The Washington Nationals just sent out a press release announcing they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher J.D. Martin, catcher Carlos Maldonado and first baseman Kevin Barker on minor-league contracts with invitations to Spring Training.
Additionally, the Nationals extended Spring Training invitations to right-handed pitcher Josh Wilkie, left-handed pitcher Matt Chico and catchers

Adrian Nieto, a minor league catcher in the Washington Nationals organization, was suspended today after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, according to multiple sources citing a Major League Baseball release.
According to MASN.com’s Ben Goessling:  The release said Nieto tested positive for Oxandrolone, a drug primarily used to stimulate weight gain, and metabolite, which is a

The Washington Nationals traded OF Justin Maxwell, who was designated for assignment late last week, to the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Adam Olbrychowski, according to multiple sources.
Olbrychowski, a 24-year old converted starter, has three total appearances in Double-A over the last two seasons, facing a grand total of 23 batters. In four minor league seasons,

Now that we’ve all dug out of this weeks’ snowstorm and steel ourselves for next week’s apocalyptic storm, let’s take a look at yesterday’s big news, the DFA of OF Justin Maxwell to make room for Todd Coffey on the 40-man roster.
Maxwell, 27, is a toolsy outfielder: tall and lean, strong and fast.  He plays very good defense in centerfield, and has solid power — when he makes contact.  That’s

The Washington Nationals were busy this off-season, collecting and discarding real-life players like a 12-year old collects baseball cards (If 12-year olds still collected baseball cards).
With pitchers and catchers reporting date only a few weeks off, let’s take a look at how the lineup shapes up at this point.  Granted, GM Mike Rizzo might not be done tinkering with his roster, but we’re far

Shairon Martis delivers for Nats in 2009. (C.Nichols/NatsNewsNetwork.com)
Today, the Washington Nationals designated RHP Shairon Martis for assignment.  The move accompanies the approval by Major League Baseball of Jerry Hairston’s 2011 contract.
Martis, 24 in March, went 8-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.421 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 27 games — all starts — for Triple-A Syracuse last season. 

The Washington Nationals have been busy the last few days.
Friday, they introduced 1B Adam LaRoche to the media.  Monday, they traded for LHP Tom Gorzelanny – sending away three minor leaguers in the deal – and signed infielder Alex Cora to a minor league contract. 
Tuesday, word surfaced that they signed right-handed reliever Todd Coffey, though no terms have been announced or leaked yet.

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals traded three minor league players to the Chicago Cubs for Tom Gorzelanny, a 28-year old left-handed pitcher.  For the last two seasons, Gorzelanny has been shuttled between the starting rotation and the bullpen by the Cubs.  The pitching-starved Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was a former second round draft pick and had his best season in 2007 going 14-10 with a

According to multiple sources, the Washington Nationals have traded three "mid-level" minor league prospects to the Chicago Cubs for 28 year old left handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny.
Sources also have said two of the three prospects are OF Michael Burgess and RHP A.J. Morris.
Gorzelanny has pitched for the Pirates and Cubs in his six year Major League career, and has bounced between the rotation

Today at Nats Park, with snow still covering the field where shadows keep the sun away, the Washington Nationals introduced first baseman Adam LaRoche as the newest member of the team.  LaRoche signed a two-year deal worth $16 million, plus a team option on a third year last week.
The oft-traveled left-handed 31-year old joins his fifth Major League team in his eighth big league season.
LaRoche

Nats GM Mike Rizzo hasn’t landed a pitcher this off-season…yet. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)
Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo stated in the fall his top priority this off-season was to acquire a "top of the rotation" starting pitcher for 2011.  The free agent class was remarkably weak in starting pitching this year, and when rumors started floating that it would take $20

I do not have a vote in the BBWAA process.  I do, however, belong to two organizations that also vote on Hall of Fame "suggestions", the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.
Last year the IBWAA elected Bert Blyleven and this year included Roberto Alomar.
This season, the BBA elected both Blyleven and Alomar.
You’d think us internet geeks would be

With the Washington Nationals signing of 1B Adam LaRoche yesterday, the Nats have essentially solidified their lineup for next season.  Really.  All that’s left is to pick up a right-handed hitting utility player for the bench.
Despite all the national media insisting the Nats are still "in" on Carl Pavano, GM Mike Rizzo told Tom Boswell the other day the Nats haven’t spoken with the free agent

Multiple sources confirm the Washington Nationals have signed free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche to a two ear deal, reportedly for $16 million total.
LaRoche is a left-handed hitting eight-year veteran who averages .271/.339/.488 with 25 homers and 93 RBIs per 162 games throughout his career.
LaRoche has hit exactly 25 home runs each of the last three seasons, including in 2010 with Arizona. 

–Updated 4:07 pm.  Thanks to reader Todd Boss for the reminder, the Nats apparently need to clear three spots on the 40-man due to the Chien-Ming Wang signing.
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The Washington Nationals signed 31-year old outfielder Rick Ankiel to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.  According to Nats Insider, the deal also includes $1.25 million in performance bonuses.
Ankiel, very famously, came up as a

We’re still trying to confirm this information, but according to his verified twitter account and theoretically "official" blog, former San Diego Padres second baseman Matt Antonelli has signed a free agent contract with the Washington Nationals.
From the blog post:  Over the past week my agent has spoken with a bunch of different clubs about the possibility of me joining their team come February

Washington Nationals have acquired CF Corey Brown and RP Henry Rodriguez from the Oakland Athletic in exchange for LF Josh Willingham, General manager Mike Rizzo announced via press release moments ago
Overall last season, Brown, 24, hit .283/.370/.466 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs between Double and Triple A.  He stole 22 bases in 24 attempts.  He bats and throws left-handed.
Last season’s

"I’ve been in the post-season a lot the last few years, and that’s what it’s all about.  That’s what you play for."
""You finally get to free agency, you have a chance to do something special for yourself and for your family. There’s a lot of things that go into it."
–Jayson Werth, at his introductory press conference.
(D.Nichols/Nats News Network)
The obligatory handshakes and jersey

Matt Stairs crossing home plate at Nats Park
as a member of the Padres.
(C.Nichols/NatsNewsNetwork)
The Washington Nationals announced this morning they signed 1B/OF/PH Matt Stairs to a non-guaranteed minor league contract, which includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Stairs is an 18-year big league veteran who has competed in four post-seasons and won a World Series

By all accounts, Carlos Pena is a quality human being and leader of men.  There are several people with the Washington Nationals that would have loved him to be a leader in this organization.  They liked his left-handed power bat and nimbleness around first base.  He would have been a great free agent signing for this team.
Four years ago.
Anybody in baseball could have had Pena for a song after