Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ top pick No. 11 in 2021 Draft; Chip Hale talks + more Nats links...

After announcing a number of roster moves over the weekend, in addition to the moves on the bench in the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals announced on Monday that two bullpen arms elected for free agency after clearing waivers.

“RHP Javy Guerra and LHP Sam Freeman have cleared outright waivers and elected free agency,” the Nats’ PR team announced on Twitter. “The 40-man roster is at 36.”

The decisions by Guerra (whose season ended with a hamstring injury) and Freeman (who had Tommy John surgery this summer), come after right-handers Paolo Espino and Aaron Barrett and left-hander Roenis Elías cleared waivers and elected for free agency this past weekend.

Will you miss any of the above? Barrett is well-liked in Washington. Sam Freeman has a big fans in manager Davey Martinez, but he has a long rehab ahead of him.

Elías will likely end up helping a team out somewhere if he can stay healthy, which he couldn’t during his time with in D.C.

Chances Guerra ends up back in a Nationals uniform in 2021?

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Chip Hale says Dave Martinez decided to replace him as Nationals third base coach - (WaPost)
“This is just an opportunity that very, very few managers get, to be frank with you. There are very few managers that get total control of decision-making on their staff.”

Lee's summer work paying off in instructional league - (MASN)
"In a normal 2020 season, [Evan] Lee would have been pitching for low Single-A Hagerstown, but the Covid-19 global pandemic changed all of that for everyone."

Guerra, Freeman clear waivers, become free agents - (MASN)
"Two more members of the Nationals’ 2020 bullpen are now free agents after right-hander Javy Guerra and lefty Sam Freeman cleared outright waivers, the club announced today."

Can Scherzer regain elite form in final year of contract? - (MASN)
"After watching sheer pitching brilliance from Scherzer since he arrived in D.C., we’ve wondered if and when the future Hall of Famer might finally start to look mortal."

Aníbal Sánchez, Max Scherzer’s back-to-back NLCS no-hit bids remain historic - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Both pitchers carried no-hitters into the sixth inning. It was the only time in MLB history that two pitchers had done so in back-to-back playoff games."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

MLB Team Roundup: Washington Nationals - (Yahoo!Sports)
"The Nationals won the 2019 World Series, and that has nothing to do with the 2020 campaign, but it’s worth pointing out."

J.T. Realmuto's 6 likeliest suitors - (MLB.com)
"With Kurt Suzuki headed for free agency, the Nationals are in need of a catcher; having played his entire career in the National League East, Realmuto is certainly a well-known commodity in Washington."

Here's the 2021 MLB Draft order - (MLB.com)
"Major League Baseball confirmed Monday that the 2021 Draft order will be based on the reverse order of the 2020 regular-season standings."

NJ Little League's biggest fan is ... Juan Soto? - (MLB.com)
"The youngest batting champion in National League history traveled to New Jersey over the weekend to watch his nephew in a United States Amateur Baseball League 10-and-under tournament at North Edison Little League."

‘You can’t teach being cool’: Dusty Baker and the art of managing – (The Athletic)
"[Davey] Martinez: I learned a lot from Dusty, playing and listening to him. And now being a manager, I kind of learned, this is how I want to be, too. This is how I want to treat players."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Mets' 'archaic' technology won't fly with Steve Cohen - (NY Post)
"Cohen, a hedge-fund maven who built his estimated $14 billion fortune on crunching data and hiring the right people for such analysis, is seen as a savior to the Mets for more than his resources to pursue top free agents."

The Braves’ Long-Term Pitching Investment Is Getting Its First Real Test - (The Ringer)
"Atlanta has been working for a decade to build up its pitching staff. But after series sweeps against the Reds and Marlins, can it stand up to the Dodgers?"

What will Jean Segura’s role be with the Phillies in 2021? - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"Versatile infielder has been steady on both sides of the ball for four different clubs in nine seasons as a regular, but he's never been part of a postseason team."

Admit it: You had no clue James Hoyt would be this good for the Marlins - (Fish Stripes)
"At age 33, he emerged as a key cog in the Marlins bullpen by trusting a highly unconventional game plan."

Braves sticking with same roster for NLCS - (MLB.com)
"Top prospect Cristian Pache will once again be available off the bench as the Braves spend this week battling the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series."