Washington Nationals

After waiting to see how Anthony Rendon's elbow would respond to rest, the Washington Nationals placed him on the 10-day injury list Tuesday.

The Nationals announced the third baseman has a left elbow contusion and that the move is retroactive to April 27. 

Rendon played just once in the past 10 days after Miami Marlins starter Jose Urena hit him with a pitch on April 20. 

The Nationals put Rendon in the lineup on April 26 against the San Diego Padres. He played all nine innings but went 0-for-3 with one strikeout and another hit-by-pitch. 

Rendon told reporters after his initial setback he wasn't expecting to go on the injury list since his X-ray was negative. 

"I'm still breathing, so I'm doing all right," he said. "It's just a little swollen. … I think just hopefully got to see if it's less swollen tomorrow. I'm assuming it's day by day and see how I feel in the morning. We have medicine and a big patch on it, hopefully it will subside."

Rendon has been Washington's most valuable offensive player this season. The 28-year-old is hitting .356/.442/.740 with 16 extra-base hits in 73 at-bats. 

Nationals manager Dave Martinez will likely continue to use Howie Kendrick at third base until Rendon can return. Kendrick is also off to a hot start in 2018 with a .306/.393/.612 slash line in 20 games.  

The Washington Nationals are trying to succeed with Anthony Rendon where they failed with Bryce Harper.

Per Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, Washington's best offer to Harper was for 10 years and $300 million, but with $100 million in deferred money. The 2015 National League MVP smartly held out for a 13-year, $330 million free-agent contract with Washington's NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Evidently wary of also losing Rendon to free agency this coming winter, general manager Mike Rizzo and principal owner Mark Lerner met with the 28-year-old on Tuesday about a possible contract extension, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.

It's notable that Tuesday's meeting was the latest stage in talks that have been happening on and off for more than a year. Though no deal has been struck, some momentum might exist. 

Unless, of course, Rendon wants to keep turning the screw by pursuing an MVP of his own.

Though his first 16 games of 2019, Rendon has indeed been hitting like an MVP with a .387/.458/.806 batting line and 14 extra-base hits.

Anthony Rendon's last 12 G:

March 30 - 1B, 2B
March 31 - 2 1B
April 2 - 1B, HR
April 3 - 1B, 2B, HR
April 4 - 2B
April 6 - 2B, HR
April 7 - HR
April 8 - 2B
April 9 - 1B, 2B
April 10 - 1B, 2B
April 12 - 2 HR
April 13 - 2B pic.twitter.com/2DKxesRdCk

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 13, 2019

After serving up one of Rendon's two home runs last Friday, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams didn't hold back with what he thought of Washington's third baseman.

"He's the best player in baseball right now. I thought I made a good pitch, and he put a better swing on it," he said, per MLB.com's Jamal Collier. "What he's doing right now is very impressive. It's fun to watch when we're not playing him. It's tough to watch when we are playing him."

Though this may be the first time anyone has pointed to Rendon as the best player in all of Major League Baseball, his status as the best player in Washington, D.C. is actually nothing new. He was often lost in Harper's shadow during their six seasons as teammates, yet he (21.0) outpaced Harper (18.5) in wins above replacement between 2014 and 2018, according to Baseball Reference. 

Rendon was particularly good in 2017 and 2018, across which he put up a .923 OPS with 49 homers and 10.1 WAR. A largely banged-up and inconsistent Harper could muster only 5.9 WAR.

Still, Rendon apparently didn't put too high a price on himself in talks with the Nationals. According to a January report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, he had been shooting for a deal comparable to Jose Altuve's seven-year, $163.5 million contract extension with the Houston Astros.

The big picture changed in February, however, when the Colorado Rockies signed superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado to an eight-year, $260 million extension. Rendon is less than a year older than Arenado, and the two have actually been equal offensive players once the Coors Field effect is accounted for.

Speculatively, that gave Rendon an excuse to push his price closer to $200 million before the 2019 season even began. Now the only question may be why he wouldn't demand a nine-figure deal that starts with a two.

There's always been little to dislike about the way Rendon handles himself at the plate, but there's basically nothing to dislike right now. He's achieved a sort of hitting nirvana in which he's swinging strictly at pitches that are good to hit and putting them right on the barrel.

