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Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,

Some of the news that we are covering today includes:

• C Raudy Read among players headed to minors after Nationals’ first round of cuts
• Soto, always learning, present for 'pen session
• The Nationals once desperately needed an emergency catcher. They don’t have one anymore.
• Jordan Zimmermann thinks less, pitches better: 'Put the fingers down and I’ll just throw it'
• Noah Syndergaard’s Mets technology praise includes dig at ‘cheating’ Astro
• As Astros take verbal abuse in spring training, forgiveness seems too far away

Here are today’s latest Washington Nationals & MLB Headlines and what else you need to know to start your day.

Washington Nationals Headlines

C Raudy Read Among Players Headed To Minors After Nationals’ First Round Of Cuts

The Nationals announced their first round of roster cuts Sunday, sending catcher Raudy Read to Triple-A Fresno and reassigning six non-roster invitees to minor-league spring training: Drew Ward, Jhonatan German, Derek Self, Paulo Espino, Jakson Reetz and Mac Williamson.

None of the moves come as much of a surprise.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

Fedde Impresses, Bullpen Labors, Kieboom Errs Again

Circumstances may have left Erick Fedde in a tough spot to force his way onto the Nationals’ opening day pitching staff, but the right-hander is nonetheless going to do whatever he can to make a positive impression as long as he remains in the running this spring.

Outings like the one he authored today can only help.

Fedde was sharp through three innings against a Tigers lineup featuring plenty of regulars before fading as his pitch count got too high in the fourth, earning praise from Davey Martinez after the 7-5 loss.

“I liked what I saw,” the manager said. “He got a little gassed there at the end. He started losing his legs a little bit. But I liked it. The ball was coming out good. He did well. He really pitched well the first three innings.”

Read the full article via MASN Sports

Soto, Always Learning, Present For 'Pen Session

Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were throwing off the mound Sunday morning when a star player of another type walked into the bullpen.

What was Juan Soto doing in there?

With a helmet on and bat in hand, the left fielder asked if he could stand at the plate while Strasburg went to work. Soto wanted to get a live look at some of baseball’s best pitching as a way to help himself stay in his strike zone. Strasburg agreed.

“That’s how I train my eyes,” Soto said. “I try to take bullpens.

Read the full article via MLB/Nationals

Trea Turner Surprised A Make-A-Wish Kid And His Reaction Was Pure Joy

The Make-A-Wish foundation granted the wish of 7-year-old Nationals fan Drew Snapkoski, sending him and his family down to spring training in West Palm Beach.

Drew has battled leukemia for two years, undergoing chemotherapy and persevering through a series of challenges that few people ever have to face—never mind someone as young as him.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

Around The Horn: News From Around The League

MLB Not Expecting Coronavirus To Cause Delay To Season

Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich report in The Athletic that commissioner Rob Manfred will be having a conference call tomorrow with all team owners about the COVID-19 outbreak. Rosenthal and Drellich report that the league expects the season to proceed as planned.

The conference call is the first time all of the owners and Manfred have spoken together about COVID-19 and their plans for the potential impact of the disease on business. The NBA has advised its teams that they should be prepared to play games without fans in attendance. Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s top baseball league, has been playing its spring training games to empty stands.

Read the full article via NBC Sports

Cardinals Renew Jack Flaherty’s 2020 Contract

The Cardinals have renewed the contract of right-hander Jack Flaherty for the 2020 season, as per a team announcement. Flaherty was the only one of 25 pre-arbitration players on the Cards’ roster who didn’t agree to terms on a contract for the coming season, and thus the team will impose Flaherty’s salary for 2020.

That number will work out to $604.5K, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals’ internal formula for calcuating pre-arb raises based on merit awarded Flaherty some extra money beyond the $563.5K minimum salary for his outstanding numbers in 2019, including a special $10K bonus for his fourth-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting. However, that $10K was canceled out by a $10K penalty that the Cardinals impose on any pre-arbitration player who doesn’t come to an agreement.

Read the full article via MLB Trade Rumors

Noah Syndergaard’s Mets Technology Praise Includes Dig At ‘Cheating’ Astros

A day after cameras focused on Noah Syndergaard throwing — shirtless again — with wires and sensors attached to him, the right-hander tossed three solid innings Sunday in his third start of the Grapefruit League season.

He and the Mets are hoping the advanced technology employed by the organization and new pitching coach Jeremy Hefner can help Syndergaard — and the rest of the staff — be more effective.

Read the full article via New York Post

Adam Haseley, The Quietest Guy In Phillies' Clubhouse, Should Make Strides In 2020

Adam Haseley might be the quietest, most unassuming guy in the Phillies' clubhouse. He comes in every day, puts his head down and goes to work. No frills, no fuss and certainly no calling attention to himself.

Toward the end of his rookie season last year, Haseley made a play that typified his modest demeanor.

It came on Sept. 4 in Cincinnati as the Phillies' postseason hopes were slipping away in an 8-5 loss to the Reds.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Philadelphia

Sean Newcomb Impresses But Braves’ Offense Held In Check In 1-0 Loss To Yankees

Sean Newcomb turned in another solid performance but the Braves’ offense was held in check in a 1-0 loss to the New York Yankees.

The big story for the Braves in this one was their pitching performance, particularly from Newcomb who remains in competition for one of the final spots in Atlanta’s rotation. Newcomb pitched well and was able to induce a couple of key double plays. He allowed three hits and issued his first two walks of the spring but struck out four over four scoreless innings.

Read the full article via Talking Chop

Jordan Zimmermann Thinks Less, Pitches Better: 'Put The Fingers Down And I’ll Just Throw It'

Jordan Zimmermann’s plan was simple but effective.

Before the Detroit Tigers’ 7-5 win Sunday over the Washington Nationals at Fitteam Ballpark, catcher Austin Romine was going through his pitching plan when the veteran right-hander stopped him.

“I said, ‘I’ll tell you what,’ ” Zimmermann said. “‘You just put the fingers down and I’ll just throw it. We’ll see what happens, and if it goes bad it’s your fault.’ ”

Consider Romine off the hook.

Zimmermann allowed one hit and two walks in four scoreless innings. He threw 52 pitches, 36 for strikes.

Read the full article via Detroit Free Press

As Astros Take Verbal Abuse In Spring Training, Forgiveness Seems Too Far Away

One day people will decide the Houston Astros aren’t worth fussing over any more, that there are more worthwhile injustices against which to scrape one’s soul, and that a dude wearing No. 87 who in 2017 was a junior at Middle Tennessee State is probably not deserving of overt ridicule.

That day’s not here yet. Maybe it can’t even be seen from here. These are the vagaries of hitching a person’s frailties — and a game’s conscience, an entire summer’s outrage, a thousand bad decisions — to the horizon.

Read the full article via Yahoo Sports!

Barry Bonds Feels Like MLB Has Given Him 'Death Sentence' With Semi-Exile

Seven hundred and sixty-two home runs. Seven MVP awards, eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Slugger awards and 14 All-Star appearances.

All that and more is on Barry Bonds' incredible résumé. But the Giants legend is not universally celebrated the same way other greats of the game are. He likely won't be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and generally is viewed as somewhat of a black mark on the game.

Read the full article via NBC Sports San Francisco