Amanda Comak covers the Washington Nationals for The Washington Times.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 10, 2013 Comments
Major League Baseball announced Thursday that it has reached an agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Union to expand the drug testing program -- including in-season, random and unannounced blood tests for human growth hormone, as well as one designed to catch those abusing testosterone.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 9, 2013 Comments
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was in Puerto Rico on Wednesday scouting veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez, who was pitching for the Criollos de Caguas.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 9, 2013 Comments
On Wednesday, in a conference call, LaRoche expanded on the process that got him to the point where he signed the two-year $24 million deal with an option for 2015. One of the few parts of the negotiation process he shed a little light on was his desire for a no-trade clause.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 8, 2013 Comments
With the Nationals having locked up first baseman Adam LaRoche for the next two seasons, the one real item that seems to be left on their offseason to-do list is finding another left-handed reliever. But the Nationals don't appear to be too worried about their lack of lefties, despite manager Davey Johnson's penchant for having at least two left-hnaders in the bullpen.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 8, 2013 Comments
The Nationals completed one of their primary offseason goals Tuesday when they signed first baseman Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal with a mutual option for the 2015 season. All told, LaRoche will make $24 million in guaranteed money and the Nationals will have the left-handed slugging first baseman under contract until at least Nov. 2014. Here are some of the leftovers from my conversation with LaRoche this afternoon, shortly after he'd passed his physical:
By Amanda Comak — Published January 8, 2013 Comments
The Washington Nationals are fielding serious trade interest in first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse. The interest is significant and from multiple teams. But, despite the fact that he is seemingly without an everyday position, the Nationals are not interested in trading their middle-of-the-order slugger just to get him off their ledger.
By — Published January 8, 2013 Comments
The Washington Nationals' spring training game slate ends on March 28 with their Viera, Fla., finale against the New York Mets. But they'll extend their exhibition season one more day with a game at Nationals Park against the New York Yankees on March 29.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 8, 2013 Comments
In the wake of the Nationals agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with first baseman Adam LaRoche on Tuesday, the Nationals were fielding significant trade interest in first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse, a source said.
By Amanda Comak — Published January 3, 2013 Comments
The Nationals have made 17 official minor league and international signings, per the MLB transaction feed and Baseball America, including several to bolster their infield defense and pitching corps at the upper levels of the minor leagues. Here's a quick rundown of those signings.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 28, 2012 Comments
Another of the Nationals' remaining options for left-handed relief found work elsewhere on Friday with Michael Gonzalez reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 20, 2012 Comments
Two more 2012 Nationals found new homes on Thursday when left-hander Tom Gorzelanny agreed to a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Edwin Jackson was close on what could be a four-year, $52 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 19, 2012 Comments
Many of you might remember a story that ran in our paper last May on Victoria Cabrera, a 13-year-old little girl from Venezuela who was a family friend of Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos. Vicky, as her friends call her, was struggling with a congenital heart defect and the cost of surgery to fix the problem was becoming prohibitive. Here's an update on her and her family.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 19, 2012 Comments
Baseball America released its 2012 Top 10 prospects list for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday morning, and for the first time since 2009, neither Bryce Harper nor Stephen Strasburg finds his name residing at its top. That's just fine with the organization, and Nationals fans, who watched both players help the team to 98 wins this past season.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 18, 2012 Comments
There is one thing both the Nationals and Adam LaRoche can point to as to why the market for LaRoche has been slow to develop and, thus, his desire for more than the Nationals are offering is still apparently somewhat unfulfilled: draft pick compensation.
By Amanda Comak — Published December 15, 2012 Comments
John Lannan agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed, pending a physical.
