Wire Taps: Washington Nationals tender contracts to Juan Soto and Trea Turner; offseason outlook + more...

“The Nationals have tendered contracts to all unsigned players on the 40-man roster,” the club announced last night, “including outfielder Juan Soto and shortstop Trea Turner,” the only two remaining, unsigned, arbitration-eligible players for Washington this winter, both of whom are in line for significant raises (if long-term extensions can’t be worked out). GM Mike Rizzo talked to the Sports Junkies this week. Former GM Jim Bowden has ideas about how the Nats can acquire Kris Bryant. Spoiler: We don’t like it. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Cubs tender deal to Kris Bryant; Nationals tender Juan Soto, Trea Turner - (WaPost)
“The reality, though, is that both Soto and Turner are due for significant raises, and the Nationals otherwise have many needs to address.”

No surprise: Nats tender Soto, Turner - (MLB.com)
"In an expected move, the Nationals tendered contracts to standouts Juan Soto and Trea Turner."

Nationals tender 2021 contracts to Soto, Turner - (MASN)
"The Nationals tonight tendered contracts to Juan Soto and Trea Turner, their only remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible players, in a couple of entirely expected-but-required transactions."

With easy tender decisions, Nats will be watching other clubs - (MASN)
"So that leaves only Soto and Turner. It’s possible the club could finalize one or both players’ salaries before tonight’s deadline, but that seems unlikely given their immense production this season and expected big raises coming their way."

Juan Soto and Trea Turner set for start of cash hauls - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Trea Turner and Juan Soto are arbitration eligible together for the first time. The Nationals need to tender contracts to both before Wednesday's 8 p.m. deadline."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Offseason Outlook: Washington Nationals - (MLB Trade Rumors)
"The Nationals never really got on track in 2020, perhaps because the shortened season didn’t allow them time for the type of turn-around that defined their 2019 championship run."

One virtual Winter Meetings move for each NL team – (The Athletic)
"Jim Bowden - Washington Nationals - Trade right-handed pitcher Cole Henry and outfielder Jeremy De La Rosa to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for third baseman Kris Bryant."

Teams with prospects to make big trades - (MLB.com)
"And let’s not forget: the last time the Nationals traded from their wealth of pitching prospects, in December 2016, they sent Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Dane Dunning to the White Sox for Adam Eaton, a key contributor on Washington’s World Series-winning squad."

Will Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick return to Nats in 2021? - (106.7 the FAN)
"Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was asked during a Tuesday appearance with The Sports Junkies whether he's heard from either Ross or Zimmerman lately."

Hagerstown to continue stadium talks despite loss of Suns-Nationals affiliation - (heraldmailmedia.com)
"Although the Hagerstown Suns no longer have an affiliation with a Major League Baseball team, local officials say talk of a potential new stadium is not over."

Minor league baseball in New York state — where each team currently stands - (auburnpub.com)
"Auburn's partnership with the Washington Nationals, in place since 2011, ended after the 2020 season that was not played due to COVID-19."

NL EAST UPDATES:

What the Braves Can Tell Us About MLB’s Financial Losses in 2020 - (FanGraphs)
"While MLB might claim teams lost money for every game played this season, the Braves are the only club with any amount of transparency regarding their finances, and they didn’t."

Phillies interviewed ‘perceptive, cerebral’ Josh Byrnes for baseball ops job - (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"The Haverford College graduate helped build World Series champions in Boston and Los Angeles and was a GM in Arizona and San Diego."

ZiPS 2021 Projections: New York Mets - (FanGraphs)
"Robinson Canó’s suspension for the 2021 season may be a blessing in disguise from the point of view of the Mets, at least if we trust the second baseman’s ZiPS projection."

3 reasons why Miami Marlins should go after ex-Twins OF Eddie Rosario - (Fish Stripes)
"Acquiring Rosario would get even more people talking about the Marlins as a franchise on the rise without costing any valuable young talent."