Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ roster cuts; Mike Rizzo on Anthony Rendon; + more Jake Noll ❤️...

Washington’s Nationals announced the latest round of roster cuts after yesterday’s game, but before the game there was plenty of chatter, with GM Mike Rizzo discussing the talks with Anthony Rendon among other topics.

There aren’t too many decisions left to make before Opening Day, but we’ll have to wait until later this week for the final roster spots to be handed out.

But first, there’s split squad action today, and an exhibition game in D.C. tomorrow to get through before we can really start getting ready for the season opener.

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Roster/Lineup Talk:

Flurry of cuts bring Nats to brink of final roster decisions - (MASN)
"[Adrian] Sanchez and [Andrew] Stevenson are seemingly favorites to fill out the bench, unless club officials are willing to take a chance on [Jake] Noll, a 2016 draft pick who has yet to play above Double-A and isn’t on the 40-man roster..."

Nationals pare roster down to 30 players with Opening Day on the horizon - (WaPost)
"The Washington Nationals have to set an active 25-man roster by the middle of next week, and they got closer after another round of spring training cuts Saturday afternoon."

Nats cut roster, option Ross, Fedde, Kieboom - (MLB.com)
"[Wander] Suero began camp as the favorite to secure the final bullpen slot, but [Austen] Williams has entered himself into the conversation after a fantastic spring, where he retired 23 of the 25 batters he faced..."

Eaton will lead off, Turner will bat second, Robles will bat ninth - (MASN)
"Adam Eaton indeed will lead off for the Nationals to begin the season, with Trea Turner right behind him."

Game changer: Healthy Eaton ready to deliver - (MLB.com)
"Two years of battling injuries stemming from a torn ACL have limited Adam Eaton to just 118 games across his two seasons in D.C."

Nationals' Martinez wants Trea Turner to run more - (Washington Times)
"After Bryce Harper left Washington for Philadelphia in free agency, [Davey] Martinez wants the Nationals to make better use of their speed rather than wait for big home runs."

Jake Noll's bat and defense provide Nats with valuable depth - (MASN)
"Noll, 25, has slashed .326/.408/.558 with four doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 24 big league spring training games. Last season, he got into one big league spring training game."

Severino Claimed:

Orioles claim catcher Pedro Severino off waivers, ending his Nationals tenure - (WaPost)
"Since there was no room for him on the 25-man roster once the Nationals added Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki this offseason, Severino seemed to be a lock to hit the waiver wire before the season began."

Rendon Chatter:

Rizzo: Recent extensions don't affect Rendon talks - (MASN)
"Rendon, who is eligible for free agency after this season, has expressed a desire to stay in Washington. The Nationals, in turn, have expressed a desire to retain the consistently excellent third baseman."

Nats plans on Rendon unchanged by extensions market, says Rizzo - (WaPost)
"The Nationals made an offer to Rendon in late February, according to people with knowledge of the negotiations, around the time third baseman Nolan Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Colorado Rockies."

Will Rendon join the wave of extensions? - (MLB.com)
"Not much progress has been made between the Nationals and Rendon this spring, although general manager Mike Rizzo remains optimistic they will eventually reach a deal."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Orioles claim catcher Severino off waivers from Nationals, trade Yastrzemski to Giants - (Baltimore Sun)
"The Orioles continued to manipulate their 40-man roster Saturday, claiming catcher Pedro Severino off waivers from the Washington Nationals and designating infielder Stevie Wilkerson for assignment."

How an Owner With Deep Roots Lured Bryce Harper to Lay Down His Own - (The New York Times)
"For me, this is an opportunity to play somewhere for 13 years and try to understand a city, and be into a city and be part of it. That’s the greatest thing that could ever happen.”

The Central divisions will be the best and worst in baseball - (Beyond the Box Score)
"The NL East has four teams with at least a one-in-three chance of making the postseason according to PECOTA."