East Notes: Duquette, Rickard, Montero, Osuna
2016/04/nationals-orioles-reject-rumor-dan-duquette.htmlMike Rizzo currently serves the Nationals as the general manager and president of baseball operations, though it's possible that the organization could add a business-oriented president as well, and Duquette had reportedly been considered for such a broad role with the Blue Jays last year.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Beltre, Schwarber, Rickard, Sizemore
2016/04/rosenthals-latest-beltre-schwarber-rickard-sizemore.htmlWith Anthony Rizzo locked in at first base, Rosenthal wonders if Schwarber might not be destined to join an AL club.
Offseason In Review: Washington Nationals
2016/04/offseason-in-review-washington-nationals-7.htmlThus, even while president and GM Mike Rizzo was trying to woo the heavily-pursued Ben Zobrist, he quietly added southpaw Oliver Perez and swingman Yusmeiro Petit to begin the process of rebuilding the pen.
NL East Notes: Giolito, Braves, Upton, Phillies
2016/03/nl-east-notes-giolito-braves-upton-phillies.html"He’s close to being big-league ready," says GM Mike Rizzo.
Latest On Bronson Arroyo
2016/03/bronson-arroyo-mri-misread-no-tear-shoulder.htmlSATURDAY 10:55am: GM Mike Rizzo says Arroyo has partial tears in his rotator cuff tendon and there is inflammation in the area, MASN's Dan Kolko reports (all Twitter links).
MLBTR Podcast: Barry Svrluga Talks Nationals
2016/03/mlbtr-podcast-barry-svrluga-talks-nationals.htmlAmong the items of discussion are GM Mike Rizzo, new manager Dusty Baker, and the contract status of Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.
NL Notes: Cueto, Jennings, Pirates
2016/03/nl-notes-cueto-jennings-pirates.htmlThe Nationals are paying Jennings $115K to be a special assistant to GM Mike Rizzo.
NL East Notes: Jennings, Ozuna, Wright, Flores
2016/03/nl-east-notes-jennings-ozuna-wright-flores.htmlJennings joined the Washington front office as a special assistant to GM Mike Rizzo in January after being fired by Miami after the season.
Nationals Have June 15 Deadline On Mike Rizzo’s Two-Year Contract Option
2016/03/nationals-have-june-15-deadline-on-mike-rizzos-two-year-contract-option.htmlThe Nationals' club option on GM/president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo actually covers both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and the team has a June 15 deadline to decide whether or not to exercise its two-year option and keep Rizzo in the fold, The Washington Post's Barry Svrluga reports.
NL East Notes: Freeman, Strasburg, Harper, Turner, Mejia
2016/03/freddie-freeman-wrist-coppolella-rizzo-strasburg-harper-trea-turner-mejia-ped.htmlNationals GM Mike Rizzo had some interesting comments today in an interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM (audio link).
AL Notes: Desmond, Rangers, Perez, Altuve, Rollins
2016/03/al-notes-desmond-rangers-perez-altuve-rollins.htmlHe cites Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks, Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs, Jose Altuve of the Astros, Chris Sale of the White Sox, Madison Bumgarner of the Giants, and Chris Archer of the Rays as others on team-friendly pacts.
NL East Notes: Lazarito, Phillies, Lincecum, Wright, Colon
2016/02/nl-east-notes-lazarito-phillies-lincecum-wright-colon.htmlThe Nationals are not negotiating an extension with Bryce Harper, GM Mike Rizzo tells reporters including Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post.
Nats Have Explored Extension For Harper, But No Talks Now
2016/02/nats-have-explored-extension-for-harper-but-no-talks-now.htmlGM Mike Rizzo says the Nationals have considered an extension for Bryce Harper, but there have been no formal talks, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Nationals On Jonathan Lucroy’s No-Trade List
2016/02/nationals-jonathan-lucroy-no-trade-brewers.htmlThe Nats were rumored to be seeking catching help earlier this offseason, although GM Mike Rizzo responded to those rumors quickly by offering high praise for incumbent backstop Wilson Ramos.
NL East Notes: Freeman, Peterson, Swanson, Groome, Storen
2016/01/nl-east-notes-freeman-peterson-swanson-groome-storen.htmlEarlier today on MLB Network Radio, Drew Storen's agent Brodie Van Wagenen said he and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo had a "unique level of transparency" following the trade for Jonathan Papelbon.
Nationals Pursuing Yoenis Cespedes
2016/01/nationals-pursuing-yoenis-cespedes.htmlGM Mike Rizzo has long prioritized a deep roster, Janes notes, and the team could mix and match with Revere in center and Cespedes in left on days when Werth is out of the lineup (I'll also point out that Werth has quite a lengthy injury history and is by no means a lock to stay healthy in 2016).
Cubs Sign Jesus Guzman To Minors Contract
2016/01/cubs-sign-jesus-guzman-to-minors-contract.htmlWith a strong Spring Training, Guzman could find a place for himself on Chicago's roster, backing up Anthony Rizzo at first or perhaps even finding a platoon spot in left field.
Nationals Notes: Storen, Revere, Papelbon
2016/01/nationals-notes-storen-revere-papelbon.htmlNats GM Mike Rizzo says the team hasn't yet determined what Revere's role will be, James Wagner of the Washington Post tweets.
Dan Jennings Joins Nationals Front Office
2016/01/nationals-hire-dan-jennings.htmlFormer Marlins GM (and, most recently, manager) Dan Jennings has officially joined the Nationals organization as a special assistant to GM Mike Rizzo, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter) and Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post (Twitter link).
Rosenthal On Nats, Chen, Maeda, Davis, Orioles
2016/01/nationals-trade-gio-gonzalez-sign-weiyin-chen.htmlIt's also worth noting that Washington has been linked to the Rockies in the past, who have a left-handed hitting center field option in the form of Charlie Blackmon, though GM Mike Rizzo figures to explore many avenues if that route is indeed on the table.
NL East Notes: Alderson, Mets, Murphy, Swisher
2016/01/mets-alderson-payroll-murphy-nationals-braves-swisher-rumors.htmlBoswell paints a fascinating picture of Nats' GM Mike Rizzo's negotiations with Murphy -- conducted while laid up after back surgery -- and notes that the organization feels it has largely done what it needed to this winter.
Quick Hits: Buehrle, Rodney, Nationals, Rangers, White Sox, Uggla
2016/01/mark-buehrle-pitch-or-retire-2016.htmlGM Mike Rizzo was Arizona's scouting director when the club signed Parra, and the Nats also tried to acquire him from the Brewers this summer, Wagner reminds.
Nationals Have Explored Trade Market For Catchers
2016/01/nationals-trade-catchers-wilson-ramos.htmlIn spite of Ramos' struggles getting on base last season, it should be noted that president of baseball operations/GM Mike Rizzo spoke very highly of Ramos back in early November in the midst of rumors connecting the Nationals to Matt Wieters (prior to Wieters' acceptance of a qualifying offer from Baltimore).
Nationals To Sign Stephen Drew
2015/12/nationals-to-sign-stephen-drew.htmlAs Heyman notes, then-Diamondbacks scouting director and current Nationals GM Mike Rizzo selected Drew in the first-round back in 2004, so there's a history.
Managers And GMs On Expiring Contracts
2015/12/managers-and-gms-on-expiring-contracts-3.htmlNationals: After Washington grossly underachieved from their preseason favorite status, GM Mike Rizzo may just have a "tenuous" grip on his job.
