The Washington Nationals’ first full-squad workout of the season came and went with no agreement on a contract extension for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. But early Thursday afternoon, the two sides were still thick into negotiations with Zimmerman’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, bringing another “creative solution to try and bridge this gap,” to the Nationals, Zimmerman said. One way or the other they’d have an answer by the end of Saturday. Published February 25 2012
Notes on Henry Rodriguez and Stephen Strasburg as well as a round-up of the day's news. Published February 24 2012
The Nationals' newest acquisition will start their first spring training game. Edwin Jackson, the right-hander who agreed to a one-year deal with the Nationals just more than two weeks before spring training, is slated to start the team's Grapefruit League opener on March 3 against the Houston Astros. Published February 24 2012
As the hours tick toward a self-imposed Saturday deadline, Ryan Zimmerman said Friday morning there was nothing new to report on his contract-extension negotiations. Published February 24 2012
Notes from Thursday's workout on Chien-Ming Wang, Henry Rodriguez, Jordan Zimmermann, Sammy Solis and pitcher competition. Published February 23 2012
Burnett re-institutes the windup delivery, Storen continues to tinker in his bullpen session on Thursday. Published February 23 2012
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met Thursday afternoon with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's agent, Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA, but Rizzo said after the meeting that he didn't anticipate having a significant update the rest of the evening. Published February 23 2012
On his first day in Nationals camp, Anthony Rendon was told he'd be moving around the infield a bit this spring as a way to help get him more playing time. On his fourth day in Nationals camp, Rendon spent the morning working at shortstop and second base with Triple-A manager Tony Beasley, working on his footwork at the position. Published February 23 2012
In case of emergency, if shortstop Ian Desmond were to be lost for a significant amount of time, Danny Espinosa would likely present the Nationals with their best option for a replacement. But, manager Davey Johnson cautions adamantly, there's no need to read anything more into it. Published February 23 2012
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday that while there are no new developments to report with a possible contract extension for Ryan Zimmerman, the sides are continuing to talk and he's "hopeful," they could get something done. Published February 23 2012
Nationals coaches aren't telling Davey Johnson how good Bryce Harper looks in batting practice; Mattheus impresses, Rodriguez still absent and other notes from Wendesday's workout. Published February 22 2012
Matt Purke was focusing on his first bullpen of major league camp Wednesday morning when Nationals manager Davey Johnson walked up behind him and called to him in Spanish. Published February 22 2012
The video is a strange one to watch. Mark DeRosa stands in against Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium last year, cocking his bat ever so slightly above his right shoulder. Kershaw delivers a pitch in the dirt and before DeRosa can even begin his swing, he reacts, drops his bat and brings his already twice repaired left wrist in toward his chest. "I'm done," DeRosa mouths as the San Francisco Giants trainers come out to see what's clearly causing him immense pain. A tendon in his wrist, the same one that DeRosa had operated on after the 2009 season and again during the 2010 season, had ruptured. It was possibly the best thing that could have happened to DeRosa. Published February 22 2012
Washington Nationals' position players aren't required to report to spring training until Thursday. By then, Ryan Zimmerman will have been around for nearly a week, preparing for his seventh spring training with the Nationals. How many more he'll have with them, though, is the biggest question surrounding the Nationals' Face of the Franchise as he welcomes his first spring with a season to follow that'll contain any real hope of winning. Zimmerman will be a free agent after the 2013 season and getting an extension done is at the top of the priority list for both the player and the team. But there are always deadlines and Zimmerman's set an informal one that makes the next few days paramount. Negotiations, he's said, would not be preferable once spring training begins in earnest on Saturday with the first full-squad workout. Published February 22 2012
Notes on Stephen Strasburg, Chien-Ming Wang, Henry Rodriguez, Drew Storen and Gio Gonzalez Published February 21 2012
This was supposed to be the camp where Chris Marrero never saw the inside of the Nationals' minor league complex. It was supposed to be the season where Marrero, the Nationals' first-round draft pick in 2006, served as the right-handed compliment to Adam LaRoche at first base, a valuable bat for manager Davey Johnson. It was what the Nationals had in mind when they welcomed Marrero to the major leagues last year in late August. But a torn hamstring that required surgery in November, suffered while he was playing in the Dominican Winter League, eliminated any shot at any of that for Marrero. Published February 21 2012
The Washington Nationals' roster lists infielder Steve Lombardozzi at 170 pounds. At the end of the season, the Nationals told him to "have a good offseason, work hard and come ready to compete." Even if you don't count the bushy beard he grew over the winter, Lombardozzi checked into spring training at least 25 pounds heavier than that figure would lead you to believe. Published February 20 2012
When Nationals general manger Mike Rizzo's phone rang last Wednesday the man on the other end of the line was throwing a small wrench into his outfield plans. Mike Cameron was planning to retire, he told Rizzo, and the GM tried to talk him out of it. Think on it for a few days, he said. Cameron did. It was time to hang it up. Published February 20 2012
Adam LaRoche made his first appearance in the Nationals' clubhouse Monday morning and spent just a few minutes unpacking before he and his surgically repaired left shoulder left to go hit and workout. It was a good sign for LaRoche that he was able to get right to work after arriving in Viera, but he didn't dance around the health of the labrum in his left shoulder. Published February 20 2012
Wearing a lime green sweatshirt and cargo shorts, Anthony Rendon walked into the Nationals clubhouse Monday morning for the first time and looked around. "I feel like I'm a freshman back at rice," said the No. 6 overall pick in last year's draft. "I'm the rookie again. Published February 20 2012
