District Daily: Nationals reach out to Zimm’s agent, plan Harper shift
By Pablo Roa
Oct 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (left) walks off the field with first baseman Adam LaRoche (25) after the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
Good afternoon DoD readers! Check out some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web in today’s District Daily:
Nats reach out to Zimm’s agent, plan Harper shift
SAN DIEGO — The Nationals didn’t make any trades Wednesday, but general manager Mike Rizzo had a lot to say. He indicated that he met with Jordan Zimmermann‘s agent Wednesday. Rizzo said the conversation was more of a “reacquaintance” as far as talking about philosophies and parameters.
“It was a good initial discussion,” Rizzo said.
Zimmermann, right-hander Doug Fister and shortstop Ian Desmond are free agents after the 2015 season, and the Nationals are listening to trade offers on those players. But asked if Zimmermann, Fister and Desmond all were going to be with the team during Spring Training, Rizzo said, “Yeah, we are planning on having all three of them.” Read full article here.
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Bryce Harper ready to hit in the middle of the lineup, may play right field
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
No matter what the Washington Nationals do this winter, they are planning for next season with the expectation that an important player will shoulder a heavier load in all facets of the game. Despite a trying season that featured injury and drama, Bryce Harper’s tantalizing playoff performance may have been a watershed moment for him. He yearns for the big moment and he shined during the NLDS, almost single-handedly carrying the offense with three home runs. Nationals officials believe a light switch flipped on in Harper’s mind.
Heading into his fourth major league season in 2015, Harper is expected to play an ever larger role in the lineup, in the clubhouse and on the field. And he may even play right field, allowing Jayson Werth to move to left. The loss of Adam LaRoche, the team’s cleanup hitter and a left-handed bat, has left the Nationals’ lineup right-handed heavy. Read full article here.