District Daily: Nats News 3/18
By Pablo Roa
Mar 17, 2014; Lakeland, FL, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder
Bryce Harper(34) signs autographs before a scheduled spring training exhibition game with the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Start off your day with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web:
Washington Nationals not balking at Brevard
Brevard County leaders are growing optimistic they can keep the Washington Nationals for spring training.
County Commissioner Robin Fisher met this month for 2 ½ hours with two top Nationals’ officials at his office. He said he came away from the meeting feeling the Nationals no longer are focusing solely on an “exit strategy” to move their spring training out of Space Coast Stadium in Viera before their lease expires in 2017.
“It was a positive conversation,” Fisher said. “They want to continue to have a conversation with us” about what it will take to keep the Nationals’ spring training operations in Viera.
This was the county’s first significant interaction with the Nationals on this issue since August, when Fisher pitched the team a county plan to spend $29 million to upgrade the stadium. In return for improvements — which would be paid for with a combination of state and county money — the team would have to sign a new 20-year lease. Read full article here.
Doug Fister pleased with two innings in minor league game
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
For the first time in two weeks, Doug Fister climbed onto a mound and faced hitters on Monday morning. Fister, acquired by the Nationals in an offseason trade, has been receiving treatment for inflammation in his elbow — which he first felt after his first spring training start on March 2.
The right-handed starter threw two innings against minor leaguers, prospects and some major league hitters, such as Jayson Werth. Fister didn’t complain of any pain afterward, an encouraging enough sign that Manager Matt Williams said the right-hander’s next outing will probably be back in a major league spring training game.
Fister was slated to throw around 30 pitches on Monday, so he faced more than the normal three outs in an inning. He struck out four batters, induced a double play and surrendered three hits, including a home run to Werth. Read full article here.
Catcher Koyie Hill traded to Phillies
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
Catcher Koyie Hill, who was reassigned to the minor leagues earlier on Monday, was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to a person familiar with the deal. Hill, 35, signed a minor league deal with theNationals in the winter and was invited to major league camp. Read full article here.