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Juan Soto finished the 60-game 2020 COVID campaign with the highest batting average in the National League (.351; which was the 2nd-highest in the majors), MLB’s top OBP, (.490), highest SLG (.695), highest wOBA (.478), highest wRC+ (200), fifth-most walks (41), and the highest BB% (20.9%) in the 47 games he played and the 196 plate appearances he made, after starting up late following a positive test for COVID-19 on the morning of the season opener. He did not finish in the top three in the voting for the NL’s MVP. He was on a bad team. He was pretty darn good. So were the three finalists. Discuss.
Go read your links...
NATS BEAT:
No shortage of free agent outfielders for Nats to consider - (MASN)
"Rank the Nationals’ most significant needs this winter and there’s no debate what tops the list: a big bat."
Washington Nationals' World Series favorite, 'Baby Shark,' breaks record for most views on YouTube - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The anthem of the Nationals World Series team has now set a record of its own."
Where the Nats' payroll stands as the offseason begins - (MASN)
"First, a reminder that the Nationals’ opening day 2020 payroll was $176 million. Sort of. That’s how much they would have paid their players if the season was 162 games."
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) November 3, 2020
Juan Soto isn't an NL MVP finalist, but he'll have plenty more chances in the future - (Washington Times)
"What Juan Soto did in 2020 showed how much of a generational talent the 22-year-old is."
Nationals free agency hunt: Robbie Ray - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Options abound for the Nationals -- and everyone else -- as they moved forward in free agency."
Juan Soto left out of National League MVP finalists - (NBC Sports Washington)
"A final indignation was bestowed on the Nationals’ 2020 season Monday night when no one from the organization was among the BBWAA awards finalists."
Scialabba on instructional league, Cavalli's progress - (MASN)
“'It was a great camp. Obviously, very thankful that we had support from ownership to allow us to have this camp. It was really crucial for all these players to get on the field...'" - Mark Scialabba
Quade Tomlin was lifting weights this summer when he got a text from Ryan Thomas, the director of minor league operations for the #Nats who invited him to instructs. “I was nervous going into it but very excited to get my pro career started,” Tomlin told @federalbaseball today.
— David Driver (@DaytonVaDriver) November 3, 2020
MLB team owners approve John Angelos to succeed his father as official in charge of Orioles, per sources - (Baltimore Sun)
"The club has long had a strained relationship with MLB, owing partly to a continuing disagreement with the league and the Washington Nationals over how much the Orioles' television network owes the Washington team in television broadcast rights."
Top 25 free agents, contract predictions, best fits 2020 – (The Athletic)
"Justin Turner - I’d be surprised if he doesn’t return to Los Angeles, but there are certainly other contending teams he could really help, including the Washington Nationals..."
NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
Zack Greinke Rates As MLB’s Best Shot At 300 Wins, Says New Bill James Handbook - (Forbes)
"The only other starter given more than a 10% shot by the Bill James prognosticators is Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals."
MLB team owners approve John Angelos to succeed his father as official in charge of Orioles, per sources - (Baltimore Sun)
"The club has long had a strained relationship with MLB, owing partly to a continuing disagreement with the league and the Washington Nationals over how much the Orioles' television network owes the Washington team in television broadcast rights."
Top 25 free agents, contract predictions, best fits 2020 – (The Athletic)
"Justin Turner - I’d be surprised if he doesn’t return to Los Angeles, but there are certainly other contending teams he could really help, including the Washington Nationals..."
NL EAST UPDATES:
Philadelphia Phillies can afford to keep J.T. Realmuto, but they can afford to lose him, too - (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"If the Phillies want to keep Realmuto, it is going to cost them dearly, and it should. He is a five-tool player at a position that seldom produces five-tool players."
James McCann could solve Mets' catcher horrors in MLB free agency - (NY Post)
"After declining the $10 million option for Wilson Ramos, the Mets are left with just Tomas Nido, Patrick Mazeika and Ali Sanchez as catchers on their 40-man roster."
Lewis Brinson and Marlins front office staff fed the polls today in Liberty City and Little Havana. #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/nvXtWvinKQ
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) November 3, 2020
MLB Team Roundup: Atlanta Braves - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Things didn’t end the way the Braves hoped, as they were eliminated by the Dodgers in seven games in the NLCS, but they won the NL East for the third straight year..."