Good Morning Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for March 9, 2022. Thank you for starting your day with us.

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Leading this Morning's Briefing: Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV + If there is a season (I will get to that in a few minutes) it looks like we might be enjoying Friday Night baseball on Apple TV +. Yesterday, at their annual Apple Event, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple and MLB have entered into an agreement to broadcast two Friday night baseball games. From the press release: "Apple and MLB will also provide enhanced league and team coverage for fans to easily follow the league or their favorite teams in Apple News, with the ability to watch highlights right in the News app. Fans will be able to watch marquee games on Friday nights, free from local broadcast restrictions, across devices where Apple TV+ can be found, including on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K and HD, and on tv.apple.com, along with select smart TVs, gaming consoles, and cable set-top boxes. “Friday Night Baseball” will be available on Apple TV+ — and, for a limited time, without the need for a subscription." Click here to read the full article.

Could we have a Deal today to start the 2022 season? According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, yesterday's negotiation session lasted 16hours! Yeah, that's a long time. According to Nightengale late last night, MLB submitted a written proposal to the union. Some of the details of that proposal include Luxury tax: $230 million that escalates to about $242 million; Minimum salary: $700,000 that escalates to about $770,000 and a Pre-arbitration pool: $40 million. The MLBPA is expected to soon deliver a written response to MLB’s offer. Make sure that you follow the Nats Report on Twitter for the latest. We will have all the news that you need if and when a deal is reached to re-start the 2022 season.

MLB Launches Fund For Spring Training Workers Impacted By Canceled Games. After the MLBPA announced last week that they have created a fund for stadium workers along with the AFL-CIO, yesterday, MLB announced that they are launching a fund for Spring Training workers who are impacted by canceled games. From the press release: "Funds will be issued by clubs based on individual needs and will be available to part-time and seasonal workers, including concession workers, grounds crew, security, clubhouse operators, general ballpark operators, and game operators." Click here to read the full article.

The Nats Report has covered this issue extensively on the site. Read the article on how the lockout would impact stadium workers here in Washington D.C. and around the country.

Goodbye Bear... It looks like Aaron Barrett, a member of the Nationals organization since 2010, is joining the Phillies on a minor-league deal. According to Todd Zolecki who is Phillies beat writer for MLB.com, the Phillies have signed RHP Aaron Barrett to a minor-league deal. The right-hander snapped his arm back in July of 2015 and has been working his way back to the major's ever since. Barrett was signed back in 2010 and was supposed to be part of the Nationals bullpen that year and beyond, however, a bunch of injuries changed his fate with the team. Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post back in 2019 profiling Barrett's injury history.

Reading While you wait...

• Sizing up the National League East 2022: Atlanta Braves; the World Series Champions Read the full article here.
• Sizing up the National League East 2022: The New York Mets Read the full article here.
• Five Nationals Prospects Who Contribute This Season Read the full article here.
• Perspective: What to make of the Juan Soto Contract Talks and What’s Next. Read the full article here.
• Are you the Ultimate Ryan Zimmerman fan? Take our quiz to see how much Take the quiz today.
• Analysis of Ryan Zimmerman's 2009 Underrated Season of the Century Read the full article here.
• Top Five Favorite Food Options at Nationals Park Read the full article.
• So You Think You Know The Washington Nationals: The Managers Take the quiz today.

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