Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ prospects impressing in Spring Training + Spring monotony + more Nats links...

How did you do getting through that Spring Training off day yesterday? Don’t worry, there’s going to be Nationals baseball tonight, and the weather in West Palm Beach looks fine, so if you’re desperate for game action, you only have to wait until 6:05 PM EST tonight. Just stay strong. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Off Day Talk:

The Nationals wage war on spring training monotony with hockey, cooking and polar plunges - (WaPost)
"Other than honing skills, the primary objective of spring training is to battle monotony."

Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer help younger Nationals pitchers - (Washington Times)
"Stephen Strasburg chatted by his locker early in spring training with Wil Crowe - just a World Series MVP and a non-roster invitee for the Washington Nationals plopping themselves on a pair of folding chairs to talk shop during camp’s ample idle time."

Adam Eaton thinks Nationals could have league’s best defensive outfield - (NBC Sports Washington)
"In Eaton’s case, he failed the eye test, the metric test and his personal satisfaction test while he watched his young teammates learn and excel after daily work."

Victor Robles was picked apart at the plate last postseason. He’s countering with a new swing - (WaPost)
"Washington Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long is fine-tuning the swing of Victor Robles."

Focused Rainey won't assume Nationals bullpen job is his - (MASN)
"Every time manager Davey Martinez or general manager Mike Rizzo outline their plans for the Nationals bullpen, they include hard-throwing right-hander Tanner Rainey."

Prospect Talk:

Pipeline Q&A: Nats prospect Jackson Rutledge - (MLB.com)
"I think the biggest takeaway for me was learning the routines, learning the in-and-outs of every day, going to the field, taking care of stuff in the clubhouse, taking care of stuff pre-game, post-game, learning from the guys who’ve been around a little bit more than I have."

Who's having most impressive spring for Nats? - (MLB.com)
"Below is a breakdown of guys who received at least one vote in our clubhouse poll consisting of seven players..."

Nationals Spring Training prospect report - (MLB.com)
Camp standout - Looking around big league camp, it’d be easy to forget that [Luis] Garcia is still only 19 years old. Much like with Soto and Robles, he carries himself with a confidence that belies his years."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Nats' World Series trophy gets its day on Capitol Hill - (Roll Call)
"The Washington Nationals may have won their first World Series title five months ago, but their trophy finally made its rounds at the Capitol on Wednesday."

Who might the Red Sox trade for to fill the injured Chris Sale’s spot? – (The Athletic)
"Between Voth and Ross, Voth is a more promising fit for the Red Sox rotation."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies like what these players are showing - (MLB.com)
"It is one thing to hear a manager or general manager say whom has impressed them this spring. It is something entirely different to hear whom a player has been impressed by."

Mets' J.D. Davis hits for first time since shoulder scare - (NY Post)
"J.D. Davis is back into baseball workout mode, just over a week after a hard landing on his left shoulder put a scare into the player and the Mets."

Notes: Villar hits HR vs. O's; Smith building up - (MLB.com)
"On Wednesday afternoon, the 28-year-old gave a long-distance message to his former club. In the fifth inning, Villar connected on a two-run home run to right-center in the Marlins’ 5-3 loss to the Orioles at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium."

‘It’s all good’ for Braves manager Brian Snitker - (AJC.com)
"Snitker, 64, has never been more secure in his post. Soon after the Braves reported for spring training the team announced an extension of Snitker’s contract through 2021."