Good Wednesday Morning Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for  Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Thank you for starting your day with us.

Leading today's Morning Briefing: The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder César Hernández. Yesterday afternoon, the Nationals made their first signing of the offseason by agreeing to a one-year contract with infielder César Hernández.

Hernández, 31, hit a career-high 21 home runs in 149 games between Cleveland and Chicago (AL) in 2021. He ranked among American League switch hitters in home runs (5th, 21), extra-base hits (6th, 44), and slugging percentage (7th, .386). In his ninth Major League season, he hit .232 with 21 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 59 walks, and 84 runs scored. Hernández made 142 starts at second base, seven as a designated hitter, and appeared in one game at shortstop.

Hernández opened the 2021 season with Cleveland before being acquired by Chicago on July 29. He hit five leadoff home runs between the two clubs, tied for seventh-most in Major League Baseball in 2021. His 18 career leadoff home runs are tied for ninth among active Major League players.

Additionally, The Nationals claimed another infielder: Lucius Fox. Fox, 24, hit .245 and posted a .353 on-base percentage with 15 doubles, five homers, 24 RBI, 37 walks, 19 stolen bases, and 43 runs scored in 62 games across three levels of Kansas City’s Minor League system in 2021. He entered the season rated by Baseball America as the №22 prospect in the Royals’ organization. Fox was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on Nov. 19, 2021.

Lastly, the Nationals non-tendered RHP Ryne Harper, RHP Wander Suero, and 1B Mike Ford. The Nationals have tendered contracts to the other unsigned players on the 40-man roster.

Nationals Around Washington D.C. Yesterday, two former Presidents visited a local DC public school that acts as a student Vaccination clinic. Former Presidents Barak Obama Teddy joined Dr. Anthony Facui at Kimball Elementary School, the location for one of DC Public Schools' student vaccination clinics. Here are pictures from the visit.

Latest Free-Agent News. Yesterday, brought a lot of action in the Free agent market with the current CBA about to expire and a lockout more than likely going to happen. Here is a wrap up of all the big free agent signings and news from yesterday:

• The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays are the latest reportedly in contact with 1B Freddie Freeman

• After missing out on Max Scherzer, the Los Angels Angels made a big move yesterday night, by agreeing with closer Raisel Iglesias on a four-year $58 million deal.

• Trevor Story is drawing interest from the Mariners, who want him to play 3B.

• Outfielder Clint Frazier has reportedly signed with the Chicago Cubs for a one-year $1.5 million contract after getting released by the New York Yankees.

• Former Washington Nationals Catcher Yan Gomes signed with the Chicago Cubs on a two-year, $13 million deal.

• The Phillies and Mariners have been connected to Bryant in recent days, and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports that the Rockies are interested as well.

Major League Baseball reportedly used two different baseballs last season per Reports WOW! The big headline, and news that was broke yesterday by Business Insider. According to the article, Major League Baseball reportedly used two different baseballs last season and players claim they had no idea.

MLB confirmed two different balls were used during the 2021 season but claimed it was due to COVID-19 causing production delays, according to Business Insider. “Every baseball used in a 2021 MLB game, without exception, met existing specifications and performed as expected,” the league said in a statement provided to Davis. Later in the Business Insider article, Major League Baseball said that the reason why this might have occurred was because of COVID-19 which created production delays which forced baseball manufacturer Rawlings to reduce capacity at its manufacturing facility. “Rawlings manufactures Major League balls on a rolling basis at its factory in Costa Rica…" Click here to read our wrap-up of the article.

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