Today’s District Daily features stories on how Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond helped the Washington Nationals reach an organizational milestone this offseason and the team’s promotional schedule for 2016.
Good afternoon DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s James Wagner discusses how Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond helped the Nationals reach a significant organizational milestone this offseason. As Wagner notes in the article, Zimmermann and Desmond are the first homegrown players to stay with the team through their original contracts and leave via free agency.
According to Wagner, the Nationals drafted 304 players from 2004-2009, and up until now, Desmond and Zimmermann are the only ones to leave as free agents. Some players were traded, others (namely Ryan Zimmerman) signed contract extensions, and other players were released or non-tendered.
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Of course, for a team that relies so heavily on player development and a strong farm system, watching homegrown players leave is inevitable. Stephen Strasburg will likely join Desmond and Zimmermann on the list next offseason, and others will surely follow soon after.
Hopefully for the Nationals, they’ll be able to get several homegrown stars to stay in D.C. in the longterm, such as Anthony Rendon and, of course, Bryce Harper.
Also in today’s Daily, the Post’s Scott Allen discusses the Nationals’ promotional schedule for 2016, which the team is set to release on Friday.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond made Nationals history this winter
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond made history this offseason, simply by being the first homegrown Nationals to reach free agency with Washington. (Although Desmond, drafted in 2004 by Montreal, arguably needs a small asterisk).
From 2005-09, the Nationals drafted 254 players. Zimmermann, taken in 2007, was the first — and so far only — player to reach free agency as a National. Expanding the equation to including Desmond in 2004, just two — he and Zimmermann — of 304 players drafted from ’04-09 became free agents with the team. Read full article here.
The Nats’ 2016 promotional schedule is coming. There will be bobbleheads.
(Scott Allen, Washington Post)
Leading up to the release of their full promotional schedule on Friday, the Nationals are revealing a few of their giveaways for the 2016 season on Twitter over the next three days. Fans who retweet the announcements will be entered in a sweepstakes to win one of nine Nationals branded grills, which, unfortunately, will not be one of the freebies at the gates for fans this summer. Maybe next year.
Wednesday’s reveals included Nationals sunglasses for the team’s home opener on April 7 and a Racing President Teddy window cling on April 26. During a “Hot Stove Session” for full-season ticket holders on Saturday, Nationals chief revenue and marketing officer Valerie Camillo mentioned a few other promotions on tap for 2016.Read full article here.