WASHINGTON (AP) — Postseason star Howie Kendrick and the World Series champion Washington Nationals agreed in principle to a $6.25 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.Speaking on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was still pending a successful physical exam, the person confirmed to The Associated Press that an agreement was in place for Kendrick to return to Washington for what will be his 15th season in the majors. The 36-year-old Kendrick, who was a free agent, provides Washington with a middle-of-the-order bat and some flexibility in the field. He primarily plays at first base now, but started games at every infield position except shortstop in 2019.The righty batter hit .344 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs in 121 regular-season games before all of his postseason contributions provided some real pop in the postseason. He hit a tiebreaking grand slam off Joe Kelly in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the NL Division Series to lead the... [More]

Patrick Corbin was an exception last offseason.Amid a slow free agent market — some stars didn’t sign until after the start of spring training — Corbin’s search for a new home was over in December when he received a $140 million, six-year contract from Washington.That worked out pretty well for both team and player. Corbin was a key part of the Nationals’ starting rotation this year, and he threw three scoreless innings in relief in Game 7 of the World Series, helping the team win its first World Series title.Now, another offseason is in full swing. It’s hard to say whether teams will be more aggressive in pursuing free agents, hoping to land the next Corbin, but the Atlanta Braves already made a significant move, signing reliever Will Smith away from San Francisco.Here’s a look at the top free agents still available, broken down by position. Players are listed with their most recent teams, with their ages in parentheses:LEFT-HANDED STARTERHyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (32)The runner-up for the... [More]

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Artifacts from the World Series are headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including the ball hit by Washington's Howie Kendrick off the right-field foul pole for the go-ahead home run in Game 7.Following the Nationals' 6-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night, the Nationals and players donated several pieces. Other items include a jersey worn by World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg in his Game 6 victory, a cap worn by starting pitcher Max Scherzer in Game 7, and the ball Juan Soto hit for a home run in Game 1.The bat used by Kendrick to hit a grand slam homer in Game 5 of the NLDS and the batting helmet worn by ALCS MVP Jose Altuve of the Astros throughout the postseason were donated earlier.All of the items will be featured in the Autumn Glory exhibit when it opens.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — In some ways, this World Series championship serves as an "I told you so" for the Washington Nationals and their general manager, Mike Rizzo.For the choices to hire, then stick by, manager Dave Martinez, especially in the face of a 19-31 record, the worst 50-game start to a season in baseball history for an eventual title winner.For making midseason pickups of veterans discarded by other teams, such as Gerardo "Baby Shark" Parra, and assembling, in this "Let the Kids Play" era, a group of "Viejos" such as playoff star Howie Kendrick, to form the oldest roster in the majors.For caring about chemistry as much as what's quantifiable.For the much-debated decision to shut down Stephen Strasburg all those years ago, a move meant to protect the surgically repaired right elbow that just made Strasburg a World Series MVP and the first pitcher to end a postseason with a 5-0 record.For the philosophy of valuing old-fashioned starting pitching above all else: Each of Washington's... [More]

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Artifacts from the World Series are headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including the ball hit by Washington's Howie Kendrick off the right-field foul pole for the go-ahead home run in Game 7.Following the Nationals' 6-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night, the Nationals and players donated several pieces. Other items include a jersey worn by World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg in his Game 6 victory, a cap worn by starting pitcher Max Scherzer in Game 7, and the ball Juan Soto hit for a home run in Game 1.The bat used by Kendrick to hit a grand slam homer in Game 5 of the NLDS and the batting helmet worn by ALCS MVP Jose Altuve of the Astros throughout the postseason were donated earlier.All of the items will be featured in the Autumn Glory exhibit when it opens.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — It was well within their grasp.The Houston Astros had a shot at a mini dynasty with a second title in three seasons. Instead, they failed to get one win in two chances at home against the Washington Nationals and have an offseason as runner-ups to ponder what might have been."I've got a group of heartbroken men ... that did everything they could to try to bring a World Series championship to this city," manager AJ Hinch said. "And we fell one win shy."The Astros won a franchise-record and MLB-best 107 games to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It didn't help in a World Series in which they dropped all four games in Houston, capped by Wednesday night's 6-2 loss that left them to watch the Nationals celebrate on their home field.In a season where aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole powered their spectacular success, a bullpen implosion in the seventh inning in Game 7 ensured the Astros wouldn't get a second ring this year.Zack Greinke, picked up at the trade... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Howie Kendrick sure has a knack for the dramatic.At 36 — eight years removed from his only All-Star appearance — his go-ahead, two-run homer off Will Harris in the seventh inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 for his team's first World Series title.Steady-handed and battle-tested, Kendrick came through at the biggest moments of the Nationals' October run."He's been one of the heart and souls of this team," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.Kendrick's grand slam against Joe Kelly broke a 10th-inning tie in the decisive Game 5 of the Division Series, giving the Nationals a 7-3 win — just the second extra-inning slam in postseason history."The grand slam is still the biggest moment because we wouldn't be here without that," Kendrick said as teammates sprayed beer and bubbly on him in the boisterous visitors' clubhouse. "So for me, that's still got to be the top moment in my career, but this is truly special."Kendrick... