Quick Hits: Beckham, Lind, Tejada, Sveum, Ravin
2013/09/quick-hits-beckham-lind-tejada-sveum-ravin.htmlHe argues that Sveum shouldn't be blamed for the struggles of Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro this season, suggesting that the pair might simply not be as good as the Cubs and their fans hoped.
NL East Notes: Pierre, Polanco, Braves, Nationals
2013/09/nl-east-notes-braves-nationals-polanco.htmlGM Mike Rizzo wouldn't rule out any of the three.
Manager Notes: Weiss, Yost, Ventura, Sandberg, Johnson
2013/09/manager-notes-yost-ventura-sandberg-johnson.htmlThough GM Mike Rizzo has made clear he had no intentions of dismissing the veteran from his post, Johnson explained that he would have wanted to afford bench coach Randy Knorr or third base coach Trent Jewett a chance to take an audition at the helm.
East Notes: Oliver, Davis, Roberts, Mets, Nats
2013/09/nl-east-notes-mets.htmlNationals GM Mike Rizzo says that the next manager of the club will have some input on the roster, writes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
NL East Notes: Mets, Nationals, Marlins
2013/09/nl-east-notes-mets-nationals-marlins.htmlAfter Mike Rizzo finds the club's next skipper, the focus will be on bolstering the Nationals' pitching staff for 2014, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
East Notes: Nationals, Price, Wheeler, Matsuzaka
2013/10/east-notes-nationals-price-wheeler-matsuzaka.htmlThe core rotation and the core bullpen is set up pretty good," GM Mike Rizzo says.
Offseason Outlook: Chicago Cubs
2013/10/offseason-outlook-chicago-cubs.htmlGuaranteed Contracts Starlin Castro, SS: $49MM through 2019 Anthony Rizzo, 1B: $38.25MM through 2019 Edwin Jackson, SP: $33MM through 2016 Jorge Soler, RF: $22MM through 2020 Carlos Villanueva, P: $5MM through 2014 Kyuji Fujikawa, RP: $4.5MM through 2014 Gerardo Concepcion, SP: $3.6MM through 2016 Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parenthesis) Pedro Strop, RP: $2MM (2.156, Super Two) Travis Wood, SP: (3.004) Darwin Barney, 2B: (3.053, non-tender candidate) Daniel Bard, RP: (3.078, non-tender candidate) Darnell McDonald, LF: (3.130, non-tender candidate) Luis Valbuena, 3B: (3.148) James Russell, RP: (4.000) Jeff Samardzija, SP: (4.028) Donnie Murphy, 3B: (4.101) Nate Schierholtz, RF: (5.078) Free Agents Kevin Gregg, Scott Baker, Matt Guerrier, Dioner Navarro, Ryan Sweeney 2014 Payroll Obligations For Former Players Alfonso Soriano: $17.2MM Scott Hairston: $500K The Cubs haven't had a .500 record since 2009, way back when Kevin Gregg was their closer (the first time).
Cubs Claim Mat Gamel
2013/10/cubs-claim-mat-gamel.htmlHe's dominated Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .301/.374/.512 batting line and could get a look at third base in Spring Training, as Anthony Rizzo is entrenched as the Cubs' first baseman for the foreseeable future.
NL East Notes: Nationals, Choo, Pierre, Johan
2013/10/nl-east-notes-nationals-choo-pierre.htmlDusty Baker reached out to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo to inform him that he's interested in taking over as the Nats manager with Davey Johnson stepping down, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
NL East Notes: Nationals, Phillies, Braves, Marlins
2013/10/nl-east-notes-nationals-desmond-phillies-braves-marlins.htmlNationals GM Mike Rizzo wants his club's new manager to chime in on personnel choices over the off-season, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson, but the team has yet to conduct any interviews and will not rush the process.
NL East Notes: Mets, Abreu, Marlins, Nats, Baker
2013/10/nl-east-notes-mets-abreu-braves-marlins-nats.htmlBaker contacted GM Mike Rizzo last week about his interest in the position but there doesn't seem to be any interest on Washington's end.
