As with most things involving the Washington Nationals‘ offseason

WASHINGTON (AP) — http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , a day that was supposed to be all about introducing Patrick Corbin morphed into a day about Bryce Harper.Washington announced its six-year contract with Corbin, a heavily back-loaded deal worth $140 million, and the All-Star lefty starter donned a No. 46 Nationals jersey as rotation-mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looked on from the front row Friday. After the news conference, general manager Mike Rizzo was asked a key question:How might the big bucks he used to outbid the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies for Corbin affect the pursuit of Washington’s own big-deal free agent, right fielder Harper?“I think they’re independent of each other. I really do. We’ve gone about this business of creating a roster for 2019, and at the end of the day, we’ll figure out whether that includes ‘Harp’ or not,” Rizzo said. “We thought it was good business — we had to fix the things we needed to fix. ‘Harp’ is a big part of our family, and we’d love to have him back.”But in an interview Friday with radio station 106.7 The Fan, Nationals owner Mark Lerner painted a different picture about where things stand with Harper, who didn’t accept a late-season offer from Washington.“I really don’t expect him to come back at this point,” Lerner said. “I think they’ve decided to move on. There’s just too much money out there that he’d be leaving on the table.”Lerner also described the team’s earlier offer to the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year and 2015 NL MVP, reportedly for $300 million over 10 years, as “the best we can do.”The Harper issue hangs over all of baseball as the winter meetings are set to begin Monday in Las Vegas Manuel Margot Jersey , but it’s not as though the Nationals have been waiting around to see how it’s resolved.Rizzo has made a string of moves early in the offseason, adding two catchers — one, Yan Gomes, attended Corbin’s news conference, as did longtime first baseman Ryan Zimmerman — and two late-inning relievers, in addition to Corbin, a two-time NL All-Star who was 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018.“We feel good about where we’re at,” Rizzo said about his starting staff. “We’ve got our Big 3.”They certainly do, and at a significant price.Corbin joins three-time Cy Young Award winner Scherzer, he of the $210 million deal, and three-time NL All-Star Strasburg, with a $175 million extension of his own.“As you’ve heard me say many, many times: Pitching is king,” Rizzo said.Corbin gets a $2.5 million signing bonus payable next Oct. 31 and salaries of $12.5 million next season http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , $19 million in 2020, $24 million in 2021, $23 million in 2022, $24 million in 2023 and $35 million in 2024 — when he turns 35. The final year’s salary includes $10 million that will be deferred without interest and payable on Jan. 15, 2026.He would earn $500,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $250,000 for finishing second in the voting, $150,000 for third, $100,000 for fourth and $75,000 for fifth, and the same awards for Most Valuable Player balloting. He would earn $100 Austin Hedges Jersey ,000 for each All-Star appearance, $100,000 apiece for any Gold Glove or Silver Slugger, $250,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP.“We’ve allocated a lot of resources to our front of the rotation, and I think that elite starters, middle-lineup bats and back-end relievers is where I think you spend your money,” he said, “and you try to get values along the periphery of your roster.” ST. LOUIS (AP) — When healthy, Andrew Miller has been one of baseball’s top relievers. The St. Louis Cardinals are banking on a return to form.Miller agreed to a $25 million, two-year deal with St. Louis that includes a club option and performance bonuses that could make it worth $36 million over three seasons.The 6-foot-7 left-hander has been dominant for much of this decade, but he went just 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games with Cleveland last season while dealing with hamstring, knee and shoulder issues.“One of our stated goals this offseason was to improve our bullpen Carlos Asuaje Jersey ,” said John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations.“Andrew Miller is one of the premier relievers in the major league, and his addition certainly strengthens our bullpen.”Miller gets $11 million next year and $11.5 million in 2020, and the deal includes a $12 million team option for 2021 with a $2.5 million buyout, The option would become guaranteed if Miller has 110 games as a pitcher in 2019 and ’20 combined.He can earn $500,000 annually in performance bonuses based on games pitched: $100,000 each for 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60. He would get a $1 million assignment bonus each time he is traded.Cleveland acquired Miller in a trade during the 2016 season, and manager Terry Francona used him as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen. He was the MVP of the AL Championship Series that year, and Cleveland made it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs. Miller appeared in 10 games that postseason, going 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 30 strikeouts and five walks.Miller has been exclusively a reliever since 2012 http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-hand-jersey , and from 2014-17, he never posted an ERA higher than 2.04. That all changed this year, when Miller couldn’t prevent Cleveland’s bullpen from declining drastically. Two prominent relievers for the Indians — Miller and Cody Allen — became free agents this offseason, although the AL Central champions still have Brad Hand, who was acquired in a July trade with San Diego.The Cardinals went 88-74 this year but missed the postseason. They already made waves this month by trading for slugger Paul Goldschmidt.The St. Louis bullpen had plenty of issues last season. Luke Gregerson hurt his hamstring in spring training and posted a 7.11 ERA in 17 games. The Cardinals signed Greg Holland at the beginning of the season, but he too had an ERA over 7.00 when he was released at the beginning of August.Bud Norris had 28 saves for St. Louis last season, but he is now a free agent. Lefty Brett Cecil had a 6.89 ERA in 40 appearances.Miller began his MLB career in 2006 with Detroit after being drafted by the Tigers in the first round. He was later dealt to the Marlins in the deal that sent Miguel Cabrera to Detroit.Since making 12 starts for Boston in 2011, Miller has been used only in relief. He was traded to Baltimore in 2014, then signed with the New York Yankees before the 2015 season. The Indians acquired him from New York in 2016.In the past three seasons, Miller had 16 saves, 263 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA in 171 innings.The Cardinals designated right-hander Ryan Meisinger for assignment to make room for Miller.