Yesterday, the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga penned a lengthy but must-read column on the dysfunction that has arisen within the Nationals’ clubhouse, including a heated incident between Jayson Werth and manager Matt Williams. As the Post’s James Wagner wrote last night, Williams briefly commented on the column prior to his team’s game, though he offered little beyond the fact that perhaps the whole story wasn’t told. “I think you have to have all the facts. I mean, all of them,” the manager said. “That being said, I’ll hold my comments for now because all of the facts aren’t out there. It doesn’t feel good to have all of these words said. But, it is what it is and we move on from today. I would say that we have a few games to play and we need to play. That’s what I’m concentrating on now, and we’ll deal with it at the appropriate time.”
A few more late-season notes on what looks like a soon-to-be-changing Nationals roster…
- Jordan Zimmermann has most likely made his final start with the Nationals, writes Wagner in a second column. Zimmermann himself acknowledged the strange reality that he may be with a new team next year, admitting that it weighed on his mind a bit in the days leading up to last night’s start. Zimmermann noted that any team will “have a shot” in free agency and it remains to be seen if the Nats will come calling. He sounded like a man not expecting to return, however, telling Wagner, “I made some great friends along the way. I’m going to miss these guys.” Teammates Wilson Ramos, Gio Gonzalez and Ian Desmond all offered the utmost praise for Zimmermann, with Ramos saying, “It’s pretty hard. I want that guy on this team,” and Gonzalez referring to his longtime rotation-made as a “…bulldog, a workhorse, a top-of-the-rotation son of a gun.”
- Doug Fister will also probably be with a new team in 2016, as the Post’s Chelsea Janes writes. Though he struggled in 2015 and was eventually demoted to the bullpen, Fister doesn’t feel that the move to the bullpen is permanent. “I still think I have a starting role somewhere, whether it’s here or somewhere else,” he explains to Janes. The two sides discussed a contract extension at one point in the past, per Janes, but even a qualifying offer now may seem too risky a proposition for the Nats. Fister says he feels no regret over not signing a multi-year deal previously and hasn’t given much thought to free agency just yet, with the exception of the fact that he’d like to sign somewhere that will give him an opportunity to return to the rotation.
- Matt den Dekker has reworked his mechanics at the plate, writes MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, leading to greater success in his latest recall from Triple-A and perhaps helping him factor into the team’s 2016 plans. According to den Dekker, he’s added a leg kick which helps his timing and pitch recognition. Williams praised den Dekker’s ability to play all three outfield positions and the power he’s shown in 2015. As the manager notes, the Nats’ lineup is very right-handed, so den Dekker’s left-handed bat could be of use going forward.
If not for Harper the Nationals would be unwatchable.
This off season will be an interesting one for them. If they want any shot of keeping Harper they have to let him be involved in choosing the next manager.
That is just crazy to even say that. You act like Harper is the gob of baseball and it centers around him. Got news for you. There are 39 other players on the team and other coaches that also matter. You need to leave the GM job up to the GM and owners as it is there money and expertise that you dont have.
Harper has gone on record praising Williams.. So, if they want to keep Harper happy why not just keep Williams? I am sure the Mets would appreciate it quite a bit..
Yes, Harper praised Williams, but the praise was more descriptive of a personal batting coach than a team manager. Harper’s young, he’ll get over it.
Sure let a 22 Year with and ego the Size of Grand Canyon choose the Manager, The Kid’s a Player not an evaluator of potential Managers , The Nat’s are Still going to lose him 2018 , Yankees are circling like Vultures.
would not discount the Dodgers from that equation
Interesting offseason for the Nationls FA. None had a good season to speak of. Desmond, Fister may find prospects shocking.
Zimmerman will be interesting. I still see some team paying 5 and 100-120m for him.
That would be Zimmermann the pitcher you refer to, correct?
Since Ryan isn’t a FA and was talking about 2015 FA it’s kind of obvious, unless the Nat’s FO can find a way to get out of that deal they gave Ryan with 4/64m left and seen him on the field 150 games total the last 2y and not much production either in those games.
Maybe another guy the FO wants outta’ town?
The Nationals…we have (had) the players. We just didnt (dont) have the FO to match it.
Didn’t the FO get those players?
Yeah, but also hired Matt Williams, traded for Papelbon. Gave a Scherzer a ridiculously stupid contract. Thats just a few examples.
Except Scherzer lived up to his contract, in some ways he was actually better than his Cy Young year. He just got some of the worst run support of regular starters.
When Scherzer left Detroit many were saying he was going to be in for a shock when the very good run support he got with the Tigers would disappear. He was a very good pitcher but won many games or got no decision,(rather than a loss) because of the run support.
I never said Scherzer wasnt great this year…but paying him absurd amounts long after his playing days are done will bite them
Ownership signed Scherzer.. They negotiated with Boras directly.. Rizzo had nothing to do with his signing..
I never said Rizzo did. Front office, I was including everyone
Rizzo is a Water carrier for the Tribe owners , that’s all !
Tribe?
Private joke (which none of us gets)?
as a brave fan, I am going to have to say “lawl, no” we have this guy, I think his name is shleby biller, he seemed to be pretty good this year but got zero runs of support
We often hear “the sum is better then the parts” when teams out perform expectations (2014 Royals, 2015 Mets, every Giants team) maybe this is a case of the parts being better then the sum
People who say the sum is better than the parts are just making excuses to explain why their judgment of a team was wrong.
Same as ‘chemistry’ and those who excessively use the ‘luck’ excuse.
Who fills out the 2016 rotation then? A free agent to go along with Scherzer, Strasburg, Gonzalez and Joe Ross?
Maybe Tanner Roark. He won 15 games in 2014 and then moved to the bullpen when Scherzer was signed.
Agreed.. Roark deserves the first shot.. Cole should get a look as well and Giolito could be ready some time next year too.. Voth and Lopez aren’t too far away either.. The Nationals are pretty deep in pitching prospects..
Roark, maybe a veteran on a minor league deal to bridge the gap until Gioloto forces his way up. Voth is another who will be ready sooner then later
It should be Robbie Ray, but that ship sailed in the terrible trade for Fister.
The Tiger’s think it was a terrible trade also. At least the Nats got one great year out of Fister.
When you say the Tigers you must mean you. The Tigers stood by the trade from the beginning. The bad Tiger Robbie Ray trade was giving 6 years of him up for Greene.
But,like all trade involving young players, I think we should reserve judgment for a few years.
One great year of Fister for $20M when they could have had Ray for 6 more years. They won the division and got bounced in the first round. They would have done that without Fister.
Correct, Robbie Ray (and others) for Doug Fister was a deal that saved the Tigers at least $50MM, coming on the heels of giving up $30MM to Rangers in the Kinsler for Fielder trade.
Was it the best possible deal they could have made? None of us know how good Robbie Ray will be.
However, $50MM for Doug Fister (over a few years), even with NO PLAYERS back would still be a good deal for the Tigers because it made the Fielder/Kinsler deal palatable.