Washington Nationals sign Bryce Harper to $9.9 million contract
Together, they followed the owners of the Washington Nationals into the conference room on the third floor inside Nationals Park, relaxed and smiling after tense and successful negotiations that landed them another piece of a promising future. Mike Rizzo, Stan Kasten, Kris Kline and Roy Clark - the four men most responsible for bringing Bryce Harper to Washington - sat at a long table and described to the assembled media how they had done it.
News from Nationals Park The main topic of conversation today has been Jason Marquis, and I'll have a more lengthy blog item coming on him in a little bit. But in the meantime, here are a couple notes before the game:
--Garrett Mock is back at Nationals Park, and was playing catch before today's game. Manager Jim Riggleman said Mock is confident he's getting better, and is now guessing Mock's cervical spinal disc injury had something to do with his struggles at the end of the spring. "We saw a guy last year that pitched the last five, six weeks of the season up here, getting ground balls and balls sinking," Riggleman said."We saw a guy throughout spring training that the movement was just flat in the strike zone, just across the plate instead of down. So I would say that probably had something to do with it."
Strasburg should remain in minorsMlb.com is reporting Scheduled to start Sunday for Class AA Harrisburg at Altoona, Stephen Strasburg, "the best prospect in 25 years" is an extremely tempting call-up. Strasburg, the celebrated No. 1 pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft who received a record $15.1 million contract, was 1-0 with a 2.00 earned run average in Grapefruit League games.
Nationals can end Riggleman deal after yearThe Washington post is reporting Working at the lower end of the pay scale could make Jim Riggleman contract an easy one to buy out. The Nationals owe Riggleman $600,000 this season, according to the source.
Nats considered trading for *****udome, Hart, UptonThe SportingNews.com is reporting "In their search for an everyday right fielder, the Nationals explored trading for the Cubs' Kosuke *****udome, the Brewers' Corey Hart and the Rays' B.J. Upton, MASNsports.com reports.
Wang reaches agreement with NatsMsn is reporting A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and the Washington Nationals have reached an agreement on a $2 million, one-year contract.
Nats sign Jason MarquisThe Washington Examiner is reporting "The Nationals will sign Jason Marquis, according to MASN. The Phillies and Mets were other clubs reportedly in the mix for the 31-year-old righty. Back on December 15th, Marquis explained to MLB.com's Bill Ladson that he found the ability to mentor the Nats' young pitching staff appealing.
Nats drawing interest in WillinghamFox sports is reporting The Nationals again are drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham. Whether they are willing to move him is another question.Willingham, 30, produced a career-high .863 OPS last season, hitting 24 home runs in 427 at-bats. His offense would be difficult for the Nats to replace.
Latest on StrasburgFox Sports is reporting Let's halt the discussion of where Stephen Strasburg fits among baseball's greatest phenoms. Let's suspend the talk of how large his signing bonus should be, based on revenues of the Washington Nationals or the industry itself.
Johnson, Harris on trade blockBill Ladson
Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson continues to be on the trade block, but getting traded may be another story.