The progression of Rendon's overall swing rate is a zig-zagging line, but he's been zeroing in on pitches in the heart of the strike zone like a T-800 on a member of the Connor clan. Baseball Savant tracks swing rates for that specific area, and Rendon's keeps going upward:

• 2015: 64.9 percent
• 2016: 67.9 percent
• 2017: 69.0 percent
• 2018: 75.5 percent
• 2019: 77.8 percent

As Rendon's aggression against these pitches has increased, so too has his slugging percentage against them. It currently stands at a whopping .917.

Not coincidentally, Rendon's average launch angle (20.6 degrees) and exit velocity (94.9 mph) are also the best they've been in the Statcast era. And lest anyone think that combination of numbers is common, this plot shows the opposite is true:

This doesn't quite translate to Rendon being the best hitter in baseball, but he's high up there. According to Statcast's xwOBA metric—based on strikeouts, walks and contact quality—his .532 mark trails only Mike Trout (0.542) and Cody Bellinger (0.584).

At this point, Rendon's defensive metrics, which are in the red so far, are the only things worth griping about. But it's a tad early to take those readings at face value, especially since he has generally rated as a well-above-average defensive third baseman.

All this puts Rendon firmly in the driver's seat for extension talks with the Nationals, though he has yet another reason not to rush things to the finish line. 

Not too long ago, he was slated to be just one star among many on the 2019-20 market. But Arenado took himself off the list when he signed his deal, and Chris Sale, Xander Bogaerts, Paul Goldschmidt and Justin Verlander swiftly followed suit. As a result, Rendon is now slated to be this winter's best free agent.

If he doesn't get a $200 million deal from the Nationals sometime this summer, he'll almost certainly get one on the open market should he keep doing what he's been doing.

For their part, Nationals fans have been vocal about what they would do with Rendon if it were up to them: "Lock him up."

                  

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant. 

Washington Nationals star third baseman Anthony Rendon and general manager Mike Rizzo reportedly met on Tuesday, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, who noted that Rendon had resumed contract negotiations with the team. 

He wrote: 

"The end result of the meeting isn't clear yet, but the fact it happened underscores the continued desire of both sides to continue talks in the hopes of consummating a deal that would keep Rendon in Washington long-term and prevent him from becoming a free agent at season's end.

"Rendon and the Nationals have talked on and off for more than a year, with the most recent meeting believed to have taken place in spring training. The two sides remained 'far apart' after that last session, according to a source, but expressed a willingness to continue discussions."

Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic and Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post also reported the two sides had resumed negotiations:

Heard this earlier today as well. Negotiations continue. Credit Zuck with the deets. https://t.co/07htt9msFf

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 16, 2019

Lerner hasn't been at Nationals Park since Opening Day. So, him and Rizzo meeting with Rendon is interesting to say the least.

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 16, 2019

Told meeting was impromptu and doesn't set a timeline for where negotiations will go from here. Talks had been stalled before this as written in this story that will be tweaked a bit to reflect this: https://t.co/JmZHkWYPYw

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) April 16, 2019

As for negotiating during the season, Rendon said he had no problem doing so.

"No, I don't care," he said. "We can talk as much you want. I'm all ears. I'm a great listener. But it's not going to distract me. At least I say it won't. And if it does become an issue, then I'll address it. But thus far, it’s been alright."

The 28-year-old Rendon doesn't appear to be distracted. He's been red-hot this season, hitting .400 with six homers, 17 RBI and 18 runs. He looks poised to have his biggest season yet, no small feat for a player who has posted at least 20 homers and 85 RBI in the past three seasons.

Certainly, his hot start has made the loss of superstar Bryce Harper in free agency to the rival Philadelphia Phillies slightly more palatable. 

The Nationals reportedly made Rendon a contract offer in February, according to Dougherty, though a source told Dougherty that offer was "not in the right neighborhood."

Given the number of high-profile contract extensions this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Nationals and Rendon work out a deal before he becomes a free agent next winter. On the other hand, Rendon will likely be seeking something in the neighborhood of the eight-year, $260 million contract the Colorado Rockies gave fellow third baseman Nolan Arenado. 

The Nationals drew a line in the sand with Harper and ultimately lost him. It will be fascinating to see where they are willing to go to keep Rendon. 

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after suffering a broken finger.

Per MASN Sports' Mark Zuckerman, Turner was removed in the first inning after being hit in the hand attempting a bunt against Phillies starter Zach Eflin. After the game, manager Dave Martinez told reporters Turner's finger was broken. 

After injuries limited Turner to 98 games in 2017, he turned into an iron man for the Nationals last season. He appeared in all 162 games, posting a .271/.344/.416 slash line and led the National League with 43 stolen bases. 

