Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg makes 2020 debut; Forbes ❤️s Navy Yard + more Nats links...

Stephen Strasburg got his 2020 Grapefruit League debut out of the way on Friday. Carter Kieboom has a mentor as he competes for the third base job in D.C., and the player who’s his main competition for the job is the one doing the mentoring. Forbes hearts the Navy Yard so much. All that and more. And there’s baseball at 1:00 PM today.

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Strasburg Spring Debut:

Stephen Strasburg’s first spring training start wasn’t good, but he got what he wanted - (WaPost)
"For the first time since October, Stephen Strasburg was back on a mound in a real game."

Strasburg: 'It's Spring Training for everybody' - (MLB.com)
"The club had outlined for Strasburg to throw around 30 pitches over two innings. He ended up tossing 35 pitches (22 for strikes)..."

Strasburg sees good and bad in uneven first outing - (MASN)
"Ever the routine-oriented pragmatist, Stephen Strasburg found both good and bad in his first Grapefruit League start - and he took both in stride."

Other Nats Stories:

How have MLB teams fared the year after winning the World Series? Not great - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Washington Nationals have climbed the baseball mountaintop by winning the 2019 World Series. Now the question is whether they can stay there."

Harper makes his pitch for a spot in Nationals bullpen - (MASN)
"[Ryne] Harper might be new to the Nationals, traded from the Twins on Jan. 29 in exchange for minor league right-hander Hunter McMahon, but the 30-year-old who reached the majors for the first time last season is not new to changing teams."

Notes: Limiting 'pen walks; prospect gets degree - (MLB.com)
"Martinez has emphasized to the pitchers the importance of limiting leadoff and two-out walks. Last season, Washington’s bullpen ranked 15th among all teams with an overall 9.8 percent walk rate."

Carter Kieboom has a mentor at spring training: veteran Asdrúbal Cabrera - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Instead of viewing Kieboom as just his competition and doing everything he can to win the job, Cabrera has taken on the role of mentor for the 22-year-old infielder."

Martinez on Cabrera, Zimmerman, Elías and Soto (Nats lose 8-1) - (MASN)
"Much in the same way, veteran infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera has been spending a lot of time in camp mentoring Carter Kieboom, who is getting a chance to seize the regular third base job out of camp."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

A Fan’s Guide To Spring Training In The Palm Beaches - (Forbes)
"For baseball fans looking to catch as much Spring Training action as possible in one location, The Palm Beaches in Florida make it easy with four teams in two stadiums."

Spring Training: Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer looks for adversity - even in Grapefruit League games - (The Palm Beach Post)
"Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young award winner, hates to give an inch during the regular season. But even he can appreciate adversity when it doesn’t count."

A Guide To Navy Yard, Washington D.C.’s Hottest Neighborhood - (Forbes)
"While every Washington D.C. neighborhood, from American University Park to Capitol Hill has its own merits, none is shining brighter than Navy Yard right now."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies’ big signing Zack Wheeler to make his spring debut Saturday - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"Zack Wheeler will make his spring debut for the Phillies on Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin."

Robinson Cano wants to play a full regular-season schedule - (New York Daily News)
"Robinson Cano isn’t preparing for a 130-game season. Even if a compressed schedule would preserve his veteran body for the long haul, he has no interest in setting pint-sized goals..."

Getting to know Marlins prospect JJ Bleday - (MLB.com)
"Eight months after being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, JJ Bleday finds himself in big league camp with the Marlins."

Leadoff: How the Braves' debt grew to $559 million - (AJC.com)
"Financial disclosures filed this week showed the Braves brought in a franchise-record amount of revenue last year, but also showed the team’s growing debt."