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — What a comeback for the Washington Nationals.The team that was 12 games under .500 before the end of May is now the World Series champion.The Nationals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Wednesday night, when they were down 2-0 after six innings. It was Washington's fifth comeback win in a potential elimination game this postseason — four was already a major league record for a single postseason.They had to win the NL wild card game, then went the full five games in the NL Division Series to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road in extra innings to advance. Washington swept St. Louis in the NL Championship Series.BIG HOMERSAnthony Rendon homered in the last three games when the Nationals were facing elimination, becoming the first player ever to homer in three consecutive elimination games.Howie Kendrick put Washington ahead to stay with his two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 7, two batters after Rendon went deep.Kendrick is the first player with multiple go-ahead... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — When the Washington Nationals were down, Anthony Rendon made sure they were never out.He was Mr. Clutch all October.Houston starter Zack Greinke was cruising with a one-hit shutout and a 2-0 lead in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday night. It would be glib to say that's exactly where Rendon and the Nats wanted to be, but the way their season turned out, why not?Rendon stroked a changeup into the left-field Crawford Boxes for a solo home run with one out in the seventh inning, and Washington set off on its fifth, final and most famous comeback in an elimination game this year, a 6-2 victory over the Astros for its first title in the franchise's 51 seasons."We had nothing else to lose when people had written us off," Rendon said. "We were facing elimination games that people thought that we shouldn't have been there in the first place. So we just kept on fighting and happened to come out on top."Rendon, a free-agent-to-be playing perhaps his final games for Washington,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Howie Kendrick sure has a knack for the dramatic.At 36 — eight years removed from his only All-Star appearance — his go-ahead, two-run homer off Will Harris in the seventh inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 for his team's first World Series title.Steady-handed and battle-tested, Kendrick came through at the biggest moments of the Nationals' October run."He's been one of the heart and souls of this team," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.Kendrick's grand slam against Joe Kelly broke a 10th-inning tie in the decisive Game 5 of the Division Series, giving the Nationals a 7-3 win — just the second extra-inning slam in postseason history."The grand slam is still the biggest moment because we wouldn't be here without that," Kendrick said as teammates sprayed beer and bubbly on him in the boisterous visitors' clubhouse. "So for me, that's still got to be the top moment in my career, but this is truly special."Kendrick... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer never had a clean inning in Game 7 of the World Series for the Washington Nationals. He finished with more walks than strikeouts and walked off the mound trailing.Yet, Mad Max delivered in the clutch for the Nationals even without getting the win.Boosted by a cortisone injection and the adrenaline of trying to get his first World Series ring, Scherzer labored through five innings while throwing 103 pitches. The three-time Cy Young winner gave up seven hits and four walks, yet allowed only two runs.Three days after being unable to make his scheduled start at home in Game 5, when he could barely move his right arm because of an irritated nerve near his neck, Scherzer is finally a World Series champion."Just a moment you never forget. Everything you worked for in your life. I mean ever since I've been a kid, I dreamed to be a baseball player," the 35-year-old Scherzer said. "I knew I wanted to be a baseball player, I wanted to be a World Series champion. What a... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Howie Kendrick sure has a knack for the dramatic.At 36 — eight years removed from his only All-Star appearance — his go-ahead, two-run homer off Will Harris in the seventh inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 for his team's first World Series title.Steady-handed and battle-tested, Kendrick came through at the biggest moments of the Nationals' October run."He's been one of the heart and souls of this team," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.Kendrick's grand slam against Joe Kelly broke a 10th-inning tie in the decisive Game 5 of the Division Series, giving the Nationals a 7-3 win — just the second extra-inning slam in postseason history."The grand slam is still the biggest moment because we wouldn't be here without that," Kendrick said as teammates sprayed beer and bubbly on him in the boisterous visitors' clubhouse. "So for me, that's still got to be the top moment in my career, but this is truly special."Kendrick... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer never had a clean inning in Game 7 of the World Series for the Washington Nationals. He finished with more walks than strikeouts and walked off the mound trailing.Yet, Mad Max delivered in the clutch for the Nationals even without getting the win.Boosted by a cortisone injection and the adrenaline of trying to get his first World Series ring, Scherzer labored through five innings while throwing 103 pitches. Even though the 35-year-old three-time Cy Young winner allowed seven hits and walked four, he gave up only two runs in a championship-worthy effort.Three days after being unable to make his scheduled start at home in Game 5 when he could barely move his right arm because of an irritated nerve near his neck, Scherzer is a World Series champion."For him to grind out those five innings, absolutely kept us in the ballgame, gave us a chance to win. It was gutsy," reliever Sean Doolittle said. "It wasn't his most probably overpowering performance, but it was one... