More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

The Washington Nationals are reportedly close to signing veteran left-hander "Everyday" Eddie Guardado to be a part of the 2010 bullpen. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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MLB.com's Bill Ladson's been on the beat all night...Apparently the signing won't stop, as the Washington Nationals are now reportedly close to signing veteran lefty "Everyday" Eddie Guardado. The 38-year-old, 17-year reliever pitched for the Texas Rangers last season, putting up a (1-2) record with a 4.46 ERA (6.10 FIP) in 48 games and 38.1 IP, over which Guardado, a Stockton, California native, allowed 19 ER, 8 HR's (1.9 HR/9) and 15 walks (3.5 BB/9) while striking out 20 (4.7 K/9) and posting a 1.41 WHIP with a ERA+ of 104...Mr. Ladson's latest Twitter message on Guardado reads as follows:

"I have it comfirmed that the Nationals are set to sign reliever Eddie Guardado. I'll have more on nationals.com."

But it doesn't stop there, according to early tweets from the MLB.com writer:

• The Nationals will know by tomorrow night where Matt Capps decides to pitch.

• The Nationals are still thinking about Orlando Hudson.

• And...The Nationals "continue to have interest in John Smoltz." 

In Rizzo We Trust.

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

about 10 hours ago: Newly-acquired Washington Nationals pitcher Jason Marquis speaks during a news conference at Nationals Park in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. Marquis and the Washington Nationals have finalized a $15 million, two-year contract. Marquis will receive $7.5 million in each of the next two seasons under Tuesday's deal. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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For the second time this winter, the Washington Nationals held a press conference at Nationals Park to introduce a significant free agent signing. Last time it was veteran catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, today it was free agent pitcher Jason Marquis, a 31-year-old right-handed veteran of ten MLB seasons, who put on the white home Nationals jersey, #21, and pulled on the red curly-W cap. In a thick New York accent that's sure to thrill all of the DC Faithful, the Manhasset, NY native introduced himself to the nation's capital's press corps:

Jason Marquis: "I just want to thank the Washington Nationals' organization for bringing me on board, this is an exciting time for myself and my family, you know everything we could dream of...to come here to an organization that has shown, you know, that they're looking to move forward and build this organization into a winning organization, and for me to be a part of this is a special moment in my career, and what I bring to table is someone, you know with a winning attitude, that hopefully could rub off on some of the young talent that they've brought in along with, you know, some of the other talent, myself, "Pudge", and just create a winning attitude here in Washington, and just looking forward to getting ready to start."

FULL Transcript after the JUMP?

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More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

These two will be teammates in twenty-ten! The Washington Nationals signed Jason Marquis to a 2-year deal on Monday, (pending a physical), and they're still talking Matt Capps! (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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• So...I was wrong about Jason Marquis feigning interest in the Nationals to force the Mets' hand...I'll admit it. The Washington Nationals signed the 31-year-old right-handed free agent this afternoon to what is reportedly a 2-year/$15 million dollar deal (pending a physical). Marquis told MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in an article last week tellingly entitled, "Marquis interested in Nationals", that he wanted, "...to play for a team that is headed in the right direction and making the moves that (are) necessary to get themselves back to being a winning organization." Who would have guessed he was talking about the Washington Nationals? Uh, if not for the article's, uh, title, of course...

BACKPAGE: 

• Reaction To Marquis Signing With DC.

• Capps Too? Is It Possible?

• MASN's Rob Dibble On The Nationals' Moves.

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More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

Reports this afternoon say that the Washington Nationals have signed free agent right-hander Jason Marquis, though no details are available... (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

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When DC GM Mike Rizzo gave Washington Post writer Chico Harlan a list of free agent pitchers the Washington Nationals would target this winter back in early September '09, (which included just about every big name on the market), for a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Reading Material, Shopping Lists", he also promised the DC Faithful, "We're going to get one of them."

According to MASNSports.com's Byron Kerr, the DC GM came through for the Faithful this afternoon and signed the first name from that original list, Jason Marquis. Mr. Kerr, in an article entitled, "Nats to sign Jason Marquis", writes simply that, "MASNSports.com has learned that the Nationals will sign starting pitcher Jason Marquis," promising more news to follow when the deal becomes official. 

MLB.com's Bill Ladson just sent out a Twitter message confirming that the signing is imminent (pending a physical) and it's already being discussed on XM's MLB channel, (XM announcer Jim Duquette called it a "money grab" by Marquis)...so it appears that the news is official...

The Washington Nationals have signed free agent right-hander Jason Marquis...#'s, years and a whole lot more to follow later this afternoon...

In Rizzo We Trust!!!

More photos » by Peter Morgan - AP

The Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins have reportedly made offers to free agent pitcher Aroldis Chapman, a 21-year-old left-handed international free agent. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

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According, of course, to anonymous sources, the Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins are the only two teams to have placed offers on the table for Cuban-born Andorran (don't ask) free agent pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who defected while abroad for a tournament in Rotterdam the Netherlands back in early July 2009. Almost immediately, speculation began as to how much the then 21-year-old left-hander (age acc. to ESPN), who'd been clocked by scouts throwing a triple-digit fastball, might collect on the open market since, as an international free agent, he isn't eligible for the First-Year Player draft and can be signed by any team in baseball...

ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr., in the initial article announcing Chapman's defection entitled, "Top Cuban prospect defects", was already throwing out big numbers, writing that, "According to several estimates," the 6'4'', 200-lb lefty, "...could garner a contract worth anywhere from $30 million to $60 million," with fellow Cuban defector Jose Contreras' 4-year/$32 million dollar deal held up as an example of what Chapman might expect.

