Good Saturday Morning, Washington Nationals Fans.
Thank you for starting the weekend with us.
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There is actual Washington Nationals news to report, and it's good. According to reports, the Washington Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman agreed to a one-year $1 Millon contract. "I fully plan on being back," Zimmerman said in a Zoom conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci last July." I've told my family and a bunch of close friends that I can't go out like this." [Click here to read our article]
Steve Mears from Talk Nats.com dives deeper into Ryan Zimmerman's new role in 2021 and how it will affect the Nationals. Click here to read the article; it is worth your time.
Today on the Nats Report. Since the beginning of the offseason, we have looked at many potential free agents and how they can fit into the Washington Nationals roster. Yesterday, we published an article about how Jackie Brandley Jr. would be a fit. Today we published an article about a player who had a higher WAR than JT Realmuto, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Didi Gregorious in the abbreviated 2020 season and is likely to cost less than any of them. Click here to read about this player.
Sports Media News. As we get ready for pitchers and catchers to report, some news will impact the Washington DMV area. According to Brittany Ghiroli of the Athletic, major cuts are coming to the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. According to sources: "MASN is getting rid of its pregame and postgame coverage of both teams, sending a legal document this month to both clubs stipulating that they will have to pay out of pocket if they wanted to continue programming. It’s unknown when the Orioles received their notice, but the Nationals were informed on JJanuary 20 sources say, with just weeks until spring training is tentatively slated to start. The document informed both teams that they would have to individually fund their own pregame and postgame programming, which means talent salaries, truck rentals, rights fees and employing contractors for production, an amount that easily totals in the millions of dollars." [Click here to read the full article Subscription Required]
Additionally, there are reports that NBC Sports Network will shut down at the end of 2021. Sports Business Daily reports that: "NBC has told distributors and some sports leagues that it plans to shut down its NBCSN sports channel by the end of the year. NBC’s most recent affiliate deals with Charter and Dish Network do not include carriage for NBCSN beyond this year, sources said. Plus, sports leagues that have deals with NBC were being told of the changes this week."
The Lost of a Legend. It is pretty well known now about the loss of baseball legend Hank Aaron yesterday. For 19 straight seasons, Aaron’s batting average was between .514 and .669, and he hit between 24 and 47 home runs. It was the 1974 season that saw Aaron smash his way into the national consciousness. On April 8 1974, Hammerin’ Hank, as he was known, crushed a 1-0 pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing over the left-field wall at Fulton County Stadium and broke Babe Ruth’s long-time home run record of 714 home runs in a career. [Click here to read more] Later today, we will be issuing a special report with links from around MLB about Hank Aaron's passing.
The Latest on the Nats Report
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Latest Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball News & Headlines
- Hank Aaron stories from former Washington Nationals’ managers Davey Johnson & Dusty Baker via Federal Baseball
- Davey Johnson out of hospital after COVID-19 treatments, former New York Mets spokesman says via ESPN
- Nationals: Who will be behind the plate in Washington in 2021? via District on Deck
- SEE IT: Nats cutouts in stands for Capitals home opener via NBC Sports Washington
- Coronavirus forces changes to Major League Baseball spring training in Florida via WPTV (NBC West Palm Beach)
- Australian Liam Hendriks on the rise after signing massive Major League Baseball deal via Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Around the NL East
New York Mets
- Mets were hammered by Hank Aaron during his 23-year career via Rising Apple
Miami Marlins
- Marlins, Anthony Bass Agree To Two-Year Deal via MLB Trade Rumors
Atlanta Braves
- The legend of Hank Aaron exists both in and beyond baseball via Talking Chop
Philadelphia Phillies
- Three Things the Phillies Must Do to Contend in 2021 via Phils Nation