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — When the Washington Nationals were down, Anthony Rendon made sure they were never out. Just like Mr. Clutch has all October.Houston's Zack Greinke was cruising with a one-hit shutout and a 2-0 lead in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday night.It would be glib to say that's exactly where Rendon and the Nats wanted to be, but the way the Nationals' season turned out, why not?"We had nothing else to lose," Rendon said.Rendon stroked a changeup into the left-field Crawford Boxes for a solo home run with one out in the seventh inning, and Washington started its fifth, final and most famous comeback in an elimination game this year, a 6-2 victory for its first title in the franchise's 51 seasons."He had kept us all balance for the first six innings," Rendon said. "Just happened to get a ball over the plate in the air."Rendon, a free-agent-to-be playing perhaps his final games for Washington, hit .276 (8 for 29) in the Series with two homers and eight RBIs.He hit when it mattered... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — What a comeback for the Washington Nationals.The team that was 12 games under .500 before the end of May is now the World Series champion.The Nationals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Wednesday night, when they were down 2-0 after six innings. It was Washington's fifth comeback win in a potential elimination game this postseason — four was already a major league record for a single postseason.They had to win the NL wild card game, then went the full five games in the NL Division Series before beating the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road in extra innings to advance. They swept St. Louis in the NL Championship Series.BIG HOMERSAnthony Rendon homered in the last three games when the Nationals were facing elimination, becoming the first player ever to homer in three consecutive elimination games.Howie Kendrick put Washington ahead to stay with his two-run homer in the seventh, two batters after Rendon went deep.Kendrick is the first player with multiple go-ahead homers in the seventh... [More]

Astros second. Yuli Gurriel homers to left field. Yordan Alvarez singles to right field. Carlos Correa singles to right field. Yordan Alvarez to second. Robinson Chirinos pops out to Yan Gomes. Josh Reddick grounds out to first base to Ryan Zimmerman. Carlos Correa to second. Yordan Alvarez to third. George Springer lines out to left field to Juan Soto.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 1, Nationals 0.Astros fifth. Michael Brantley singles to right field. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Michael Brantley out at second. Yordan Alvarez walks. Yuli Gurriel to second. Carlos Correa singles. Yordan Alvarez to third. Yuli Gurriel scores. Robinson Chirinos strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 2, Nationals 0.Nationals seventh. Adam Eaton grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Anthony Rendon homers to left field. Juan Soto walks. Howie Kendrick homers to right field. Juan Soto scores.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer never had a clean inning in Game 7 of the World Series for the Washington Nationals. He finished with more walks than strikeouts and walked off the mound trailing.Yet, Mad Max delivered in the clutch for the Nationals even without getting the win.Boosted by a cortisone injection and the adrenaline of trying to get his first World Series ring, Scherzer labored through five innings while throwing 103 pitches. Even though the 35-year-old three-time Cy Young winner allowed seven hits and walked four, he gave up only two runs in a championship-worthy effort.Three days after being unable to make his scheduled start at home in Game 5 when he could barely move his right arm because of an irritated nerve near his neck, Scherzer is a World Series champion."If you would have saw him Sunday, it wasn't good. He didn't look good," manager Dave Martinez said before Game 7. "He couldn't move."The Nationals rallied late — their record fifth comeback win in a potential elimination... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:50 p.m.Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals overcame a two-run deficit and rocked the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 to claim the first World Series title in franchise history.With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery following an injection, the Nationals embraced their shot in a Series where the road team won every game. Even more against the odds: Juan Soto and Washington rallied from behind to win five elimination games this postseason.Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and the Nats brought the first World Series championship to the nation's capital since Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.___10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Howie Kendrick sure has a knack for the dramatic.At 36 — nine years removed from is only All-Star appearance — he hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Will Harris in the seventh inning that lifted the Washington Nationals over the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 for his team's first World Series title.Steady-handed and battle-tested, Kendrick came through at the biggest moments of the Nationals' October run.His grand slam against Joe Kelly broke a 10th-inning tie in the decisive Game 5 of the Division Series, giving the Nationals a 7-3 win — just the second extra-inning slam in postseason history.He hit .333 with four doubles and four RBIs in a League Championship Series sweep of St. Louis, earning MVP.Kendrick was just 5 for 22 with one RBI in the World Series when he came to the plate in the seventh inning of Game 7. Anthony Rendon had just homered off Zack Greinke, cutting the Nationals' deficit to 2-1.Juan Soto walked on five pitches and Harris relieved. Kendrick... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the Houston Astros to 4-2.Houston will have the top of its order coming up in the bottom of the ninth, needing at least two runs as they try to win their second World Series title in three years.Washington, with the Nationals in their 15th season, will try to take a World Series title with the visiting team winning every game.Soto, who turned 21 last Friday, has two hits in the Series finale and 18 this postseason, with only one player younger than him matching that. Miguel Cabrera had 18 hits as a 20-year-old rookie for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.___9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning,... [More]