Washington Nationals News

Jim Lett, 58, Winfield native, has been hired by the Washington Nationals as the new bullpen coach.

If the Washington Nationals are planning on extending the contract of first baseman Adam Dunn, they had better do it soon because it looks as though the period of contractual sanity is over.

The Washington Nationals announced today the hiring of Jim Riggleman's 2010 field staff.

The Washington Nationals say No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a twisted left knee and is being scratched from his start in the Arizona Fall League championship game.

Browse more photos>> Top 20 Washington Nationals Prospects for 2010. All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

After years of working with national teams, Davey Johnson is returning to the Nationals.

The Washington Nationals hired John McLaren as bench coach, the first staff change since Jim Riggleman took over as permanent manager, a club source confirmed.

New Indians manager Manny Acta has hired Tim Tolman as bench coach, Steve Smith as third-base coach and Scott Radinsky as bullpen coach.

It didna TMt take Jim Riggleman long to make his first decision as full-time manager of the Washington Nationals.

This is a July 26, 2009, file photo showing Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman making a play at third base against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Washington.

One day after getting recognized for his superior defensive skills, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was honored for being one of the sport's best offensive players as well.

Ending their search for a manager right where it began, the Washington Nationals on Wednesday named Jim Riggleman, their interim manager since July, to the full-time post, according to two sources familiar with the deliberations. The terms were not immediately available, but an announcement is expected Thursday.

The finalists were informed of the Nationals' choice on Wednesday, according to one source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not confirmed the decision. Besides Riggleman, the Nationals were considering former Texas Rangers and New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and former Florida Marlins third base coach Bo Porter.

That travel team back in Virginia a decade ago must have played great defense on the left side of the infield.

General managers grabbed their bags, caught a quick lunch and headed down the corridor a short distance to their flights Wednesday after their annual meeting ended in a hotel at O'Hare International Airport.

By the end of the summer, the signing of No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg to a record contract and the installation of Mike Rizzo as general manager generated some actual excitement, even with the club headed toward its second straight 100-loss season.

The Nationals made a couple more front-office moves on Tuesday, when they named Ron Schueler special advisor to general manager Mike Rizzo and promoted Bill Singer to director of professional scouting.

Slaten, who will turn 30 before the start of next season, is a middle reliever who spent most of 2009 at Triple-A Reno, going 3-2 with nine saves and a 3.09 ERA in 39 appearances.

The job market is tough these days. Reuters just reported that the national jobless rate is at 10.2 percent, a 16 and 1/2 year high.

The Washington Nationals have declined their $10 million option on outfielder Austin Kearns and are paying a $1 million buyout, presumably ending his disappointing tenure with the team.

By the time the 2009 baseball amateur draft concluded last June, the Washington Nationals had added 50 players to their minor league system.