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More photos » by John Amis - AP

Will free agent closer Matt Capps join former Pirates teammate Nyjer Morgan (pictured, right) in Washington, or is he headed to Chicago to pitch for the Cubs? We might know soon. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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Worst Case Scenario --

According to an ESPNChicago.com article entitled, "Capps admits preliminary Cubs talks", free agent reliever Matt Capps told "Talking Baseball" hosts Bruce Levin and Jonathan Hood this past Saturday that he'd had "preliminary talks" with the Chicago Cubs, though in the reliever's own words, as quoted in the article, "There's just as good a chance of me being a Cub as being anybody else." You can never underestimate, however, the importance that family plays in decisions professional athletes make, and as is noted in the article, for Capps, there is, "...a comfort factor for his family in coming to Chicago, as his wife and (former Pirates teammates and current-Cubs) (John) Grabow's and (Tom) Gorzelanny's wives are good friends." Suppose Capps announces tomorrow that he's signed with the Cubs?

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More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Free agent outfielder Randy Winn was linked to the Washington Nationals by anonymous sources who say that Washington likes the 35-year-old outfielder's versatility. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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• That the Washington Nationals are interested in free agent right-hander Jon Garland is not news, then ESPN-writer Peter Gammons spotted Garland's agent talking to the Nationals on the first day of the just-completed Winter Meetings, but the fact that they're talking dollars and years is a revelation, as FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported this morning in an update of FOXSports.com's, "Buzz: Latest from the MLB offseason", subtitled "Sources: Nats eye Garland" that an unnamed source of his says, "Garland, 30, is seeking a three-year contract...(but)..the Nationals would prefer to sign him for two years." If the Nationals are unable to reach a deal with Garland, Mr. Rosenthal's source believes, "...the Nats could turn to another free-agent starter, possibly right-hander Jason Marquis or lefty Doug Davis." 

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More photos » by Mary Altaffer - ASSOCIATED PRESS

After years of damaging the Montreal Expos from the inside, NY Mets' GM Omar Minaya struck from the outside, signing the Expos' '02 1st Round pick Clint Everts to a minor league deal on Friday. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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• Clint Everts, (the Montreal Expos' '02 1st Round pick taken 5th overall behind only Bryan Bullington (PIT?), B.J. Upton (TAM), Chris Gruler (CIN) and Adam Loewen (BAL), and selected before some names you might recognize like Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Jeff Francis, Jeremy Hermida, Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir that year), was signed by the New York Mets Friday, agreeing to a one-year minor league deal. The 25-year-old right-hander out of Cypress, Texas completed what was arguably his best season in the Montreal/DC system last season, posting a combined (8-1) record and a 1.65 ERA at three levels (Class A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse) of the Nationals' organization, and collecting 68 K's in 60.2 IP, (10.2 K/9), while allowing 49 H, (7.4 H/9), 26 BB, (3.9 BB/9) and just 3 HR's, (0.4 HR/9) before becoming a six-year-free agent...No doubt Omar Minaya remembers Evert from the Mets' GM's time in Montreal...

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More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

Former Pirates' closer Matt Capps has a decision to make, and he might just follow Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to DC if you believe the rumors. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

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Citing MLB.com's Bill Ladson's Twitter message from Thursday about the Nationals being finalists for free agent reliever Matt Capps, Eli Greenspan of the SB Nation's MLB Daily Dish wrote this morning, in an article entitled, "Nationals, Cubs, Rockies finalists for Capps", that the field for the free agent reliever had been narrowed down to just the three teams in the title, while noting that the Nationals offer Capps the clearest path to the closer job he covets, while in Colorado and Chicago, "...he would have to compete for the closer role and would likely end up being (either) team's set up man." 

As soon as the news that Pittsburgh had non-tendered the 26-year-old right-hander broke last Saturday, Capps' agent Paul Kinzer made it known that his client had interest in joining the Cubs, and Chicago Breaking Sports.com writer Paul Sullivan reported in an article entitled, "Cubs show interest in released closer Capps", that a mutual interest existed between the two parties, though he noted that the, "...Cubs aren't looking for a closer," since they already have Carlos Marmol,"...but Capps could fill a void in late-inning relief, joining Angel Guzman as a right-handed set-up man."

Denver Post reporter Patrick Saunders spoke directly to Colorado Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd for an article last Tuesday entitled, "Time running out for Torrealba, Rox like Capps", wherein Mr. Saunders quoted the Rockies' GM stating that Colorado was "absolutely interested" in acquiring Capps who'd be reunited with former Pirates and current Rockies' Manager Jim Tracy. But in Denver too, he'd be competing for the closer's role with Huston Street, with whom, "...the Rockies have been pursuing a long-term deal," according to Mr. Saunders, but since there are,"...no guarantees it will get done. That could make Capps a valuable addition."

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More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

Matt Capps in considering closing for the Nationals, and he tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson that he likes what Washington is doing so far this winter. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Free agent closer Matt Capps took another step in deciding which team he'd like to pitch for in 2010, once again trimming what started as a twelve-team list of suitors shortly after the Pittsburgh Pirates non-tendered the 26-year-old right-hander last Saturday, and according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Nationals a finalist to acquire Capps", the Washington Nationals are on the shortened short list, and can be considered, "...a finalist to acquire the services of free-agent right-hander Matt Capps." 

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