Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,

Some of the news that we are covering today includes:

• Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo look back at the moments right after the Nationals won the World Series
• Nats' mantra:  'Just focus on the now'
• How a pair of decisions sent two Nationals prospects on divergent paths toward the majors
• How Major League Baseball Is Monitoring The Coronavirus Outbreak
• Inside MLB's Plan to Crack Down on Cheating
• Career revival via Twitter? One former All-Star hopes so

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

Washington Nationals Headlines

Wrapping Up A 3-2 Victory

Joe Ross knows he’s immersed in a battle to be the Nationals’ fifth starter. A few more outings like he had Monday in a 3-2 victory over the Marlins and the right-hander might just lock up the spot he covets.

Emilio Bonifacio played the hero’s role, though it got a little sticky in the bottom of the ninth with the teams knotted at 2-2. Cody Wilson broke for home on what was supposed to be a safety squeeze with Bonifacio batting and was easily tagged out. But Bonifacio stepped back to the plate and delivered a walk-off single to score Brandon Snyder.

Read the full article via MASN Sports

Max Scherzer Blames The Cold For The Nationals Not Living Up To Capitals' Level Of Partying

After winning their first-ever World Series, sure, the Nationals partied. But depending on who you ask, the Nats didn't come close to the level of partying of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Capitals.

Evgeny Kuznetsov famously called out the Nats as looking "pretty sober" during an intermission interview with Al Koken when the Caps honored the World Series champions in their Nov. 3 game, featuring shirtless Zamboni rides and Adam Eaton's T.J. Oshie-style beer-chugging.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

Daniel Hudson, World Series Closer, Still Can’t Forget Being Cut Last Spring

When Daniel Hudson took the mound for his first appearance of spring training, he wasn’t remembering October. He went back further, all the way to early 2019, when he was a nonroster invitee with the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels cut him at the end of spring training, and the pitcher with two Tommy John surgeries wondered if his career might be close to over.

Nearly a year later, on Monday afternoon, he was on the mound as a reigning World Series champion. It was his first appearance since Game 7, when he chucked his glove after the final out, embraced catcher Yan Gomes and ignited the biggest celebration in franchise history. The season that led to that moment revitalized Hudson’s career; earned him a two-year, $11 million contract; and afforded him a sense of security when he didn’t dominate the spring debut: the Miami Marlins tagged Hudson for three hits and two runs.

Read the full article via the Washington Post

Davey Martinez And Mike Rizzo Look Back At The Moments Right After The Nationals Won The World Series

The celebration after winning a World Series is quite hectic.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo were asked about the moments after Washington defeated the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, the first title in team history. Both, as expected, were overblown with emotion.

"It was some emotion. We were emotional," Rizzo said.

At first, winning the title did not fully process for Martinez.

"One, it was an overwhelming feeling, exciting feeling," Martinez told NBC Sports Washington." But two, I sat there and was like, 'We did it!' For me, that was really emotional."

Read the full article via NBC Sports

Washington Nationals Walk Off On Miami Marlins, 3-2 Final: Joe Ross Impresses Again

Joe Ross was up to ten straight batters set down to start the Spring before Miami Marlins’ outfielder Matt Joyce singled with one out in the second inning this afternoon, but Joyce was caught stealing one out later, and Ross worked around a leadoff walk in the third and final inning of work for the Washington Nationals’ 26-year-old right-hander in what ended up being a 3-2 walk-off win.

Ross tossed two scoreless on 23 pitches in his 2020 Grapefruit League debut last week, impressing in his first outing as he competes for the fifth spot in the Nationals’ rotation.

As he told reporters after his initial start this Spring, however, his focus was on the task at hand as opposed to the bigger picture once he started to throw.

Read the full article via Federal Baseball

Other Teams Had Interest In Ryan Zimmerman, But There Was Never A Consideration He Would Leave The Nationals

Ryan "Mr. National" Zimmerman has always made it abundantly clear that he wants to be a National for life. The first-ever draftee by the Nationals in 2005 signed on for his sixteenth season with the only team he's ever known in early February.

But that wasn't before hitting the free agency market first, where he said there was some interest from American League teams.

“Everyone knew I wasn’t gonna sign," Zimmerman said on the Sports Junkies Monday. "But we had probably four or five teams call.”

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

Fate Or Happenstance? On Davey, Dusty And What Ifs That Span Four Decades

Dave Martinez’s first interview with the Astros came in September of 2012. Two years later, after they fired Bo Porter (now a co-host for the Nationals’ pre and post-game shows on MASN), Martinez’s phone rang again.

He was one of five candidates contacted by phone for Houston’s opening in September of 2014, a pool that would later expand to several more. The search was mostly due diligence. The Astros had targeted A.J. Hinch, who they tried to hire before Porter but were turned down. Still, as the list whittled down to three names, Martinez and Torey Lovullo warranted serious consideration as the other two finalists.

