's not - (NBC Sports Washington)
"'For some reason, everyone thought I was retiring after this year,' Zimmerman stated. 'Some people are like, 'well heck, you might as well just leave now.' I still think a got a couple good years in me.'"

World Series Champion Stories:

Nationals’ Sean Doolittle explains declining White House invite - (WaPost)
"Doolittle chose to not attend a White House ceremony slated for Monday. He is the first Nationals player to publicly confirm that..."

Wise | The key to the Nationals World Series Game 7 win? Max Scherzer (WUSA9)
Scherzer's pride and ability to pitch through pain got the Nats through Game 7.

Juan Soto puts together storybook playoff run - (WaPost)
"A bat has always defined Soto. He now uses an Old Hickory AJ25, maple and 34 inches, but used to swing whatever he could find."

Nats carved improbable path to first WS title - (MLB.com)
"'You could write a book,' Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton said as the late hours of Wednesday night turn into Thursday morning as the club celebrated its first World Series championship."

A look back at how Nats worked around injuries to win first title - (MASN)
"The amazing run of the Washington Nationals in 2019 is made even more amazing when one looks back at the state of the standings May 23."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Resilience will define the World Champion Nationals - (Beyond the Box Score)
"For a team that came in favored to win the National League East, the first seven weeks of the Nationals’ season did not gone as planned."

Toward a Unified Theory of Baby Shark - (FanGraphs Baseball)
"But businesslike isn’t normally a good description of Parra’s time on the Nationals. He’s widely regarded as a great clubhouse guy..."