Headlines

  • Brewers Discussing Extension With Jackson Chourio
  • Tigers Sign Kenta Maeda
  • White Sox Sign Paul DeJong
  • Reds, Cubs Have Discussed Shane Bieber With Guardians
  • Cardinals Sign Sonny Gray To Three-Year Deal
  • Our MLB Contract Tracker Is Here!
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2024
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nationals Notes: Strasburg, Zobrist, Ramos, Desmond

By Steve Adams | November 11, 2015 at 7:55pm CDT

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a non-cancerous growth surgically removed from his back shortly after the season ended, agent Scott Boras told reporters, including James Wagner of the Washington Post, at today’s GM Meetings. As Wagner points out, the news contradicts a statement made yesterday by Nats GM Mike Rizzo, in which he said the Nationals didn’t have any postseason surgeries. Back and oblique issues sent Strasburg to the disabled list on multiple occasions this season, and the right-hander carried a 6.55 ERA through his first 10 starts before turning around and dealing to the tune of a 1.76 ERA with a 110-to-12 K/BB ratio across his final 13 starts (82 innings). It’s easy to imagine the growth serving as the root of many of Strasburg’s back issues in 2015. The former No. 1 overall draft pick is arbitration eligible for the final time this offseason and will likely be the market’s top free agent following the 2016 season.

A few more notes on the Nationals…

  • Wagner also reports (via Twitter) that the Nationals are interested in Ben Zobrist. Washington has been interested in Zobrist in the past as well, and the versatile switch-hitter could factor into the team’s plans in the infield or in the outfield. Of course, the Nats would face steep competition in the market for Zobrist, who is drawing widespread interest due to that versatility and his long track record of above-average production at the plate.
  • While many have speculated that the Nationals could look to upgrade at catcher, Rizzo spoke highly of Wilson Ramos despite a down season in 2015. “He was No. 1 in throwing runners out. He was up for a Gold Glove,” said Rizzo. “He was one of the top in National League in home runs and RBI. He had a down year in getting on base, not like he should, and hitting for average. But as far as a guy, as catchers go, really had some impact in the lineup with power, RBI and catch-throw skills were fine. We like Ramos. He’s a guy that it would be difficult to find a better replacement for.” The Nats have been listed as a speculative fit for Matt Wieters, especially considering Ramos’ 2015 struggles and his status as a free agent next winter. However, Rizzo’s comments line up with previous reports indicating that Washington will not be a serious player for the market’s top free-agent catcher.
  • Ian Desmond said in a recent MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM appearance (MLB.com video link) that he would “love to give [the Nationals] an opportunity to tell me the direction that they’re moving in and go from there” when discussing the Nats. It’s expected that Desmond will sign elsewhere, and while he could sign with any club, he did say in that appearance that he “loves the National League game” and considers himself a “National League guy,” though he of course didn’t rule out signing with an American League club.
Share 4 Retweet 23 Send via email0

Washington Nationals Ben Zobrist Ian Desmond Stephen Strasburg Wilson Ramos

Mariners Nearing Deal With Chris Iannetta
Main
Blue Jays, Marco Estrada Discussing Multi-Year Deal
View Comments (9)

Comments

  1. porplesmcgee

    8 years ago

    Washington will not be a serious player for Rizzo or Wieters?

    Reply
    • mmlotto0707

      8 years ago

      What do you mean rizzo? Rizzo who?

      Reply
  2. ckdexterhaven

    8 years ago

    re: Strasburg
    “It’s easy to imagine the growth serving as the root of many of Strasburg’s back issues in 2015”

    I’ve had a “non-cancerous growth removed” from MY back. It was done on an outpatient basis, with only local anesthetic. The growth never caused me a moment of discomfort. I didn’t even know it was there for quite some time. It’s an assumption that this type of issue had anything to do with this athlete’s back issues. One can “imagine” it, but that’s far from it being a fact. I’ve also had back issues that were muscular in nature, and completely unrelated to the growth. So, there’s that.

    Reply
    • mattdsmith

      8 years ago

      You seem like a generally unpleasant person. If it was a surgery to remove it and it was not done on an outpatient basis, it is easy to imagine it playing a role. But even if it didn’t, you made the point that he did say “it’s easy to imagine,” not that it’s known to have affected his play.

      Reply
    • homeparkdc

      8 years ago

      IIRC, Strasburg’s first DL stint was a turned/twisted ankle that led to some mechanical issues. Then there was the neck, shoulder stiffness. Without all the medical details it’s really difficult to conjecture about the severity of the growth or it’s prophylactic removal.

      Reply
    • Steve Adams

      8 years ago

      So your assessment of the situation is that every non-cancerous growth in someone’s back is roughly equal? And that despite the fact that as a professional athlete, Strasburg puts his body through more physical stress on a given day than 97% of the average population, it’s silly to think that such an issue could’ve led to some of his mound struggles because you had a relatively painless procedure? All of this despite not knowing where the growth in Strasburg’s back was specifically located, the size of the growth, etc.

      Additionally, at no point did I claim that to be fact. I was, in fact, deliberately careful not to make such an assessment, given the lack of detail surrounding the procedure.

      Reply
  3. willi

    8 years ago

    Desmond gone, He had his chance and blew it, Next Stop New York Mets !

    Reply
    • Philliesfan4life

      8 years ago

      I think he goes to the padres , or an american league team

      Reply
  4. homeparkdc

    8 years ago

    🙂 Rizzo is always interested in Ben Zobrist — like just before he traded for Asdrubal Cabrera, and then right before he traded for Yunel Escobar.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Brewers Discussing Extension With Jackson Chourio

    Tigers Sign Kenta Maeda

    White Sox Sign Paul DeJong

    Reds, Cubs Have Discussed Shane Bieber With Guardians

    Cardinals Sign Sonny Gray To Three-Year Deal

    Our MLB Contract Tracker Is Here!

    Dodgers To Re-Sign Jason Heyward

    Braves, White Sox Have Discussed Dylan Cease Trade

    NPB’s Yokohama BayStars Post Shota Imanaga

    Jung Hoo Lee Likely To Be Posted In Early December

    D-backs Acquire Eugenio Suarez

    Nearly Half The League Has Reached Out To Yoshinobu Yamamoto

    Shota Imanaga Likely To Be Posted By Monday

    Cardinals Sign Kyle Gibson To One-Year Deal

    Cardinals Sign Lance Lynn To One-Year Deal

    Padres Name Mike Shildt Manager

    Braves Sign Reynaldo Lopez

    Yoshinobu Yamamoto Officially Posted By Orix Buffaloes

    Zack Britton Announces Retirement

    Phillies Re-Sign Aaron Nola

    Recent

    Brewers Discussing Extension With Jackson Chourio

    Details On Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson Contracts

    Blue Jays’ GM Ross Atkins Downplays Bichette Trade Rumors

    Angels Hiring Steve Karsay As Bullpen Coach

    Tigers Seeking Additional Pitching After Maeda Deal

    Poll: Should The Brewers Trade Corbin Burnes?

    Blue Jays Notes: Bichette, Guerrero, Chapman, Nola

    MLBTR Chat Transcript

    Tigers Sign Kenta Maeda

    Astros To Promote Omar Lopez To Bench Coach

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    • Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2024 Arbitration Salary Projections
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version