Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto gets second negative test result; Nats’ series with Miami Marlins postponed + more...

What was the biggest Washington Nationals-related story on Tuesday? Was it Juan Soto’s second negative test for COVID-19? Was it that Nats’ players voted against traveling to an acknowledged coronavirus hot spot for the weekend series with the Miami Marlins? Was MLB’s decision to postpone that series the biggest story? How about the Nationals’ fourth loss in five games this season? Take your pick. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Juan Soto Updates:

Soto receives another negative test result, now waiting on MLB and D.C. - (MASN)
"Nationals manager Davey Martinez had good news regarding the health of outfielder Juan Soto, who has been away from the team since July 23..."

Juan Soto receives second negative COVID-19 test, awaits clearance from MLB and DC - (NBC Sports Washington)
“'We did get another result back today, he tested negative and now we’re waiting for him to be cleared by MLB and the D.C. Department of Health,' Martinez said."

Marlins Series Postponed:

Nationals' Davey Martinez says MLB 'did the right thing' postponing series with Marlins - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Davey Martinez approves of Major League Baseball’s decision to postpone this weekend’s series with the Miami Marlins."

Nationals players vote against traveling to Miami to play Marlins - (Washington Times)
"In a team survey, the 'vast majority' of Washington Nationals players voted against traveling to Miami this weekend for a scheduled three-game series against the Miami Marlins, The Athletic and other outlets reported.

Nats learning that the coronavirus sets the terms, and the terms are constantly shifting - (WaPost)
“The 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday evening would have been chaotic if not for the two solid truths with this baseball season...”

Reports: Nationals players vote against traveling to Miami for Marlins series - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Manager Davey Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo led the meeting and organized the vote, per Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein."

Washington Nationals Won't Play Miami After Marlins' COVID-19 Outbreak - (DCist)
"With more Miami Marlin players reportedly testing positive, meaning essentially half of their team has coronavirus, the team’s season is now being paused, Major League Baseball confirms."

Actual Baseball:

Roark's curveball helps confuse former team as Blue Jays sweep Nats - (MASN)
"In his first start at Nationals Park since Sept. 5, 2018, right-hander Tanner Roark beat his former team as the Blue Jays dropped the Nats 5-1, sweeping the two-game series."

Nationals slog through another loss to Blue Jays - (MASN)
"There’s no delicate way to put this: The Nationals are a listless bunch on the baseball field right now. It’s perfectly understandable, given the circumstances."

5 games in, Nats need to 'just have some fun' - (MLB.com)
"The Nationals' 2019 championship run was filled with so many organic, uplifting moments. How many teams can say they have a 'Baby Shark' etching inside their World Series rings?"

NATIONAL(S) BEAT (SUBTITLE - NATS ON TMZ):

Washington Nationals Refuse to Travel to Miami for 3-Game Series, COVID Concerns - (TMZ Sports)
"The Washington Nationals players have VOTED against traveling to Miami to play a 3-game series with the Marlins in the wake of a COVID outbreak ... and ya gotta wonder, is this a wrap for MLB?!"

Nationals vote shows distrust over MLB handling of COVID-19 outbreak - (Yahoo!Sports)
"The reigning champion Washington Nationals signaled on Tuesday that there’s growing dissension among the player ranks over MLB's handling of safety during the coronavirus pandemic."

MLB coronavirus timeline: Marlins, Phillies, Juan Soto and more - (Yahoo!Sports)
"Major League Baseball is currently torn between two ideas — offering fans a bit of normalcy with a 60-game season; and trying to keep its players safe and healthy amid a pandemic."

Nationals vote not to play Marlins in Miami - (Sports Illustrated)
"So as the Nats trickled into the clubhouse after batting practice on Monday, they found GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez waiting for them, someone familiar with the conversation tells SI."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies shut down until Friday, when they'll host team barred from playing in home country - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"No game in New York on Wednesday. Ditto for Thursday. This means the Phillies’ entire home-and-home series against the New York Yankees has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns."

Bruce Maxwell deal with Mets - (MLB.com)
"Catcher Bruce Maxwell, who made headlines in 2017 when he kneeled during the national anthem in Oakland, was finalizing a Minor League deal on Tuesday to join the Mets..."

MLB suspends Marlins’ season after coronavirus outbreak - (The Palm Beach Post)
"The Miami Marlins’ season was suspended by Major League Baseball amid an outbreak of COVID-19 cases that resulted in 15 players and two staff members testing positive from Friday to Tuesday, the league announced Tuesday afternoon."

d'Arnaud, Flowers close to return to Braves - (MLB.com)
"Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers both worked out in the Atlanta area on Tuesday."