AGRI Biz

It sure is going to be fun watching the Washington Nationals play baseball now that the adults are in charge. á Former general manager Jim Bowden would address a specific need by signing dozens of players in the hopes that one of them might make the team. á More often than not, however, the Nationals never got any better. He was like a shotgun, hoping that one pellet out of a thousand might reach ...

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com , the Washington Nationals are about to sign former Pirates' closer Matt Capps to a one-year deal. Capps' agent, Paul Kinsler, is denying any deal is close, but Olneyásays "multiple sources" are confirming the story. á Why would Capps, who was courted by a dozen teams, want to play for Washington? á The reason is simpleùMatt Capps still wants to be a closer, and the Nationals are one ...

Bill Ladson of Nationals.com reported Tuesday afternoon that the Washington Nationals are still interested in signing second baseman Orlando Hudson. á The team tried to sign Hudson, 31, last year but a concern over his physical made the Nationals shy away from the two-time All Star. He eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and had a solid season. á Many Nationals fansùand a few reportersùfeel that Hudson is past his prime and that ...

Were it not for the several feet of snow that has blanketed Washington D.C., you would be able to see NationalsÆ fans jumping up and down with glee at the news that their team has just agreed to terms with free agent pitcher Jason Marquis. á Maybe they can make snow angels instead. á Since their first season in Washington five years ago, the Nationals have signed just three free agent starters of consequence, ...

The Washington Nationals have been working very hard to answer some of their many lingering questions this offseason. Get rid of a closer who walked more batters than he struck out? Check. Bring in at least one, and possibly two, relievers to take his place? Check. Cover the teamÆs posterior, in case Jesus Flores is not 100 percent healthy, by signing a former all-star catcher willing to take on a reduced role? Check. Chase ...

Former PiratesÆ closer Matt Capps has said he has serious interest in signing with the Washington Nationals, and the Nationals are just as interested in Capps. á CappsÆ agent Paul Kinsler said that the Nationals are on a list of six or seven teams that Capps is very interested in. In a few days, he will narrow it down to three teams, and Kinsler said the Nationals will almost certainly be on ...

The baseball dominoes are beginning to fall, and it wonÆt be too long before the Washington Nationals know which free agent(s) will bolster their starting rotation. á Now that John Lackey is destined for Boston, and Roy Halladay is about to become a Philadelphia Philly, the rest of that second tier of starters is about to play their own version of musical chairs. á You better grab your seat now, because if you wait ...

It’s the night of the Non-Tendered, a scary, Halloween-like time when perfectly healthy baseball players are culled and cut from the body that loved and nurtured them. It’s the baseball version of “The Night of the Living Dead." The Washington Nationals, as expected, decided to non-tender pitcher Scott Olsen, who they received in a trade with the Florida Marlins a year ago. This was not unexpected, as Olsen was coming off his worst ...

When the Washington Nationals traded Brian Schneider and Ryan Church to the New York Mets two seasons ago, I expected that Church, just 28 at the time, was ready to blossom into sold-if-unspectacular player for the Mets. á Injuries kept that from happening. But when the Atlanta Braves traded Jeff Francouer to New York to acquire Church, I thought his potential outweighed his performance, and that he would be with the Braves ...

My, how the tide has turned. á When reports first broke late last night that the Washington Nationals had signed future Hall-of-Fame catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to a two-year, $6 million contract, comment boxes around the Internet were filled with ôOh my gosh, I canÆt believe it!ö responses. á The last-place, dead-from-the-neck-up Washington Natinals Nationals had somehow convinced Rodriguez, one of baseballÆs all-time greatest catchers, to sign with them. He might start, he could ...