Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto wins Silver Slugger; Aaron Barrett the movie + more Nats links...

Juan Soto started the 2020 campaign timing pitches with a bat in his hand in front of his TV as he quarantined following a positive test for COVID-19 before the season opener. Soto did return to the lineup, and he ended up winning the NL Batting title in the 60-game season, a fairly impressive achievement, and now he’s won a Silver Slugger award too. Also, he turned 22 years old earlier this month. Not bad. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Soto wins Silver Slugger:

Nationals outfielder Juan Soto named NL Silver Slugger for 2020 season - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Soto, 22, joins former third baseman Anthony Rendon as the only Nationals players to win a Silver Slugger award over the last three seasons."

Soto wins first Silver Slugger Award of career - (MASN)
"Soto, who just turned 22 last week, won the NL batting title with a .351 average and led the majors in on-base percentage (.490), slugging percentage (.695) and OPS (1.185)."

Nationals sign three to minor league deals:

'King Kong' director now turns the lens on Nationals pitcher – (The Athletic)
"If you thought Nationals pitcher Aaron Barrett’s comeback story was the stuff of movies, you were right."

Barrett, Sanchez, Snyder get spring training invites - (MASN)
"Barrett, who turns 33 in January, has participated in every Nationals spring training since 2011, the year after he was drafted."

Other Nats stories:

Catching market includes one big star, few other options - (MASN)
"That somebody could be a frontline starter who relegates Gomes to the bench. Or it could be somebody who shares the job with Gomes, much as Kurt Suzuki did the last two seasons."

What history says about how aggressive the Nats might be this offseason - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Since the Washington Nationals began their run as perennial postseason contenders in 2012, they have yet to go two straight seasons without making the playoffs."

These are the 2020 Silver Slugger winners - (MLB.com)
"No surprise here, as Soto takes home his first career Silver Slugger after leading the Majors in on-base percentage (.490), slugging percentage (.695) and, obviously, OPS (1.185)."

The Nationals should be busy in free agency. Here's who they could target - (Washington Times)
"After allowing a slew of players to leave (among them: Adam Eaton, Kurt Suzuki and Aníbal Sánchez) Washington has room to operate with 30 players on the 40-man roster, leaving space for a big-name bat or a pitcher who could solidify the back end of the rotation."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Video: Max Scherzer's VA Home Had an Amazing Modern Makeover - (realtor.com®)
"The Washington Nationals star pitcher bought the home in 2015 for $5.2 million, and changed pretty much everything except the prime location overlooking the Potomac River. It's listed at $15 million."

One great moment of the 2020 MLB season for all 30 teams - (ESPN)
"If you had to bet on who the best hitter in the world is right now -- who will be the best hitter in the next day of baseball played, or over the next full season -- you'd have to bet on Juan Soto."

The 5 tiers of this offseason's free agents - (MLB.com)
"[Asdrúbal] Cabrera helped the Nationals win their first World Series in 2019, but his numbers dropped this year. His infield versatility should help him draw interest."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Six free-agent relievers who can be part of Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen remake - (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"The Phillies may need a catcher, shortstop, center fielder, and an entire bullpen. First, though, they must hire a pitching coach and bullpen coach."

We’ve never seen anything like Sandy Alderson’s Mets return - (NY Post)
"Next week, it’s expected, Alderson will be coming back to Queens in a big way — with a promotion to Mets team president, without the owners who had worn him out (and he them) by the end."

Breakout, consistency from Pablo López may have saved 2020 Marlins - (Fish Stripes)
"In 2020, Pablo López proved he’s in the Marlins' starting rotation to stay."

The Braves don’t need much this winter. That’s a good thing - (AJC.com)
"No matter what the Braves do this offseason, they’ll enter 2021 with one of baseball’s best-looking rosters. Keep that in mind."