Mark Zuckerman

New front office faces several non-tender decisions We’ve reached a potentially important day in the still-nascent stages of the Paul Toboni era of Nationals baseball. It’s non-tender day across the major leagues, which means the new president of baseb...

It’s non-tender day, which could mean the first significant roster decisions of Paul Toboni’s front office. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...

11/21 – JOSE TENA
3B/2B, 2024-present
Acquired with Alex Clemmey and Rafael Ramirez Jr. from CLE for Lane Thomas, infielder has hit .259/.309/.359 with 18 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 34 RBI in 91 games, bouncing between D.C. and Rochester.

Mathews' unlikely path to Nats pitching coach at 30 Simon Mathews’ pitching career ended right as the entire world was shutting down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The then-24-year-old right-hander with an 89-mph fastball had maxed out his...

Simon Mathews went from an out-of-work, Triple-A right-hander trying to make rent during the pandemic to Nationals pitching coach at age 30. Was this part of his grand plan? “No. That’s the short answer.” www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/m...

11/20 – MICHAEL A. TAYLOR
OF, 2014-20
6th round pick in 2009 eventually became semi-regular starting CF, batting .237/.291/.395 with 53 HR, 184 RBI, 77 SB in 574 games. Shined in postseason (.316/.395/.632, 4 HR, 10 RBI). Played 5 more seasons, winning Gold Glove with KC.

Was that the Willie Harris bottom-of-the-ninth catch game? “The Mets must hate him!”

Butera's staff mixes experience, youth and varied baseball backgrounds As significant as Blake Butera’s hiring was – and, let’s be clear, it’s incredibly significant – there has been just as much interest in learning who will fill out the new Nationals manager’s coaching...

Blake Butera on his still-developing coaching staff: "Regardless of age, I think that was most important to me when we were building out a staff: To make sure there are people in here who are going to help our players reach their ultimate potential." www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...

11/19 – WILLY TAVERAS
OF, 2010
Made Opening Day roster as backup outfielder, lasted only one month before getting DFA’d, going 7-for-35 with 1 3B, 4 RBI in 27 games. Also played for Astros, Rockies, Reds during 7-year career, batting .274/.320/.327 with 8 HR, 128 RBI, 195 SB.

Nationals add Bennett, Franklin, Cornelio to 40-man roster The Nationals added left-hander Jake Bennett, outfielder Christian Franklin and right-hander Riley Cornelio to their 40-man roster this afternoon, protecting all three prospects from being lost in nex...

More on the three prospects the Nationals added to their 40-man roster today and a few they chose to leave unprotected from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...

Nationals have added LHP Jake Bennett, RHP Riley Cornelio and OF Christian Franklin to the 40-man roster, protecting them from being lost in the Rule 5 Draft.

Among those left unprotected: INF Cayden Wallace, RHP Tyler Stuart (rehabbing from TJ surgery), RHP Marquis Grissom Jr.

Red Sox acquired infielder Tristan Gray from Tampa for Luis Guerrero. They also DFA'd Nathaniel Lowe to open a 40-man spot.

Butera excited to use player development experience with Nats' young talent When Blake Butera steps into the visiting dugout at Wrigley Field for the Nationals’ Opening Day game against the Cubs on March 26, not only will it be the 33-year-old’s first time in a major league d...

Blake Butera spent the last 2 years as the head of the Rays' player development. He's excited to take that experience and bring it back to the dugout, where he returns to the manager's seat for the first time since 2022. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...

Blake Butera Introduced to D.C. — Nats Chat Podcast Blake Butera Introduced to D.C.

New episode of @natschatpodcast.bsky.social
* Thoughts on Butera's press conference
* Reaction to the coaching staff so far (including Doolittle)
* Looking ahead to Friday's non-tender decisions
* @benraby31.bsky.social on "Who Killed the Montreal Expos" doc
www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...

11/18 – JULIAN TAVAREZ
RHP, 2009
Veteran reliever finished 17-year career with Nats, going 3-7 with 4.89 ERA, 1.743 WHIP in 42 games. Pitched for 11 teams during career (CLE/SF/COL/CHC/FLA/PIT/STL/BOS/MIL/ATL/WSH), going 88-82 with 4.46 ERA, 23 saves.

Blake Butera Introduced to D.C. — Nats Chat Podcast Blake Butera Introduced to D.C.

Our reaction to Blake Butera's introductory press conference as the Nats new manager:

www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...