Turner is the engine that makes Washington's lineup go. The 25-year-old primarily hits out of the leadoff spot, using his patient approach at the plate and speed to get on base for Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to drive him in. 

With Turner out of action for the time being, Martinez will likely turn to Wilmer Difo at shortstop. Difo is a career .250/.310/.358 slash line in 319 games since making his MLB debut in 2015. 

The NL East is a loaded division with the Nationals expected to be in a battle with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. Losing Turner puts Washington at a disadvantage in the race early this season. 

As Bryce Harper prepares to make his first trip to Nationals Park as a visiting player Tuesday, he tipped his cap to the franchise he spent his first seven MLB seasons with.

The Philadelphia Phillies star took to Instagram to show his appreciation for the Washington Nationals and their fans:

Bryce Harper writes thank you note to Nationals ahead of his return to Washington pic.twitter.com/a3eCIdFdp9

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 2, 2019

"If you would have told me 5 years ago I would be walking into Nationals Park as an opposing player, I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Five years later, I’m doing just that. I remember the first day I walked into Nats Park. My first base hit. My first home run. And, of course, my first standing ovation. Nationals fans delivered that first ovation. The things that I will miss most are the relationships I gained on a personal level with so many of the Nationals staff and workers around the ballpark. Every day I walked in, I got a smile or shared a laugh with you. I especially want to thank The Lerner Family and Mike Rizzo for the unwavering support they showed me during my tenure in DC. The city of DC was home. Filomena’s, The Silver Diner, The Italian store, and countless other places helped make it feel like home. You, Nationals fans, made me one of your own for the entire time I was a part of the Nationals organization. I’m so blessed to have been able to play for a fan base that cared so much about our team each and every night. You will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what. I look forward to continuing Harpers Heroes with LLS in the DMV as well as making sure the legacy fields bearing my name are the best youth fields in town! When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU."

After becoming the No. 1 pick in 2010, Harper earned six All-Star selections, the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year award, the 2015 NL MVP award, a 2015 Silver Slugger and the 2018 Home Run Derby title. He also helped the Nationals to four postseason appearances.

Harper recently told the Washington Post's Barry Svrluga that he had anticipated re-signing with Washington as a free agent this past winter. A 10-year, $300 million offer in September had him optimistic about staying with the club, and a December meeting appeared to help the odds. 

However, the Nationals' second offer of 12 years and $250 million with deferred money signaled the end of his stay in the nation's capital. 

The 26-year-old signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Phillies, which was then the record for the largest contract in North American sports history.

Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with his new team this past offseason, but he reportedly could have been paid through 2072 if he remained with the Washington Nationals. 

Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reported on the lengthy process that was Harper's free agency and noted the Nationals' initial offer to the slugger came during the 2018 campaign. The deal was for 10 years and $300 million with payments deferred until 2052.

Things appeared to be trending toward a reunion even more when the two sides met on Dec. 23 and Harper expressed his excitement to return to the only MLB team he had ever known.

"I'm sitting there like, 'I'm going to be a National. I'm going to be a National,'" he said. "'They're going to make me an offer this week. We're going to build off of that, and it's going to happen.' I told Kayla, 'Be ready to go back.' I flat-out told her. I was psyched. I was like, 'Be ready to go back, because if we can, we're going back.' I was pumped."

However, Svrluga reported the Nationals reduced their offer to 12 years and $250 million on Jan. 3. Most incredibly, the new offer featured deferred payments that last until 2072.

"I don't want to take something that's way, far less than I'd get elsewhere, and less than the first offer, with high deferrals," Harper said of the offer. "I don't want to be a guy that gets paid till I'm 65. That doesn't do it for me."

He went on to say he didn't particularly want to play on the West coast despite taking meetings with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He also pointed to discussions he had with former Nationals teammate Jayson Werth about playing and living in Philadelphia.

According to Svrluga, Harper was sure he wanted to sign with the Phillies when his agent, Scott Boras, called him on Feb. 28 with the news of the 13-year, $330 million contract that didn't defer any of the payments.

As a result, Philadelphia added a 26-year-old with a National League MVP, National League Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and six All-Star Game nods to their team after already landing Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto during the offseason.

The Phillies haven't been to the playoffs since the 2011 campaign but are off to a 3-0 start this season with their new firepower. Harper already has two home runs through the first three games.

He will play against his former team for the first time Tuesday and give it an up-close look at who it is missing and who it could have paid until 2072.

