Mark Zuckerman
@markzuckerman.bsky.social
I didn't invent Facebook, but I do cover the Washington Nationals for MASNsports.com and co-host the Nats Chat podcast: https://www.natschatpodcast.com/
Reposted by Mark Zuckerman
Quick story on Georgetown Prep product Matt Mervis agreeing to a minor league deal with the Nats that includes an invite to spring training.
Merry Christmas Eve! www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Merry Christmas Eve! www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Nats sign local product Mervis to minor league deal
Santa Claus isn’t the only one who is busy on this Christmas Eve. The Nationals made a move to add depth to the roster after checking their offseason wish list twice.The Nats have signed first baseman...
www.masnsports.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Quick story on Georgetown Prep product Matt Mervis agreeing to a minor league deal with the Nats that includes an invite to spring training.
Merry Christmas Eve! www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Merry Christmas Eve! www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Nats are importing Mervis to a diamond in D.C. Financing not needed in this case.
The Nats have signed first baseman Matt Mervis to a minor league deal, per @jonheyman.bsky.social and @andrewgolden.bsky.social. The D.C. native and Georgetown Prep grad spent most of last year with the Marlins and also joined the D-backs on a minor league deal in August.
December 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Nats are importing Mervis to a diamond in D.C. Financing not needed in this case.
Reposted by Mark Zuckerman
Can also confirm this per source.
The Nats have signed first baseman Matt Mervis to a minor league deal, per @jonheyman.bsky.social and @andrewgolden.bsky.social. The D.C. native and Georgetown Prep grad spent most of last year with the Marlins and also joined the D-backs on a minor league deal in August.
December 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Can also confirm this per source.
Foster Griffin never believed his move to Japan in 2022 would lead to a guaranteed contract and rotation spot in the majors three years later. “It’s tough so far to wrap my head around it, to be honest with you.”
On the Nats’ new lefty: www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/g...
On the Nats’ new lefty: www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/g...
Griffin grateful for chance to return to MLB; Nats finalize coaching staff
Foster Griffin went to Japan three years ago not because he envisioned it would get him back to the major leagues eventually, but because at the time it was the only place that offered him a chance to...
www.masnsports.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Foster Griffin never believed his move to Japan in 2022 would lead to a guaranteed contract and rotation spot in the majors three years later. “It’s tough so far to wrap my head around it, to be honest with you.”
On the Nats’ new lefty: www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/g...
On the Nats’ new lefty: www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/g...
The Nationals' MLB coaching staff is now officially full. Only new name who hadn't previously been revealed is asst. hitting coach Shawn O'Malley, 37, who had been Mariners' AAA hitting coach last 2 seasons.
December 23, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The Nationals' MLB coaching staff is now officially full. Only new name who hadn't previously been revealed is asst. hitting coach Shawn O'Malley, 37, who had been Mariners' AAA hitting coach last 2 seasons.
Nationals officially announce the signing of LHP Foster Griffin. 30-year-old spent last 3 seasons with Yomiuri Giants, going 18–10 with 2.57 ERA in 54 starts. Deal is for $5.5 million plus incentives, source confirms.
December 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Nationals officially announce the signing of LHP Foster Griffin. 30-year-old spent last 3 seasons with Yomiuri Giants, going 18–10 with 2.57 ERA in 54 starts. Deal is for $5.5 million plus incentives, source confirms.
Nationals announce they’ve signed Warming Bernabel to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. 23-year-old, right-handed-hitting corner infielder had .698 OPS in 40 games with Rockies this season.
December 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Nationals announce they’ve signed Warming Bernabel to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. 23-year-old, right-handed-hitting corner infielder had .698 OPS in 40 games with Rockies this season.
Paul Toboni was willing to go without a GM for now. Then he decided two weeks ago to pursue the Phillies’ Ani Kilambi.
“I was very comfortable keeping this vacant if we didn’t come onto the right fit. Ani just happens to be an exceptional fit for us.”
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...
“I was very comfortable keeping this vacant if we didn’t come onto the right fit. Ani just happens to be an exceptional fit for us.”
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...
Well-regarded Kilambi "an exceptional fit for us" as Toboni's GM
Because Paul Toboni had previously suggested he might wait a while to hire a general manager, Anirudh Kilambi had little reason to expect a phone call from the Nationals’ new president of baseball ope...
www.masnsports.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Paul Toboni was willing to go without a GM for now. Then he decided two weeks ago to pursue the Phillies’ Ani Kilambi.
