Good Morning. And welcome to the Nats Report Morning Briefing. Thank you are starting the day with us.
Today's Top Stories: Welcome to Rochester, New York Home of the Triple-A Washington Nationals Affiliate & New York Mets' Robinson Cano banned for 2021 MLB season because of Performance-Enhancing Substances.
Here are the latest Washington Nationals and MLB Headlines for Friday, November 20, 2020
Washington Nationals Headlines
On Thursday, November 19, 2020, the Washington Nationals were able to eliminate a significant headache that the team has been dealing with for two seasons now, having their Triple-A affiliate team in the same time zone.
Over the past two years, the Washington Nationals Triple A team was located in Fresno, California, which created headaches, including layovers, red-eye flights, and so many more. All these headaches were all eliminated on Thursday when Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted that he secured a commitment from the Washington Nationals to ensure their new aaa affiliate would be the Rochester Red Wings, which would keep Red Wings in Rochester, New York. This news was also reported by Justin Murphy and Sean Lahman from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. [Read our full article here]
Additionally, during the week, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a Major League contract with left-handed pitcher Sam Clay on Wednesday. Sam Clay, who is 27, joins the Washington Nationals after seven seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization. He was a member of the Twins' 60-player pool during the 2020 season but did not appear in a game.
Yesterday, ESPN announced their broadcast schedule for Opening Day 2021, which included the Washington Nationals hosting the New York Mets on April 1, 2021. [Read the full article via ESPN here]
Additional Washington Nationals Headlines & News
- Do You Believe it? Howie Kendrick via The Nats Report
- The Fresno Experiment is thankfully over for Nationals via NBC Sports Washington
- It's that time again: Rule 5 draft protection deadline is upon us! via Talk Nats
- Homers mashed & marked at Nationals Park via MLB/Nationals
- Nationals' 2021 opener selected to be nationally televised via NBC Sports Washington
- Should a leadoff hitter be on the Nats' shopping list? via MASN Sports Washington
- The Nationals have been forgotten by baseball. Don't expect that to last via the Washington Post
- Washington Nationals: Yasmany Tomas an intriguing lottery ticket via Call to the Pen
- Washington Nationals' prospects Nick Banks & Cole Freeman among Rule 5 eligible players this winter via Federal Baseball
Around the Horn: News From Around MLB
In Major League Baseball News this week, New York Met's Robinson Cano was banned for the 2021 major league baseball season because he tested positive for performance-enhancing drug stanozolol. Jeff Passan of ESPN has the details.
The article mentions that this quote is the second PED suspension for Cano, 38, who missed 80 games in 2018 after testing positive for a diuretic while with the Seattle Mariners. A second positive test results in an automatic 162-game suspension, according to the joint drug agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association. Cano will forfeit his $24 million salary end quote.
In a statement released by the New York Mets, President Sandy Alderson stated that quote we were extremely disappointed to be informed about Robinson's suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The violation is very unfortunate for him, the organization, our fans, and the sport. The Mets fully support MLB's efforts toward eliminating performance-enhancing substances from the game end quote. There was no immediate comment from Cano or the players' union. [Read the full ESPN article]
Other Major League Baseball Headlines and News
- Three David Peterson Stats to Watch in 2021 via Mets Merized Online
- 2021 BBWAA HALL OF FAME BALLOT via Baseball Hall of Fame
- Pete Rose: Betting on baseball was 'the only mistake I've ever made in my life' via USA Today
- Report: Theo Epstein 'Has Had Eyes' on Padres; Would 'Love' MLB Ownership Role via Blecher Report
- Editorial: Major League Baseball's risk is Richmond's gain — if the city and region have good sense via Richmond.com
- You're the GM: Should Dodgers pursue Trevor Bauer to solidify dominance after winning World Series? via Yahoo Sports