Wire Taps: Washington Nationals commit to paying full-time employees through May 31; Sean Doolittle & Grateful Dead glove + more Nats links

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was the first (we think) to report on Thursday that the Nationals were joining a number of other MLB teams in announcing that they would guarantee pay for their full-time employees while Washington and the rest of the baseball world wait for word that it’s safe to start playing games again.

After the news from Rosenthal’s Twitter feed, you’ll find links to some stories on the defending World Series champs and the NL East. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals commit to paying full-time employees through May 31 - (WaPost)
"By making that decision, with exactly one week left in April, the Nationals joined a majority of the major leagues."

Reports: Nationals assure full-time employees of pay through May 31 - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Athletic reported that the Nationals issued an internal memo Monday that told employees, 'Over the coming days, we will continue to work on plans for May and communicate those decisions to the staff.'"

Prospect Luis Garcia will have a giant influence on the Nationals’ future - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Garcia could be the next round of inexpensive success the Nationals use to pay other people."

Nats' star Ryan Zimmerman's AP diary: Memories of day games - (Washington Times)
"For me, especially for day games, you can’t recreate walking through the tunnel — the sound, the sight, the feel."

Sean Doolittle wants Max Scherzer to do a strikeout strut all the way into the outfield - (NBC Sports Washington)
"'So Max, if you’re listening, I want you to circle the mound after a strikeout and go all the way into the outfield. I think that would be hilarious.'"

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

The Best Bunts, and Bunters, of 2019 - (Fangraphs)
"Victor Robles and Adam Eaton are menaces in the Nationals’ lineup."

Nationals announce 'Get Shift Done' program that will pay displaced hospitality workers - (wusa9.com)
"A new program in the DMV is giving people laid off due to coronavirus a chance to earn some money and help feed hungry families at the same time."

Here's the prettiest swing in every team's history - (MLB.com)
"Going back to the franchise's years in Montreal, [Vladimir] Guerrero dominated with a unique approach to his swing -- he didn’t wear batting gloves."

Scott Boras: How MLB could return from coronavirus in ‘functional isolation’ - (nj.com)
"Scott Boras thinks MLB could return soon from its coronavirus hiatus and he provided a rough sketch on how it could happen Wednesday."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Chase Utley Slid His Way Into Our Hall Of Pretty Damn Good Players - (FiveThirtyEight)
"This week’s inductee won’t be eligible for voting until the 2024 ballot, but his conventional odds are even longer — our model gives former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley a mere 22 percent Hall of Fame probability."

Wilpons' plan to sell Mets still doesn't include SNY - (NY Post)
"The Wilpons are still interested in selling the money-losing Mets, but they are still not interested in selling money-making SNY, their regional sports network, sources tell The Post."

Dontrelle Willis transition from pitcher to broadcaster - (MLB.com)
"From the moment he first stepped on a big league mound, Dontrelle Willis had a made-for-television appeal. You saw it in his smile, and in his style."

Leadoff: Glavine hopes baseball returns this year 'in different way'" - (AJC.com)
"Tom Glavine still hopes to see Major League Baseball games played this year. But he doesn’t expect to see them return as they used to be."