“I was very comfortable keeping this vacant if we didn’t come onto the right fit. Ani just happens to be an exceptional fit for us.”
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...
“I was very comfortable keeping this vacant if we didn’t come onto the right fit. Ani just happens to be an exceptional fit for us.”
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/w...
Paul Toboni and Ani Kilambi just completed a Zoom session with reporters. They only started talking 2 weeks ago about the GM position, so it came together really quick. Toboni praised Kilambi's combination of knowledge/humility: "He's an exceptional fit for us."
December 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Paul Toboni and Ani Kilambi just completed a Zoom session with reporters. They only started talking 2 weeks ago about the GM position, so it came together really quick. Toboni praised Kilambi's combination of knowledge/humility: "He's an exceptional fit for us."
Nationals have officially announced the hiring of Anirudh Kilambi as GM. Statement from POBO Paul Toboni:
December 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Nationals have officially announced the hiring of Anirudh Kilambi as GM. Statement from POBO Paul Toboni:
Paul Toboni has hired a GM after all: Anirudh Kilambi, a 31-year-old Berkeley grad who gained a reputation around baseball over the last decade as a data guru with the Rays and Phillies. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
Source: Toboni hiring data-expert Kilambi as Nats GM
The Nationals are hiring Anirudh Kilambi as general manager, giving president of baseball operations Paul Toboni a second-in-command executive with a strong analytics reputation within the sport after...
www.masnsports.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Paul Toboni has hired a GM after all: Anirudh Kilambi, a 31-year-old Berkeley grad who gained a reputation around baseball over the last decade as a data guru with the Rays and Phillies. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
Source confirms the Nationals are hiring Ani Kilambi as general manager. 31-year-old was asst. GM with Phillies, has strong background in R&D. Will work below POBO Paul Toboni. (ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported first)
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Source confirms the Nationals are hiring Ani Kilambi as general manager. 31-year-old was asst. GM with Phillies, has strong background in R&D. Will work below POBO Paul Toboni. (ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported first)
Paul Toboni’s first free agent signing is a former first-round pick who resurrected his career in Japan the last 3 seasons.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
Source: Nats signing lefty Griffin after successful stint in Japan
The first free agent signed by the Nationals’ new front office is a former first-round pick who went to Japan to resurrect his pitching career.The Nats are in agreement with left-hander Foster Griffin...
www.masnsports.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Paul Toboni’s first free agent signing is a former first-round pick who resurrected his career in Japan the last 3 seasons.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/s...
Nationals are signing LHP Foster Griffin to a 1-year, $5.5 million deal, pending physical, source confirms. 30-year-old starter made 7 MLB appearances with KC/TOR from 2020-22 but spent last 3 seasons in Japan, where he had a 2.57 ERA, 1.033 WHIP. (FanSided's Robert Murray reported first)
December 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Nationals are signing LHP Foster Griffin to a 1-year, $5.5 million deal, pending physical, source confirms. 30-year-old starter made 7 MLB appearances with KC/TOR from 2020-22 but spent last 3 seasons in Japan, where he had a 2.57 ERA, 1.033 WHIP. (FanSided's Robert Murray reported first)
Josh Bell heads to Minnesota, Jake Bennett heads to Boston, Luis Perales comes to DC.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...
Bell signs with Twins, Bennett traded to Red Sox for fellow pitching prospect
We’ll never know if there was a realistic chance of Josh Bell returning to the Nationals for another season, whether the new front office valued him the same way the previous front office did. Regardl...
www.masnsports.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Josh Bell heads to Minnesota, Jake Bennett heads to Boston, Luis Perales comes to DC.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/b...
Reposted by Mark Zuckerman
Luis Perales was the Red Sox’s No. 7 prospect per @mlbpipeline.com. Jake Bennett, a 2022 second-round pick who was high school and college teammates with Cade Cavalli, was the Nats’ No. 11 prospect.
Nationals have swapped pitching prospects with the Red Sox, sending LHP Jake Bennett to Boston for RHP Luis Perales, source confirms. (ESPN's Jeff Passan reported first.)
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
December 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Luis Perales was the Red Sox’s No. 7 prospect per @mlbpipeline.com. Jake Bennett, a 2022 second-round pick who was high school and college teammates with Cade Cavalli, was the Nats’ No. 11 prospect.
