Stephen Strasburg, the number one overall draft pick of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, has agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals. Facing a deadline of midnight on Monday, the Nationals were able to strike a deal with just minutes to spare. The contract is reportedly worth more than $15.5 million over four years.
Strasburg is one of the highest rated baseball prospects of the last twenty years. A starting pitcher for San Diego State, Strasburg was simply dominant on the college level. The lanky right-hander has an overpowering fastball and a devastating curveball in his arsenal. In his …read more

After Manny Acta got fired as manager of the Washington Nationals, the name that immediately popped up as a possible replacement was Jim Riggleman. On Monday, Riggleman officially took over as the Nationals new manager.
Currently, Washington has a 26-61 record — which is good enough for the worst record in all of baseball. After finishing with the worst record last year, Riggleman will have his work cut out for him in regards to changing the atmosphere in the Nationals clubhouse.
Washington’s main problem is their pitching. They’ve given up 489 runs so far this season. Only the Cleveland Indians have given …read more

More than a month in the 2009 baseball season, the worst teams in the league are already looking ahead to 2010. Who are the worst of the worst? Here’s a look at the teams that wish they could push the reset button the 2009 baseball season.
5) Baltimore Orioles
Although the Orioles have a handful of very good players on their squad, the team as a whole is heading to another season without a postseason appearance.
4) Cleveland Indians
Before the season started, the Indians were an American League sleeper pick. Now? They just appear as if they are asleep.
3) Pittsburgh Pirates
Not long ago, …read more

The Washington Nationals have a record of 1-10. They’ve been bad for as long as the Nationals have been in existence. However, they have apparently found a piece of their team that they want to stick around. Over the weekend, the Nationals gave Ryan Zimmerman a $45 million extension.
The deal is over five years and will keep Zimmerman in the fold as they try to build the team around him. On the year, Zimmerman is hitting .275 with two homers and ten RBIs. The 24-year-old out of the University of Virginia has played with Washington since 2005.
His best season came …read more

Heading into extra innings, the Florida Marlins did something they have done many times this year — they pulled out the victory. In the top of the 11th, Jeremy Hermida hit a three-run bomb to put the Marlins up for good by a final count of 9-6.
With the win, the Marlins are now 10-1 on the season. That marks the best start in franchise history after 11 games.
The team that took the loss on Saturday isn’t new to the loss column. The Washington Nationals are now 1-9 after ten games.
The Nationals actually appeared to be heading to a victory with …read more

Adam Dunn has hit exactly 40 home runs in each of the last four seasons. The 29-year-old outfielder is a free agent and has interested quite a number of teams. Here are the top destinations based on Adam Dunn rumors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers may have given up in their hope of re-signing Manny Ramirez. If that is the case, Dunn is the next logical option for Los Angeles. He’s not quite as talented but he can replace most of the bop in the middle of the lineup that Ramirez provided.
Baltimore Orioles
After striking out in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, the Orioles …read more

A few days ago, we speculated on where Mark Teixeira will end up. That five-team race appears to be down to four teams after the Los Angeles Angels announced that they have rescinded the offer to Teixeira.
The Angels’ offer is believed to have been an eight-year contract worth at least $160 million. Sources indicate that the Angels didn’t believe they were still in the running and didn’t want to waste time on a lost cause.
Now that the Angels have dropped out, the remaining four teams in the running are the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and the Boston …read more

Mark Teixeira
It sounds like the Los Angeles Angels are going to do whatever it takes to keep Mark Teixeira. The first baseman who they traded for in the middle of the 2008 season is a player the team would hate to see let go. Others thought to be interested include the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles.
CC Sabathia
The 2007 American League Cy Young Award winner pitched great for the Milwaukee Brewers after they aquired him in a midseason trade. The Brewers want to keep him and are reportedly willing to give him $20 million per …read more

For the second consecutive season, the Philadelphia Phillies have won the NL East. To win it in style, the Phillies executed a remarkable double-play to end the game. The play by shortstop Jimmy Rollins is well worth watching in the video at the end of this entry.
The double play conserved a hard fought 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. At the plate, the most productive hitter for the Phillies was Shane Victorino, who went 3-4 with a run. The pitching star was none other than the ageless Jamie Moyer. Moyer gave up one run in six innings and picked up …read more

Kansas City Royals
The Royals actually have a lot of talented arms. The problem in Kansas City this year is their total lack of hitting. The Royals are 23-34 and they are lucky to be that good with the way they’ve swung the bat. The good news is Jose Guillen has started to heat up so perhaps there is hope for the Royals.
San Diego Padres
The Padres play in a pitcher’s park but that doesn’t totally explain why they are last in the NL in runs scored. Adrian Gonzalez is having a good season but that can’t be …read more