While the big piece of news from yesterday’s conference call with local reporters was the suggestion that team’s managerial situation could be formally announced within the coming days, there were a few other noteworthy topics of discussion. Mark Zuckerman has the details over at Nats Insider, but here are some highlights:
- Adam LaRoche has started a throwing program and appears ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery.
- The Nationals continue to discuss a new contract with Chien-Ming Wang but the two sides aren’t any closer to an agreement yet. Rizzo still sounds optimistic a deal will get done.
- Anthony Rendon, the team’s first pick in last June’s draft, appears on schedule for Spring Training. He hasn’t participated in any baseball related activities since signing in August due to a shoulder injury suffered during his final season in college.
- Rizzo said that both Livan Hernandez and Ivan Rodriguez expressed a desire to wait until later in the offseason before discussing their options. It would seem both players know the respective ends to their careers are in sight and want to make the right decision should they play again. I know Hernandez has said repeatedly he’d be willing to pitch in any role if it meant returning to Washington but I don’t see the need to bring him back for another go around. Rodriguez is a tougher decision, and one that I think largely will be impacted by the team’s decision regarding Jesus Flores.
- It has long been speculated that the Nationals could have interest in Yu Darvish, should the right-hander be posted this winter. Rizzo confirmed that some of the team’s scouts have watching him pitch in Japan this year, but Rizzo himself has not seen him in person since the 2009 season.
- Finally, it is also worth noting that the team recognizes they would sacrifice the 16th selection in next year’s draft if they sign a Type A free agent (such as C.J. Wilson). That factor will go into the team’s discussions regarding those free agents before an offer is made.