Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ free agent targets; Sean Doolittle decision; Jim Hickey stories + more...

Has Sean Doolittle thrown his last inning in relief for the Nationals? He’s set to become a free agent for the first time this winter. Doolittle said he plans to spend in Seattle, WA at Driveline, working to get healthy after he struggled with injuries and his mechanics in a frustrating 2020 campaign.

“I’ve just been thinking about how incredibly grateful I’ve been to be a part of this group, to win a World Series with this organization and this group of people,” Doolittle told reporters in late September.

“Not just my teammates, my teammates are amazing, you guys know I love my teammates, but like the people here in the organization, the medical staff, the trainers, the strength coaches, the whole coaching staff, the support staff that we have back there in the clubhouse, winning a World Series with them and then grinding out a weird 2020 with those people, there’s not another group that I would have wanted to do that with, so it’s been a privilege.”

Will Doolittle be back? We don’t know. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

After difficult year, Sean Doolittle faces uncertain future - (MASN)
"There were concerns about Doolittle even before he took the mound for his first official appearance of the season."

Will expanded postseason stay after two best teams reach World Series? - (NBC Sports Washington)
"However, the end provides a seven-game series between the two teams with the best records in their leagues: Tampa Bay plays eternally favored Los Angeles beginning Tuesday night."

A closer look at Jim Hickey's coaching philosophy - (MASN)
"New Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey brings to the table a ton of experience, from the minor leagues to the majors."

Three free agents to watch in the World Series - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals will be watching the series not just for the baseball, but for prospective free agents."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Rankings: The all-time roster of each MLB team - (Axios)
"Stephen Strasburg became just the third pitcher (Randy Johnson, Francisco Rodríguez) to earn five wins in a single postseason last October, but he's the first to go a perfect 5-0."

College Podcast: Wake Forest's Tom Walter, Kevin Jordan Talk New Venture- (Baseball America)
"'Get in the Game' has been around just a few months at this point, but already, it's off and running. The program has partnered with three North Carolina schools and the Washington Nationals academy in Washington, D.C."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Analysis: Braves season was success and failure, but should be remembered fondly in time - (AJC.com)
"The Braves' season is a failure if viewed through a black-and-white lens. With added context, it’s hard to sit here the day after Game 7 and consider this team a bust."

MLB free agency: How big will J.T. Realmuto's payday be and where will it come from? - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"This is the most important and fascinating on-field issue facing the Phillies this offseason."

Analyzing the Mets' payroll situation for 2021 and beyond - (SNY/Yahoo!Sports)
"The Mets, coming off a disappointing 2020 season and with Steve Cohen set to take over as owner (pending MLB owner approval) will be one of the most interesting teams to watch during the offseason."

Ranking best, worst Marlins trades/signings from the Michael Hill era - (Fish Stripes)
"Overall, the Marlins posted a .442 winning percentage over the last seven seasons, which ranks third-lowest in the majors."