WASHINGTON, D.C.: Ted Leonsis looking into the camera at a Washington Wizards game while sitting next to his son Zachary Leonsis (Photo Sol Tucker for TalkNats)November 28, 2022 WASHINGTON, DC — Mark Lerner in the Monumental Sports & Entertainment ownership group. Pictured next to Lerner at a Washington Wizards game is Zachary Leonsis who is Monumental’s President of Media & New Enterprises (Sol Tucker/TalkNats)
Meet Ted Leonsis, the man with ownership in pro basketball, hockey, and gaming, with his crown jewels of the NBA’s Wizards, the NHL’s Capitals and the WNBA’s Mystics — and he does not have a MLB baseball team, leaving a huge void in the summer months. Our sources had told us that back in 2022 that he had tried to purchase the Nats’ portion of the MASN network with no luck. Leonsis was also a confirmed bidder for the Washington Nationals in 2022, and we broke the “No Sale” news months later.
Monumental Sports and their TV Network are a behemoth in regional sports team ownership and broadcasting because they encompass a region that stretches from parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware and south into the Carolinas. You can buy a subscription to their streaming service worldwide or watch on most cable systems in their footprint. For instance, their Capitals Radio Network includes 14 different radio stations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.
There were so few signings in Nashville at the Winter Meetings that most teams besides the Yankees (Juan Soto), Diamondbacks (Eduardo Rodriguez), Reds (Jeimer Candelario) were the only three deals that amounted to teams spending over $30 million. That was it. Nobody reached even over $80 million in the Winter Meetings even though we all know that the Shohei Ohtani $500+ million sweepstakes could be completed by this weekend. But in the end, 20+ teams did practically nothing — the Washington Nationals being one leaving Nashville on the light side. Sure, they were “in” on Candelario — but were trying to go two-years with a team option at most.
Who knew the Washington Nationals most significant signing of the 2023 Winter Meetings was going to be a Rule-5 draft pick from the Marlins? Nasim Nuñez is his name, and he projects to be an old-school bench player who can provide elite speed and defense. Can he bunt? We know he has struggled hitting. According to Sports Info Solution’s Fielding Bible, he was ranked 5th among all minor league shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved in 2023.
NL East banner with no Marlins; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
The 2023 Winter Meetings is almost over as we enter the third full day of this event. It has been so quiet to this point that Erick Fedde‘s deal with the White Sox for two years and $15 million is the largest deal during this event. Will today be the day?
When will the Washington Nationals pick in the next MLB Draft?
Odds on favorite is 10th, with a small chance at 11 and an infinitesimally smaller chance they pick at #12. The draft lottery is at 5:30pm ET on Tuesday, December 5.
Downtown Nashville at night; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
The Winter Meetings are officially underway in Nashville, Tennessee, and the last time the Washington Nationals were in that city for the Winter Meetings was back in 2015. It is a short drive for Nats’ manager Dave Martinez who lives near Nashville in his offseason home and farm. For General Manager Mike Rizzo and the rest of his front office staff, they mostly live in the DC area. The Nats, like most teams, hope to do some deals while they are there, or at least get the framework for a deal done like the Nats did last year with Trevor Williams.
The Washington Nationals just announced that on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the team will play an exhibition game at Nats Park called the Nationals Futures Game featuring top prospects. Those great Minor Leaguers will play against current Nationals players on their MLB roster in a 12:05 pm first pitch.
Until the Winter Meetings start, there really is little to write about when your team is not making big moves. Maybe today will be the day for the Washington Nationals. Maybe not. In the meantime, BleacherReport did a prediction on every team’s starting lineup for Opening Day of 2024 which is now exactly four months away from March 30, 2024 in Cincinnati.
The Winter Meetings begin on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, and the last time the Washington Nationals were in that city for the Winter Meetings was back in 2015. Turn-back-the-clock to that time in 2015, and the Nats had just hired Dusty Baker to replace Matt Williams. The Nats were the talk of the town at those Winter Meetings, and were shopping for a second baseman — eventually signing Daniel Murphy.
Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNatsPhoto by Tom Cicotello for TalkNats
Baseball is one of the most popular sports west of the Atlantic Ocean, where millions of people enjoy catching, throwing, and batting balls all year round. From the world’s best teams in the MLB, right down to minor league and Little League baseball, there’s a large and growing number of fans right around the world. The World Baseball Classic could prove that out.
And while the USA and Canada have provided a whole host of incredible athletes over the years (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Barry Bonds ー we could go on), there have also been a number of great Latin American players that have graced the sport with their presence — and especially in recent years. Current MLB stars like Juan Soto, Carlos Correa, and Ronald Acuña Jr. all see their names regularly appear on the bet slips of expert punters on American and Canadian betting sites. In other words, Latin Americans are now essential members of their respective MLB teams, frequently playing crucial roles, leading their teams to glory, and breaking records along the way. Venezuelans, Dominicans, Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans – they’ve all become highly sought-after nationalities for MLB teams.
Ever since the sport made its way from the USA to Cuba, from Cuba to Venezuela, and from Venezuela to the rest of South and Central America, baseball has been fostering an ever-growing number of Latin American stars. Let’s take a look at some of the best baseball stars of Latin American origin currently in the MLB.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Of course, we have to start with the MLB’s 2023 MVP, Ronald Acuña Jr. Since his breakout season in 2018 when he won National League Rookie of the Year, the Venezuelan has claimed four MLB All-Star appearances and set a host of modern-era records. Still only 25 years old, you can expect more things to come from this outfielder!
Gabriel Moreno
Born in Venezuela, this young catcher plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was recently awarded a Golden Glove Award and a Fielding Bible Award for his exploits during the 2023 MLB season, making him one of baseball’s most notable up-and-coming stars.
Fernando Tatís Jr.
The son of a former professional MLB player, Fernando Tatís Jr. is a Dominican-born professional shortstop and right fielder for the San Diego Padres. He was named an All-Star for the 2021 season and won a Fielding Bible Award during the 2023 MLB season.
Yordan Álvarez
Playing as a designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros, Yordan “Air Yordan” Álvarez is a Cuban professional baseball player with a wicked left-handed bat. In 2019, he became just the fourth player in MLB history to hit four home runs in his first five games, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Yan Gomes
A former Nationals player, Yan Gomes currently plies his trade with the Chicago Cubs. The Brazilian helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series in 2019, playing an integral part as their keen-eyed catcher, and will go down as one of the best Brazilian players in MLB history.
