Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg continues to open up; Carter Kieboom on third base + more Nats links...

Stephen Strasburg is speaking up. Carter Kieboom is still learning. Aníbal Sánchez is ready to go this afternoon. Adam Eaton wants to play better defense. Roenis Elías wants to show who he really is. All that and more below. And there’s baseball on MLB.tv this afternoon. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Kieboom Makes Error:

Kieboom adjusting to game speed at third base (Nats lose 2-1) - (MASN)
"But every game [Carter] Kieboom plays, he is going to be scrutinized more than perhaps any other player in camp."

Kieboom catching up to game speed at third - (MLB.com)
"Kieboom described himself as even-keeled, and he viewed Sunday’s game as just that -- one game."

Strasburg Stories:

Stephen Strasburg is speaking out and his contract terms say plenty, too – (The Athletic)
"But when Boras took out a piece of paper and asked Strasburg what was important to him, the shy star never mentioned money or years."

Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin ramping up slowly after long postseason - (Washington Times)
"Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg will throw at least one more bullpen session before taking the mound in a spring training game."

Other Nats Stories:

Adam Eaton knows his defense ‘wasn’t good’ last season. He’s working on it - (WaPost)
"The takeaway, when he reviewed the season, formed his biggest goal for 2020: Get much better in right field, his primary position, and give the Nationals baseball’s best defensive outfield."

Of the living arrangements at Nationals spring training, David Hernandez’s is the best - (WaPost)
"Established guys rent on their own, especially if they have families and can handle the biggest inconvenience..."

After fiasco of 2019, Elías determined to reveal his true self - (MASN)
"It’s not entirely accurate to say the Nationals never saw the real Roenis Elías last season. 'We saw it,' manager Davey Martinez said. 'The first day. Then after that ...'"

Notes: Aníbal ready for debut; Crowe starts - (MLB.com)
"[Aníbal] Sánchez, who turns 36 years old on Thursday, is now in his 15th Major League season. He went 11-8 with a 3.85 ERA in the 2019 regular season, and 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three playoff starts."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Red Sox, Nationals primed to disappoint in 2020 - (Sports Illustrated)
"The Nationals on paper have enough talent to get back to the postseason. Recent history tells us they may be due for a correction."

1 memorable cult hero from every team - (MLB.com)
"[Tyler] Moore, a 16th-round selection in the 2008 MLB Draft, certainly wouldn’t qualify for that list, but he delivered one of the biggest hits in Nationals postseason history prior to Washington’s march to the title last year."

Keep an eye on these 7 position battles - (MLB.com)
"The Nationals are giving Kieboom, who posted a .303/.409/.493 slash line in Triple-A last season, a chance to replace Anthony Rendon at third base. Cabrera, a 13-year veteran, was re-signed to provide insurance."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Joe Girardi and John Kruk relive their painful introduction - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"One of the first things Joe Girardi brought up during his introductory press conference as Phillies manager back in October was a bittersweet memory about John Kruk."

Mets weren't far off from Nationals' World Series path - (NY Post)
"But as far as the 'defending World Series champion' label goes, Jacob deGrom doesn’t want to put the Nationals too high on a pedestal."

Marlins out to 'make some noise' in 2020 - (MLB.com)
"The future is now for the upstart Marlins in 2020. A quiet confidence is brewing in Spring Training as the organization is ready to transition from building for the future to focusing on more winning in the present."

Fried struggles while Waters, Pache impress vs. Blue Jays - (AJC.com)
"Left-hander Max Fried was roughed up in his first spring start, registering just one out while allowing three runs on three hits in the Braves’ 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays Monday."

Q&A: New Phillies hitting coach Joe Dillon on philosophy, advanced metrics – (The Athletic)
"Joe Dillon didn’t have long to bask in the Washington Nationals’ World Series title."