Nationals have swapped pitching prospects with the Red Sox, sending LHP Jake Bennett to Boston for RHP Luis Perales, source confirms. (ESPN's Jeff Passan reported first.)
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
December 16, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Nationals have swapped pitching prospects with the Red Sox, sending LHP Jake Bennett to Boston for RHP Luis Perales, source confirms. (ESPN's Jeff Passan reported first.)
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
Perales, 22, throws 100. Had TJ surgery in June '24, returned to pitch late this season, including in AZ Fall League.
Reposted by Mark Zuckerman
For the fourth straight year, the Twins are filling their opening at first base through free agency.
Josh Bell, who spent most of last season as DH with the Nationals, agreed to a one-year contract: www.startribune.com/twins-sign-f...
Josh Bell, who spent most of last season as DH with the Nationals, agreed to a one-year contract: www.startribune.com/twins-sign-f...
Twins sign first baseman to one-year contract
Bell, a 33-year-old switch hitter, hit .237 with 22 homers and 63 RBI in 140 games with the Washington Nationals last season.
www.startribune.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
For the fourth straight year, the Twins are filling their opening at first base through free agency.
Josh Bell, who spent most of last season as DH with the Nationals, agreed to a one-year contract: www.startribune.com/twins-sign-f...
Josh Bell, who spent most of last season as DH with the Nationals, agreed to a one-year contract: www.startribune.com/twins-sign-f...
The Nationals’ new front office wants to establish more of a presence in Japan. But that’s probably not going to happen right away.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
New front office putting Japanese market on backburner for now
Why did it take two decades before the Nationals signed their first free agent from Asia?“That market is a market that is built on relationships,” former general manager Mike Rizzo said. “You can’t go...
www.masnsports.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The Nationals’ new front office wants to establish more of a presence in Japan. But that’s probably not going to happen right away.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Nationals and Josiah Gray have agreed on a 1-year contract for 2026, avoiding arbitration. Source confirms he'll make $1.35 million (same as he made this year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery). Paul Toboni said this week Gray is expected to be ready for spring training.
December 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Nationals and Josiah Gray have agreed on a 1-year contract for 2026, avoiding arbitration. Source confirms he'll make $1.35 million (same as he made this year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery). Paul Toboni said this week Gray is expected to be ready for spring training.
More from the Winter Meetings on CJ Abrams, Brady House and how the Nationals intend to use the DH position.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
New regime's thoughts on Abrams, House and the DH position
With a new president of baseball operations and a new manager, there were no shortage of Nationals-related topics to bring up at the Winter Meetings this week. Paul Toboni and Blake Butera were pepper...
www.masnsports.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
More from the Winter Meetings on CJ Abrams, Brady House and how the Nationals intend to use the DH position.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Nationals have extended non-roster invitations to spring training to INF Orelvis Martinez, RHP Tyler Baum and RHP Eddy Yean.
December 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Nationals have extended non-roster invitations to spring training to INF Orelvis Martinez, RHP Tyler Baum and RHP Eddy Yean.
Reposted by Mark Zuckerman
This week was Paul Toboni's 1st Winter Meetings as the #Nats Pres of Baseball Operations:
www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...
www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...
Winter Meetings Recap — Nats Chat Podcast
Winter Meetings Recap
www.natschatpodcast.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:56 AM
This week was Paul Toboni's 1st Winter Meetings as the #Nats Pres of Baseball Operations:
www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...
www.natschatpodcast.com/episode-post...
On the state of the Nationals after the new regime’s first Winter Meetings.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/r...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/r...
Remodeled Nats acknowledge there's still plenty of work to do
Paul Toboni and Blake Butera each had attended several previous Winter Meetings in their roles with the Red Sox and Rays, respectively. Toboni had participated in high-level meetings in the organizati...
www.masnsports.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
On the state of the Nationals after the new regime’s first Winter Meetings.
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/r...
www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/r...
The Nationals took a shot at a high-upside, high-walk pitcher in today’s Rule 5 Draft, then started to restock their depleted farm system with six players in the minor league phase. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...
Nats take shot at erratic righty McGarry in Rule 5 Draft
ORLANDO, Fla. – The new Nationals front office’s first Rule 5 Draft pick is an experienced right-hander with elite stuff and high strikeout numbers, but a penchant for walking batters at an alarming r...
www.masnsports.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The Nationals took a shot at a high-upside, high-walk pitcher in today’s Rule 5 Draft, then started to restock their depleted farm system with six players in the minor league phase. www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/n...