Offseason Outlook: Washington Nationals
2013/10/offseason-outlook-washington-nationals.htmlOwner Ted Lerner is one of the richest in the game; the club already ratcheted up payroll going into 2013; and Washington recently extended and promoted Mike Rizzo, the front office man who built the current club and will guide it for the foreseeable future.
Manager Notes: Gibson, Tigers, Jewett, Ripken
2013/10/manager-notes-gibson-tigers-jewett-ripken.htmlHe joins bench coach Randy Knorr and outside candidates Matt Williams and Brad Ausmus as options that have had the chance to chat with GM Mike Rizzo.
Managerial/Coaching Links: Nats, Cubs, Tigers
2013/10/managerialcoaching-links-nats-cubs-tigers.htmlHitting coach Rick Schu, who coached with Williams in Arizona from 2007-09, will remain in the organization in some capacity, even if Williams wants a different hitting coach, GM Mike Rizzo said.
Nationals Hire Matt Williams
2013/10/nationals-to-hire-matt-williams.htmlGM Mike Rizzo offered the following statement: "I am thrilled to welcome Matt to our organization and am confident he is the best choice to lead the Nationals at this time.
Rosenthal On Nats, Scherzer, Phillies, Price, Rangers
2013/11/rosenthal-on-nats-scherzer-phillies-price-rangers.htmlRosenthal explains his reasons behind believing that Scherzer could be a better fit, highlighted by the fact that Nats GM Mike Rizzo drafte Scherzer in the first round when he was the Diamondbacks' scouting director.
Rays, DeJesus Agree To Two-Year Deal
2013/11/rays-dejesus-agree-to-two-year-deal.htmlHowever, GM Mike Rizzo instantly put DeJesus back on waivers, and the Rays claimed him two days later.
Future Salary Obligations In Context, Part II
2013/11/future-salary-obligations-in-context-part-ii.htmlThough the Cubs have a lot of money owed to some fairly risky assets (Edwin Jackson, Starlin Castro, Jorge Soler, Anthony Rizzo), the club maintains a low AAV.
Nationals Willing To Listen To Offers On Denard Span
2013/11/nationals-willing-to-listen-to-offers-on-denard-span.htmlPresumably, Nats' GM Mike Rizzo would only seriously entertain the possibility of dealing Span if he wanted to clear room for a major acquisition.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Johnson, Tigers, Nats, Price
2013/11/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-7.htmlNatsGM has some ideas for Washington GM Mike Rizzo this winter.
Rizzo On Detwiler, Desmond, Zimmermann, Harper, Rendon
2013/11/rizzo-on-detwiler-desmond-zimmermann-harper-rendon.htmlThough the move was hardly surprising and will not have any substantial impact going forward, it is a final conclusion to the saga of a player who President and GM Mike Rizzo had heralded as the Nats' "first major international signing." Fortunately, Rizzo has also acquired and developed other talent that more than makes up for the failed Maya experiment.
East Notes: Jays, Saltalamacchia, Drew, Cano, Nats
2013/11/east-notes-blue-jays-saltalamacchia-drew-cano-nats.htmlWhile he says the club lacks a pressing need to tinker with its infield, and GM Mike Rizzo has not shown a particular desire to do so, the fact remains that Cano is unquestionably the best player on the market and the Nats have the pockets to bring him in.
Nationals Acquire Doug Fister From Tigers
2013/12/nationals-acquire-doug-fister-from-tigers.htmlIt appears that GM Mike Rizzo has done just that with today's trade…
Timing Is Everything In The Doug Fister Trade
2013/12/timing-is-everything-in-the-doug-fister-trade.htmlComments from Nats GM Mike Rizzo indicate that the sides had been in dialogue for several weeks about all three potentially available Detroit starters: Fister, Rick Porcello, and Max Scherzer.
NL East Notes: Lincoln, Coghlan, Morrison
2013/12/nl-east-notes-lincoln-coghlan.htmlNationals GM Mike Rizzo spoke with reporters yesterday regarding the team's acquisition of Doug Fister, stating that Fister was one of their primary pitching targets from the get-go this offseason.
