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Nats Chat

Mark Zuckerman & Al Galdi

Sports, Baseball

4.9 • 573 Ratings

🗓️ 15 March 2022

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The MLB Lockout is finally over and the Nationals have opened Spring Training in West Palm Beach, Florida. Al & Mark are back for Season #2 of the Nats Chat Podcast. We begin with quick analysis of the topsy turvy negotiations that resulted in there still being a full slate of games for this season. (07:26) We now have the Universal DH and the Nats wasted no time in signing a top notch hitter in Nelson Cruz. Mark says his goodbyes to pitchers hitting in the NL and then lays out what Cruz brings to the table, especially as protection for Juan Soto. (18:40) Washington signed a trio of players who were part of the 2019 Championship in Sean Doolittle, Gerardo Parra, and Anibal Sanchez. How many of these guys will be on the Opening Day Roster? (25:25) GM Mike Rizzo updated Stephen Strasburg's status as he returns from last summer's TOS surgery. What's the level of optimism that he will be back on the mound this year? Plus, we discuss Joe Ross' elbow as he hopes to return this season. (37:03) Cade Cavalli & Jackson Rutledge were among those invited to Big League Camp as Non Roster Invitees. What are the chances they join the rotation at any point this season? (41:50) Rizzo fielded questions on Sunday about Juan Soto's contractual situation and essentially confirmed the offseason extension offer. The Nats still have three years of team control, but what will it take to keep him for years beyond that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Natschat is brought to you by Walters. Catch all of the NCAA tournament at Walters on the 30-plus
0:06.5	televisions available. Walters would also like to thank employee number 11 for his time with
0:12.0	the nationals. We couldn't have been represented by a more class act for the last 17 years,
0:16.6	and we're excited to see what the future holds for the Zimmerman family.
0:23.0	I have to say, I am genuinely thrilled to be able to say that Major League Baseball's back,
0:29.7	and we're going to play 162 games.
0:32.3	And welcome to Nat's chat for Tuesday, March 15th, 2022, along with Nats insider Mark Zuckerman of Masset Sports.com,
0:39.4	I'm Al-Galdi host of the Al-Galdi podcast. Major League Baseball is back, and so too now are
0:47.0	installments of the Nats chat podcast. We'll be pumping out an episode every so often as an
0:52.8	abbreviated spring training season is going on.
0:56.1	And then the regular season will begin, a postgame Nats podcast for the day after every NAD's game.
1:01.8	Nats will begin their 20-22 regular season in just a few weeks, Thursday afternoon, April 7th,
1:07.0	against the New York Mets at Nationals Park at 405. It is great to be with you.
1:11.6	It is great to be talking baseball, actual baseball again. We have a lot of ground to cover.
1:16.1	The Nats over the last few days, a bunch of signings, including that of Nelson Cruz.
1:21.4	We'll be getting into all of the roster moves. Mike Rizzo on Sunday made news with his comments on
1:27.1	Steven Strasbourg and Joe Ross and
1:29.2	Juan Soto. So a lot to process, a lot to digest. But Mark, the lockout, mercifully ended last week.
1:36.6	The season is coming. It is nice to be with you, my friend. How are you? I have two words for you,
1:41.5	Al. Thank God. I mean, really, it was getting to a point there that I don't know how much longer I could take it.
1:50.6	Especially those last two weeks as we were having the ups and downs and the emotions of following along as the CBA negotiations, one moment you thought something was about to go down, then the next moment,
2:02.3	it looks like it's all going to blow up. And I'm just grateful that it's over. We don't even have
	...

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