Although a number of MLB stars have signed long-term extensions ahead of the 2019 season, the Washington Nationals and Anthony Rendon "are not close" on a new deal, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Rendon, who's making $18.8 million, is in the final year of his contract.

Although the Nationals failed to re-sign Bryce Harper, they have several large financial commitments. Washington signed Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year, $175 million extension in 2016, and it will have spent $350 million on Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, adding the pair in free agency.

Rendon is coming off a season in which he remained one of MLB's best third basemen. He had a .308/.374/.535 slash line to go with 24 home runs and 92 RBI. His 6.2 WAR ranked ninth among all position players, per FanGraphs.

Failing to re-sign Rendon and then watching him join a competitor would be a tough blow on two fronts.

First, the Nationals will have lost two of their best hitters in consecutive offseasons. Ownership can to some extent justify failing to match the 13-year, $330 million offer Harper got from the Philadelphia Phillies by saying it was reserving a large chunk of money for Rendon. That excuse goes out the window the minute he leaves.

Then there's the fact that Washington is still a title contender. Otherwise, it wouldn't have added Corbin, who was the top starting pitcher on the open market. Rendon's departure would leave a massive hole in the lineup, and the Nationals couldn't simply address that in free agency.

Nolan Arenado took himself out of the equation after he signed an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Colorado Rockies this offseason. Josh Donaldson, meanwhile is 33 years old and coming off an injury-riddled 2018 season. Even if he has a big 2019 with the Atlanta Braves, he'd be a clear step below Rendon.

Although it appears Rendon and the Nationals remain far apart in negotiations, an agreement could come together quickly.

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom told reporters last week he wasn't optimistic about the chances of finalizing an extension with the team. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday the sides agreed to a five-year, $137.5 million extension.

As Bryce Harper remains unsigned with spring training camps starting to heat up, it appears as though a reunion with the Washington Nationals is unlikely.

Nationals owner Mark Lerner revealed to NBC Sports Washington's Lisa Redmond on Friday that the team has "moved on" and it has not heard from the prized free agent or his representative Scott Boras in "months":

"Nothing's certainly changed on our end. We've moved on. As I said back then and we had to. There was no way we could wait around. Bryce, I'm sure will make his decision hopefully in the next few days, but we've filled out our roster and like I said, we wish him nothing but the best.

"But there's always that, the door's cracked a little bit. I have no clue at this point what they're up to. We really haven't heard from them in a couple months."

Back in November, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported the Nationals had offered the 2015 National League MVP a 10-year, $300 million contract, a deal that did not include any opt-outs.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden later noted in January that the team's most recent offer was "much more than the $300 million being reported by the media."

That increased offer apparently wasn't enough to get a deal done, though. At least not yet.

Harper hit .249/.393/.496 with 34 home runs, 34 doubles and 100 RBI in 2018, using a strong second half (.300 average post-All-Star break) to finish his walk year on a high note. 

And with Washington playing host to the 2018 MLB All-Star festivities, Harper put on a show for the hometown crowd on his way to the Home Run Derby title:

That was just the latest feat achieved by the Nationals star. Along with an MVP award and a Derby title, Harper already has accumulated six All-Star selections, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year award and a 2015 NL Silver Slugger. 

That's quite the resume, especially for someone who is only 26 years old.

The Harper sweepstakes are expected to heat up now that Manny Machado is off the market. Machado's record-breaking contract with the San Diego Padres became official on Thursday. The 10-year, $300 million pact is the largest free-agent deal in North American sports history.

In other words, Harper and Boras now know the number to beat.

The Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox are all among the teams to show interest in Harper this offseason.

Jon Heyman of Fancred reported on Thursday that San Diego remains in the mix even after signing Machado, while USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweeted that the White Sox have dropped out.

According to Heyman, Harper is believed to have turned down "multiple offers over $300 million" in recent weeks.

If the Washington Nationals are going to re-sign outfielder Bryce Harper, it reportedly won't be for a deal comparable to the one Manny Machado received from the San Diego Padres.

According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Mark Feinsand and Jamal Collier, the Nats have "no plans" to match the 10-year, $300 million contract San Diego handed to Machado this week.

That is despite the fact Washington offered Harper $300 million over 10 years near the end of the 2018 season, which Harper rejected.

MLB.com noted that Washington's offer during the 2018 season included $100 million in deferred money, meaning it isn't as valuable as the $300 million in guaranteed money that Machado landed.

