Mr. National returns! and Aaron Barrett details his amazing comeback

We're geared up for the 2021 season and this jam-packed episode will get you there too. Chase Hughes and Nick Ashooh are joined by MLB Network's Lauren Shehadi (a Virginia native and Nats fan) to discuss the Nats offseason, who can challenge the Dodgers in the NL, and the greatness of Juan Soto. Plus, Nick and Chase talk about the return of Gerardo Parra and Baby Shark(?), pose the 3 biggest spring training questions for the Nats, and judge your bold predictions in a new segment called "Fair or Foul?" And stay for a really cool announcement for the Nationals Talk podcast that would make Curt Schilling jealous.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a loaded episode, the Nats make two major moves, bringing back Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman and signing All-Star reliever Brad Hand... Nick Ashooh and Chase Hughes break down those moves, plus, in a special HeadStrong segment (29:00) Aaron Barrett joins the pod to tell his amazing and emotional story of resilience and recovery from 2 horrible arm injuries to return to the major leagues after 4 years. Stick around for Walk-off discussions about PopSockets and purchasing new cars.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike Rizzo strikes again, adding former All-Star and World Series champion Jon Lester to an already star-studded rotation. Nick Ashooh and Chase Hughes discuss what Lester brings at this stage of his career, how Rizzo continues to retool the Nats as championship contenders, and what's left to do before spring training. They're also joined by Matt Weyrich of nbcsportswashington.com to discuss the pros and cons of trading Victor Robles. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Nationals added a World Series champion to their lineup, former Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Nick Ashooh and Chase Hughes talk to David Kaplan of NBC Sports Chicago and host of the Cubs Talk podcast on what Schwarber brings to the Nats, as well as perspective on how long the World Series honeymoon lasts. Chase also talks to Schwarber's college coach, Tracy Smith, and also confesses some pretty questionable food takes in this jam-packed episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick and Chase are joined by Al Galdi of The Team 980, one of the best baseball minds in town, to get his takes on Juan Soto, how to approach Max Scherzer's future, what's the key to competing in the ever-improving NL East and even reaction to the breaking Francisco Lindor trade to the Mets. Plus, Nick and Chase go through their New Year's resolutions for the 2021 Nats. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All-star first baseman Josh Bell is now a National, and Nick, Chase and Todd have feelings about it. The crew also discusses the perception of the farm system, and what the trade means for a possible return for Ryan Zimmerman. Before we turn the calendar to 2021, one last look back at the 2020 season what positives Nats fans can take into next year (hint: Juan Soto). Plus, not one, but TWO great Walk-offs that you'll want to stay through the end for.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick Ashooh, Todd Dybas and Chase Hughes are joined this week by a quartet of reporters from around the NL East to discuss all things in the division as the calendar gets set to leave 2020 behind. Corey Seidman, the host of the Phillies Talk podcast, Mike Vaccaro, who covers the Mets for NY Post, Jordan McPherson, Marlins reporter for the Miami Herald and Kevin McAlpin, a reporter for the Braves Radio Network, along with our usual crew bat around the new management around the division and where some of the big name free agents will land (1:30). Then each team discusses the biggest offseason storylines (34:00) and the best and worst case scenarios for the coming season (46:30).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Does anyone want to set some rules for this podcast? Nick Ashooh, Todd Dybas and Chase Hughes discuss GM Mike Rizzo's press conference where we learned that he has no clarity on whether or not he needs to field a DH next season. Rizzo wants a middle-of-the-order bat, so who fits that bill? Michael Brantley, Marcel Ozuna, and Kyle Schwarber are bandied about as options by the crew before we get to Todd's long interview with Max Scherzer. The Nationals ace touches on his dislike for expanded playoffs, where rules and regulations stand for the 2021 season, and his thought process going into the last year of his contract. After the interview, Nick, Todd, and Chase discuss how the perception of D.C. baseball changes now that the Negro Leagues statistics will be included in MLB's official records. Finally, the pod ends as it always does with Walk-Offs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode of the Nationals Talk podcast, Nick Ashooh, Todd Dybas and Chase Hughes discuss the disaster unfolding in Philadelphia and bring the Adam Eaton trade full circle now that he has signed back with the White Sox. Then the boys bring in NBC Sports Chicago's White Sox writer Vinnie Duber to get the pulse of White Sox nation on the Eaton/Lucas GIolito trade and which former White Sox free agents would fit best in D.C. Finally, the crew lays out the Nationals minor league affiliations this season before ending the show per usual with Walk-Offs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of the Nationals Talk podcast, Nick Ashooh, Todd Dybas and Chase Hughes discuss the legacy of Michael A. Taylor as he departs from Washington. Nick then posits a question: which National would experience the same response on his departure from the District that John Wall is currently receiving upon his trade to Houston? The discussion then transitions to the new free agents on the market that were not tendered by their previous teams who the Nationals might want to go after, including Carlos Rodón and Kyle Schwarber. Could Juan Soto be the best recruitment tool at the Nats' disposal? Nick, Todd and Chase discuss his seeming recruitment of All-Star pitcher Trevor Bauer and finally, the boys Walk-Off with some show recommendations and a tribute to John Wall's honesty.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.