Read the full article via The Athletic

Mike Rizzo On Playoff Expansion: ‘I Don't Know How It Could Get More Exciting Than It Was Last Year’

Major League Baseball is reportedly interested in expanding the field of playoff teams from 10 to 14, but count Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo among those who aren’t crazy about the idea.

“I like the smaller, two Wild Cards [format],” Rizzo told the Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan on Monday morning. “I like it the way it is. I don’t know how it could get more exciting than it was last year. I guess getting more teams involved at the end, playing for something, is important.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

Around the Horn: News from Around the League

Inside MLB's Plan To Crack Down On Cheating

The cleanup in baseball is about to begin. In the wake of the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, Major League Baseball is informing clubs about planned in-game protocols to bar non-uniformed personnel from the clubhouse, close video rooms, turn off all live video feeds except for the replay review monitor, and crack down on the use of “engineered” substance mixtures by pitchers specifically designed to create more spin, not just a better grip—all under the threats of suspensions or firings.

No final decisions have been made. MLB is working with the players association to establish enhanced protocols by Opening Day. Special assistant to the commissioner Joe Torre and Senior Vice President Chris Young have been telling teams to prepare for the crackdowns while they visit staffs in Arizona and Florida.

Read the full article via Sports Illustrated

How Major League Baseball Is Monitoring The Coronavirus Outbreak

As the novel coronavirus outbreak expands across the globe and nears pandemic, sports leagues in North America are bracing for its impacts.

According to a high-level executive at Major League Baseball that spoke to me on background, the league is monitoring the situation.

Read the full article via Forbes

Phillies Fan Charles Barkley Says Anthony Rendon ‘Made My Life Miserable The Last Few Years’

When Anthony Rendon was in D.C. quietly putting up quality seasons year after year, Nationals fans heralded him as one of the most underrated players in baseball.

There was one man who did take notice, however. NBA Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley was invited to visit the Angels’ spring training complex in Arizona by manager Joe Maddon on Monday. He met with several players, including Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Rendon.

Read the full article via NBC Sports Washington

David Price Makes Spring Debut For Dodgers

David Price felt a rush of nervous energy leading up to Monday. Acquired by the Dodgers last month from the Red Sox, he made his first spring training appearance for Los Angeles.

Price allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings during a 6-2 loss to the Reds with three strikeouts and two walks.

"It's been a while since I faced hitters wearing a different jersey," the 34-year-old left-hander said. "It's the first time I've been in a game in six, almost seven months. My legs were shaking out there. It's just, if you love what you do, you're definitely going to have nerves. It was fun. I definitely enjoyed it, getting back out there."

Read the full article via ESPN

Why This Year’s Trade Deadline Could Be Wild

Here on the back fields of the Indians’ player development complex, Francisco Lindor was seemingly safe from all the conversation about his free-agent future, his trade value and his agent’s discussions with the Indians about a long-term extension. Here below the high sky, in the midst of live batting practice, all that talk of money and markets could take a back seat to baseball itself.

That is, until Lindor fouled back a pitch, and the ball smashed the (expensive) Trackman radar device set up behind the plate.

“You know what?” manager Terry Francona quickly joked. “There goes that contract.”

Read the full article via MLB

Jose Bautista Eyeing Return As Two-Way Player

It’s been more than three months since Jose Bautista made it known that he had no plans to officially retire. There’s been virtually nothing mentioned about him since that time, but ESPN’s Jeff Passan now reports that the 39-year-old Bautista has been working out as a pitcher this winter in hopes of a return as a two-way player. Bautista plans to play for the Dominican Republic in this month’s Olympic qualifier tournament, though he might not pitch in that setting.

Bautista’s accomplishments at the plate are well known, of course. He emerged from journeyman prospect status to Blue Jays stalwart and feared All-Star slugger with a 2010 season that saw him rip a league-leading 54 homers. That kicked off a run of six straight All-Star appearances and helped to bring about the “Joey Bats” moniker that followed him throughout his career. From 2010-16, Bautista raked at a .264/.387/.542 clip, averaging 36 homers per season. His 2015 ALDS bat flip after a go-ahead, three-run homer against the Rangers stands out as one of the more iconic moments in Blue Jays franchise history.

Read the full article via MLB Trade Rumors

Bryant’s Mic’d Up AB: ‘Oh My God, Oh My God’

Ever wonder what it's like to be in the batter's box facing Major League pitching? 95-mph fastballs, Hell-dropping curveballs, mind-numbing changeups?

Most of us won't get the opportunity -- either because we're too scared or not very good at baseball -- but thanks to a mic'd up at-bat by Kris Bryant during Spring Training on Monday, we were able to get a good feel for it.