Given the Nationals' reported unwillingness to throw caution to the wind financially when it comes to Harper, the field appears to be narrowing. MLB.com tabbed the Philadelphia Phillies as the favorites to sign him since the Chicago White Sox were unwilling to go up to $300 million guaranteed on Machado and the San Francisco Giants reportedly prefer a shorter-term deal.

Harper's agent, Scott Boras, reportedly has designs on surpassing the $325 million deal Giancarlo Stanton signed with the Miami Marlins in 2014, and the Phillies may be the only team willing to reach that threshold.

The 26-year-old Harper has spent his entire MLB career with the Nats and developed into one of the best players in baseball during that time. He is a six-time All-Star in seven seasons with a Rookie of the Year award, a Silver Slugger and a National League MVP award to his credit.

Over 927 career games, Harper owns a .279 batting average with 184 home runs and 521 RBI. Although Harper struggled at times last season and slashed just .249/.393//496, he still managed to club 34 homers and drive in a career-high 100 runs.

The Nationals disappointed and missed the playoffs last season even with Harper, and they will have a major hole in their outfield if they don't re-sign him. Big things are expected out of 20-year-old Juan Soto in 2019, though, and the pitching staff should be far better as well after the signing of Patrick Corbin.

As for Philadelphia, it has already signed veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen and closer David Robertson, and traded for shortstop Jean Segura and catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies are arguably the NL East favorite with those moves, but they could become a legitimate World Series contender by signing Harper.

Harper has the potential to shift the balance of power in the National League, and his signing is the last major domino that has yet to fall in free agency.

With Manny Machado agreeing to sign a record-breaking 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Bryce Harper is now indisputably the biggest fish in the MLB free-agency pond.

Rumors are still swirling as to where Harper may end up, but a report from MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Mark Feinsand and Jamal Collier on Wednesday evening all but eliminates the Washington Nationals from retaining their 26-year-old star: 

"Sources told MLB.com on Wednesday that the Nationals have no plans to give Harper a mega-deal comparable to Machado's 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres, likely ending any chance for Washington's longtime face of the franchise to remain with the club. 

"The Nationals offered Harper a contract worth $300 million over 10 years before the end of the 2018 regular season. Harper and his agent Scott Boras rejected the deal."

Zolecki, Feinsand and Collier also note that "the Phillies had a face-to-face meeting last week with Boras in Florida. They have talked since."

Other clubs listed as challengers to Philadelphia's pursuit include the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants. The White Sox had their hearts broken by Machado as he passed on their offer of a reported eight-year, $250 million guaranteed contract.

Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Giants aren't "necessarily overly optimistic." Heyman also notes that Philadelphia and San Francisco are believed to have a better chance with Harper than San Diego and the White Sox—both of whom were more active in the Machado hunt:

The #SFGiants are telling people they are trying hard for Harper (this likely debunks the short-term theory for them, as it’s known Harper isn’t signing short-term deal). However, people who have spoken to SF brass said they aren’t necessarily overly optimistic.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 20, 2019

Bryce Harper is believed to have turned down multiple offers over 300M in recent weeks. at least 5 teams are believed still in contact, tho Philly, SF and perhaps Wash appear to have more chance than SD (just gave 300M to Manny) and CWS (seemed more focused on MM)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 20, 2019

Many in and around baseball are in on the Phillies ultimately being Harper's choice, including ESPN's Buster Olney. Olney elaborated on his Baseball Tonight podcast—as transcribed by Philadelphia radio host Joe Giglio—that he expects Harper's contract to hit $400 million and bets it will come from the Phillies.

'4' as in $400M. https://t.co/V828yJGytc

— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) February 20, 2019

That information alone paints a promising picture of Philly, but SNY's Andy Martino touts the Giants as front-runners. On Tuesday, Martino tweeted that Harper is "reluctant to go to Philly. If they can get to $326 million—beating Stanton's deal, that could overrule his doubts."

Phillies general manager Matt Klentak likened the club's pursuit of Harper to Machado, according to Zolecki, Feinsand and Collier:

"We will continue to proceed with other free agents that make sense for this franchise. We have to remember that there will be other free agents after this offseason. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future to spend money and to make our team better.

"We cannot allow ourselves to be put in position where we have to do something at all costs. There's a significant cost that we're willing to pay to add, but we have to be willing to walk away at some point."

The Nationals seem to have reached that point, which stands to reason considering Washington was last in a list of betting favorites to land Harper last week.