Butera "honored, humbled excited" to become Nationals manager Well before he even knew he would be a candidate for the Nationals’ managerial job, let alone get the job, Blake Butera tuned into Paul Toboni’s introductory press conference and found himself captiva...

How Paul Toboni and Blake Butera first came to know of each other, and the process that led to them sitting together today at Nationals Park for the formal introduction of the majors' youngest manager in five decades.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...

Doolittle remaining on Nats coaching staff, exact role TBD While most of today’s festivities at Nationals Park were focused on the official introduction of 33-year-old Blake Butera as the Nationals’ new manager, some news on his coaching staff also came out.S...

News on Sean Doolittle remaining on the Nats coaching staff, and why Paul Toboni & Blake Butera felt it was important to bring him back.

"It's tough to not like Sean...he's really passionate about doing a great job in this role, which is exciting for us." www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/d...

Butera "honored, humbled excited" to become Nationals manager Well before he even knew he would be a candidate for the Nationals’ managerial job, let alone get the job, Blake Butera tuned into Paul Toboni’s introductory press conference and found himself captiva...

How Paul Toboni and Blake Butera first came to know of each other, and the process that led to them sitting together today at Nationals Park for the formal introduction of the majors' youngest manager in five decades.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...

Sean Doolittle will remain on the Nats coaching staff, per Paul Toboni. His official title is TBA.

Gio Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy are on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Plenty of questions coming for Butera in introductory press conference It's been 18 days since news first broke the Nationals were hiring Blake Butera as manager. And at long last, today we will finally get to hear from him about his vision for the job and the path that ...

Blake Butera's introductory press conference is today at 1:30 p.m. (live on MASN) and the 33-year-old manager will face plenty of questions. Here are some subjects that should come up: www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/p...

11/17 – KURT SUZUKI
C, 2012-13, 2019-20
Twice acquired (once from A’s for David Freitas, once as free agent), played 240 games (plus 15 postseason) for Nats, batting .252/.314/.402 with 27 HR, 130 RBI. Career totals: .255/.314/.388, 143 HR, 730 RBI. Recently named Angels manager.

11/16 – WANDER SUERO
RHP, 2018-21
Rubber-armed reliever made 185 appearances (and warmed up countless more times without entering), going 14-13 with 4.61 ERA, 1.284 WHIP in 185 games. Has bounced last three years, pitching in 11 MLB games with Dodgers/Astros/Braves.

11/15 – HUNTER STRICKLAND
RHP, 2019
Previously known for giving up bombs to (and throwing at) Bryce Harper, reliever found himself pitching for Nats during pennant race, going 2-0 with 5.14 ERA in 24 games. Pitched well for Angels in ’25, now has 3.39 ERA in 11-year career.

Where payroll stands as the Nats enter the offseason In an offseason loaded with major questions, the Nationals have already answered two of the biggest ones: Who will lead baseball operations, and who will manage the big league club?Among the high-rank...

A look at the state of the Nationals’ payroll entering the offseason. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...

11/14 – STEPHEN STRASBURG
RHP, 2010-2022
No. 1 pick in 2009 burst onto scene with historic 14-K debut, 2.92 ERA, 12.2 K/9 in 12 starts before elbow injury. Went 113-62 with 3.24 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 1,723 K in 247 starts over 13 seasons. Postseason: 6-2, 1.46 ERA, 71 K, 8 BB, WS MVP.

Nationals have announced game times for next season. Weeknights at 6:45, Saturdays at 4:05, Sundays at 1:35, weekday matinees at 12:05/1:05, July 4 at 11:05.

Where the Nats roster most needs to be bolstered Baseball’s annual GM Meetings wrap up this morning in Las Vegas, and as is always the case, there hasn’t been a whole lot of hard news coming out of the event. This isn’t the Winter Meetings (which ar...

What positions of need might the Nationals prioritize this winter?
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...

Explaining my NL Cy Young Award ballot We’re nearing the end of awards week for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s four-highest honors that are handed out after every baseball season.The third was announced last night as Paul S...

I was an NL Cy Young Award voter. Like everyone else, I obviously had Paul Skenes as the winner.

Here's a breakdown of his dominant season and the other four names on my ballot. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/e...

11/13 – DEE STRANGE-GORDON
SS/OF, 2022
Former NL batting champ finished career with 22-game stint in D.C., batting .305 but producing only 2 extra-base hits and 0 walks. Over 11-year career also with Dodgers, Marlins and Mariners, hit .286/.319/.360 with 336 steals.

The Nationals have announced a press conference to introduce new manager Blake Butera on Monday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. It will air in its entirety on MASN.