Brad Hand
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Erick Fedde delivers a pitch during the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, June 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Fedde back from COVID-19 list, Nats-Giants split DH

By Bobby Bancroft Jun. 12, 2021 05:16 PM EDT

Cincinnati Reds' Nick Castellanos (2) slides home safe as Washington Nationals catcher Alex Avila, is late for a tag during the eighth inning of the resumption of a rain-delayed baseball game in Washington, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Nationals beat Reds 5-3 in completion of suspended game

By Ian Nicholas Quillen May. 27, 2021 04:33 PM EDT

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto, left, celebrates after hitting a solo home run as Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras looks to the field during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Soto hits scoreboard, Scherzer wins again, Nats top Cubs 4-3

By Matt Carlson May. 19, 2021 11:51 PM EDT

Washington Nationals' Kyle Schwarber celebrates as he runs the bases for his two-run game-winning homer during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Friday, April 30, 2021, in Washington. The Nationals won 2-1 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Schwarber 2-run HR in 10th, Nats top Miami 2-1; Lester sharp

Apr. 30, 2021 10:24 PM EDT

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez, left, general manager Mike Rizzo, and owner Mark Lerner watch the team during a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Monday, April 5, 2021, in Washington. The Nationals are scheduled to play the Braves on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Struggling Nationals get back Schwarber, Bell, Harrison

By Howard Fendrich Apr. 12, 2021 04:24 PM EDT

Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner (10) is congratulated by Max Muncy (13) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Turner homers, Dodgers beat Nats 1-0 on champs' ring day

By Greg Beacham Apr. 09, 2021 06:50 PM EDT

A steady trickle of fans arrive at the centerfield gate as the Washington Nationals play the Atlanta Braves in their opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Not quite 'Your 2021 Washington Nationals!' finally playing

By Howard Fendrich Apr. 06, 2021 05:11 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals have a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Monday, April 5, 2021, in Washington. The Nationals had a conronavirus outbreak that sidelined 11 players, four of whom tested positive for COVID-19, and delayed their first game until Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
COVID-hit Nats make many moves before 1st game of season

Apr. 06, 2021 12:43 PM EDT

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman takes during live batting practice before playing the Baltimore Orioles in a spring baseball game at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
National League East Preview Capsules

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2021 08:32 PM EDT

New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor throws during spring training baseball practice Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Lindor, new Mets hope to put World Series practice in play

By Mike Fitzpatrick Mar. 17, 2021 06:24 PM EDT

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing

By The Associated Press Mar. 05, 2021 07:40 PM EST

FILE - Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, right, walks with a member of the training staff as he heads to the dugout after leaving the game during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, in this Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, file photo. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, that Strasburg “is in preparation mode not in rehabilitation mode” at spring training after having surgery in 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Strasburg in 'preparation mode' as Nationals start workouts

By Howard Fendrich Feb. 18, 2021 02:42 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester throws to a Chicago White Sox batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago. A person with knowledge of the deal has confirmed to The Associated Press that left-hander Lester and the Washington Nationals have an agreement in principle in place for a one-year contract. The deal is pending the successful completion of a physical exam. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Lefty Jon Lester finalizes $5M, 1-year deal with Nationals

By Howard Fendrich Jan. 27, 2021 03:56 PM EST

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Brad Hand delivers in the ninth inning in a baseball game against the Cincinnati Red in Cleveland. Brad Hand has agreed in principle to join the Washington Nationals, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 because the deal was still not official and is pending the successful completion of a physical exam. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Brad Hand gets $10.5M from Nationals, $6.5M of it deferred

By Howard Fendrich Jan. 26, 2021 12:13 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a grand slam to center field during the fourth inning of the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals in Atlanta. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Freeman among trio of Braves on All-MLB first team

By Mike Fitzpatrick Dec. 10, 2020 12:30 AM EST

Los Angeles Dodgers security sits by himself in the third inning of a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
MLB sues insurance providers, cites billions in virus losses

By Jake Seiner Dec. 04, 2020 07:15 PM EST

FILE - Cincinnati Reds' Trevor Bauer throws in the third inning during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cincinnati, in this Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, file photo. Bauer is a free agent. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Bauer, LeMahieu, Springer top list of available free agents

By Noah Trister Dec. 04, 2020 04:00 PM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, file photo, Milwaukee Brewers' Jedd Gyorko (5) walks back to the dugout after an at-bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of a National League wild-card baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Brewers have declined 2021 options on infielders Jedd Gyorko and Eric Sogard as well as outfielder Ben Gamel. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Lester, Kluber, Hand boost free agent total to 175

By Ronald Blum Oct. 30, 2020 09:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Twins' Luis Arraez, right, is tagged out by Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez in the fifth inning in a baseball game in Cleveland. The Indians will exercise the $5.5 million contract in 2021 for catcher Roberto Perez, who has been exemplary in handling one of the AL's best pitching staffs. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Indians decline options on closer Hand, 1B Santana for 2021

By Tom Withers Oct. 30, 2020 06:21 PM EDT

Dozen MLB players have options turned down, go free

Oct. 28, 2020 09:31 PM EDT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — What figures to be a down and perhaps brutal market for baseball free agents in the offseason following the pandemic began Wednesday...