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Wire Taps: Max Scherzer on MASN tonight; Nationals still in/still out of Bryce Harper bazaar; Kurt Suzuki’s early impact...

Catch up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news before the start of tonight’s Grapefruit League opener...

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Boston Red Sox v Washington Nationals Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Max Scherzer is going to be on the mound, in West Palm Beach, throwing baseballs, and likely stomping around after strikeouts for an inning or two tonight at 6:35 PM EST. And it will all be broadcast live on MASN.

We’re here for you to help get you through the next nine hours before we all get to watch some competitive baseball for the first time this season. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Heeding advice from Max Scherzer, Koda Glover healthy and motivated - (MASN)
"Scherzer, who has made at least 30 starts in each of his 10 full big league seasons, is known for his extensive winter workout regimen."

Low-key Corbin blending right in despite massive contract - (MASN)
"Patrick Corbin? He’s out there with everyone else, but the 29-year-old lefty blends right in with the masses. Nothing about the guy says '$140 million contract.'"

Scherzer raring to go for spring opener - (MLB.com)
"Spring workouts are necessary prep for the long season, but Scherzer is ready to finally face some competition."

Scott Boras: ‘I work for Anthony Rendon. He makes all the decisions' - (WaPost)
"A day after Anthony Rendon said that agent Scott Boras works for him, not the other way around, Boras echoed his client and relayed their joint willingness to explore a long-term extension with the Washington Nationals."

How one bullpen session shows Kurt Suzuki’s underlying value to Nationals - (WaPost)
"Suzuki loves mentoring younger players, sharing his wisdom, shouting into quiet moments to remind teammates who may forget that baseball can be fun."

Final full-squad workout features situational drill, couple of close calls - (MASN)
"There were only two mistakes out of the 15 plays. Juan Soto, playing left field, overthrew the cutoff man. Later on, reliever Austen Williams threw wildly to third base on a bunt play."

Alex Chappell will make her MASN debut as Nats’ on-field reporter Saturday - (WaPost)
"Chappell said she inquired multiple times about joining the MASN broadcast team while establishing her career elsewhere, but the network never had any openings."

HARPER CHATTER:

Andy Martino of SNY refutes the reports that the Nats are out on Harper - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Despite Mark Lerner's comments to NBC Sports Washington that the team hasn't been in recent contact with Bryce Harper and has filled out the roster, SNY's Andy Martino says not to give up hope."

Exclusive: Nats owner Mark Lerner says they haven't heard from Bryce Harper and Scott Boras in months - (NBC Sports Washington)
"'Nothing's certainly changed on our end,' owner Mark Lerner told NBC Sports Washington's Todd Dybas Friday. 'We've moved on.'"

Bryce Harper and Scott Boras are on the verge of the least satisfying nine-figure deal ever - (WaPost)
"If Bryce Harper had a time machine, we all know what he would do. Or, rather, plenty of us think we know what he would do."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Everything you need to know about MLB spring training in the Palm Beaches - (WFLX)
"You’ll love watching games at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The 160-acre complex offers six practice fields per team, suites and party decks, and cold brews and beverages for you to enjoy as you watch all the action."

MLB faces labor tensions: What the players want in new CBA - (USA TODAY)
"After a second consecutive winter that’s seen veteran players pushed to the margins of the game, and superstars forced to wait until deep into February – or longer – to receive what they feel is fair market value for their services, baseball’s stars and its rank and file are fixing for a fight."

Nationals Can Get Better Value For The $300M It Would Take To Re-Sign Bryce Harper - (Forbes)
"Thus, a strong case can be the made that the Nationals made their team better by spreading their free-agent dollars around rather than concentrating them on Harper."

10 stars not named Bryce or Manny who changed teams this winter - (ESPN)
"The 29-year-old left-hander rode his devastating slider to a breakout 2018 that culminated with a top-five finish for NL Cy Young honors, and there's no reason to expect anything less in 2019."

Buster's Buzz: Why Nationals' defense will be much better in 2019 - (ESPN)
"But the strengthening of Washington's run prevention -- the glove work, behind a line of excellent starting pitchers -- could be staggering, and difference-making in one of the best divisions in baseball."