Good Saturday Morning, Thank you for starting the weekend with us.

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Today's morning briefing is written by Richard and edited by Jonathan.

Today's Top Story: Ex Washington National and New York Met Daniel Murphy Announces Retirement

Yesterday, Ex Washington National and New York Met Daniel Murphy announced his retirement from baseball after 12 seasons in the majors. Murphy played for Washington for three seasons from 2016 – 2018. During his three seasons with the Nationals, Murphy drove in 226 runs, slugged 54 Home Runs, and hit an impressive .329 in 1,255 at-bats over 342 games. Murphy won the Silver Slugger Award and appeared in the All-Star game with Washington in both 2016 and 2017 and finished as the runner-up to Kris Bryant in the 2016 National League MVP voting.

For most of his career, Murphy was a below-average defender, but at his peak, his bat made him worth having in the lineup every night.
Between 2014 and 2017, Murphy was one of the best pure hitters in the sport, slashing .310/.357/.495. Before playing for the Nationals, Murphy was part of the New York Mets team who reached the World Series in 2015. Firmly established by 2015, Murphy went on the tear that will forever define his career and ensure passionate ovations at Citi Field for the rest of his life. Make no mistake, Murphy earned a place in the pantheon of great Mets.

Click here to read the full article on The Nats Report

Question: What's with all these one-year contracts?

This offseason, we have seen Mike Rizzo fill a significant amount of holes that the Washington Nationals had. Rizzo has done this by signing players for one-year contracts. These one-year contracts got us wondering what is Rizzo thinking? Could the Nationals be saving money for Soto and Turner’s long-term deals while not going into full rebuild mode?

Stay tuned as we will try to answer this very question in the coming days and weeks in our series: Washington Nationals at a Crossroads. ICYMI, we have already taken a closer look at the pitching position.

Grade Time: With Pitchers and Catchers Reporting soon, it's time for our Offseason Report Card.

If all goes according to plan, Pitchers and Catchers will be reporting to West Palm Beach very soon, and the “offseason” will be over, so it’s report card time for Mike Rizzo and Gang. We will be issuing our report card for all the offseason moves that the GM has made and setting the Spring Training scene! We are so excited. We will also take a look at the other NL East teams in our 2021 Season Preview. Make sure that you turn your notifications on because you will not want to miss anything.

League News: Brewers announce 2021 player development staff. Promote First Woman to Minor League Coordinator.

Yesterday, the Milwaukee Brewers announced their 2021 player development staff, and within that announcement, they promoted the first women to become a minor league coordinator.

Sara Goodrum will become the organization's new coordinator making her the first woman in baseball history to serve in the role. Her official title will be Coordinator – Hitting Development Initiatives. Previously, Goodrum played Division I college softball at Oregon before getting a Master's degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Utah. She had worked in the Brewers' sports science lab for going on four years.  Read the full article here.

While you were sleeping: Nolan Arenado and approximately $50 million to the St. Louis Cardinals

The Colorado Rockies are sending five-time All-Star Nolan Arenado and approximately $50 million to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for several prospects, The Athletic reports.  Deal pending approval from both MLB and players’ union; Rockies are sending Cardinals significant cash, believed to be in $50M range, and Arenado will be deferring money.

League News: Ken Griffey Jr. Named Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, tasked to help with youth baseball development.

Yesterday, Major League Baseball and the Commissioner of Baseball announced that Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr will be a senior advisor focusing on baseball operations and youth baseball development and improving diversity at the amateur levels of the game. Since retiring from baseball, Griffey has been involved with Major League Baseball and helped promote various diversity efforts, including suggesting to then commissioner Bud Selig to allow on-field personnel to wear Jackie Robinson's number 42 as part of the celebration.

Click here to read the full article on the Nats Report

League News: Yankees and Major League Baseball Hire Powerhouse Attorneys in Battle Against Staten Island

The fall out of Major League's makeover of the Minor League continues as the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball hire powerhouse attorney John Hardiman, a senior litigator at Sullivan & Cromwell. The lawsuit stems from the Staten Island Yankees suing Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees for breaching their contractual obligations and illegally reneging on promises that the affiliation would continue in perpetuity. Much of the case turns on last September’s expiration of the professional baseball agreement (PBA) between MLB and MiLB. With the PBA expired, the league and big league teams re-established affiliations with 43 minor league clubs.

This reorganization was intended to streamline player development and reduce costs. It also meant losses of jobs for affected clubs, diminishment of local tax revenue, possible breaches of sponsorship deals and dejected fans. Although ousted teams might explore possible opportunities to join independent leagues, the SI Yankees have shut down operations.

The Latest on the Nats Report

• The Carter Kieboom Dilemma: Is Kieboom the Long Term Answer at Third Base?
• No candidates elected to Hall of Fame for 2021 first time since 2013League News: Cactus League Wants to Delay the Start of Spring Training
• MLB & USA Baseball Announce Lineup of Evaluation Showcase & First Ever Baseball Combine
• Special Report: The Homestead Grays and It’s Impact on Washington D.C.
• Free-agent catcher Alex Avila in agreement with Nationals on one-year contract, pending physical (Updated with Contract Numbers)

Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball Headlines

• Cole Henry is one of the #Nats top prospects who you need to know! via Talk Nats
• Washington Nationals' Jon Lester motivated to go for a fourth World Series Ring via Federal Baseball
• Triple Play: Who's the most exciting acquisition for the Nationals? via NBC Sports Washington
• Hailed as a Trailblazer, Kim Ng Stands Alone via the New York Times
• Is Anyone Trying to Win the NL Central? via Sports Illustrated
• Inbox: What's next for Kieboom, Max, Robles? via MLB/Nationals
• Can Ken Griffey Jr. Save Major League Baseball? via Inside Hook