Bekanntmachungen » Deanna Berry, Katherine Smith, Lily Mithen, an

Struggling reliever Jonathan Papelbon has requested and received his release from the Washington Nationals, general manager Mike Rizzo announced Saturday.The Nationals made a corresponding roster move by recalling Reynaldo Lopez, who is scheduled to start Saturday nights game against the Atlanta Braves.There wasnt a real fit anymore, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. Didnt know where to use him.Papelbon is a free agent and can sign with any team. The Nationals are responsible for the remainder of his $11 million salary this year.In 37 appearances this season, Papelbon is 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 19 saves in 22 opportunities. His most recent blown save came on July 26, when he entered the game with a 6-4 ninth-inning lead but failed to retire any of the five batters he faced, and Washington lost 7-6 to the Cleveland Indians.Four days later, on July 30, the Nationals acquired All-Star Mark Melancon from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the two weeks since the trade, Papelbon has made just two appearances, both in low-leverage situations. Meanwhile, Melancon has pitched in five games and allowed one hit over five scoreless innings while converting both of his save chances.The release ends Papelbons tumultuous tenure in D.C. A six-time All-Star closer, the right-hander was acquired July 28, 2015, in a controversial trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. Before the deal, Washington reliever Drew Storen had been one of the best closers in baseball, and the Nationals were in first place. After the trade, Storen and the entire Washington bullpen struggled, and the team finished seven games behind the Mets in the National League East.One week before the end of the 2015 season, Papelbon attempted to choke teammate and eventual NL MVP Bryce Harper?during an altercation in the dugout, when the two players got into an argument after Harper didnt run out a pop fly. For his actions, Papelbon was suspended seven games -- three by the league and four by the Nationals -- which effectively ended his season.During the offseason, the Nationals tried to trade Papelbon but had trouble finding takers for the veteran hurler.Baker called Papelbon a professional in response to the demotion. Teammates pushed back against any notion of the recent situation or last seasons incident with Harper causing locker room issues.Hes not a distraction whatsoever, ace Max Scherzer said. He comes in to play every single day, he works his absolute tail off, and he competes on the mound for us.All that stuff, last year ... just a media circus. We were 100 percent behind him. We understood all his intentions. He was great for our team. He was great for everybody in this clubhouse. To sit here and say hes a bad teammate or anything like that, its garbage to me.Papelbon has posted career worsts in ERA, WHIP (1.46) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.21) this season.He was a great teammate. He was popular with his teammates, Baker said. We wish Pap the best, and he wished us the best. He wanted us to win [the World Series]. Those were his parting words.A 12-year veteran, Papelbon has a career record of 41-36 with a 2.44 ERA. His 368 career saves are the ninth most all-time and third among active hurlers. A former fourth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2003, he spent the first seven years of his big league career in Boston and helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series.Asked if the Red Sox were interested in bringing Papelbon back, manager John Farrell said Saturday: We havent had any discussions on Jonathan.But?Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team would be interested: It just happened, but I would say its worth looking into.ESPNs Scott Lauber, ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cheap Authentic NCAA Jerseys . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Cheap USA College Jerseys Free Shipping . 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At the AFLW recruitment table, getting the right balance of age, skills and high performance experience will be critical to success.Never before have the 218 AFLW players carried the weight of such unmatched investment in front of the watchful eye of an adoring but demanding AFL public.With hopes of little girls resting on their shoulders, players abilities to cope and perform well under such pressure will go a long way to determining the type of reception future women in their position will receive, and justify the AFLs implementation of such a game-changing initiative.With club lists now settled ahead to the leagues debut season, ESPN has taken a look to 2017, and what to expect from each side.Adelaide, balancing speed and endurance, expect to be a contender at every contest. But the Crows boast few players with exhibition match experience, making them vulnerable under expected AFLW pressure. The injection of Western Australian stars Chelsea Randall and Kellie Gibson will bolster their homegrown talents. Adelaides exciting youngsters such as Ebony Marinoff and emerging ruck Sarah Allan are promising but will need support if the team is have a chance at the flag.With few players older than 25, fearless forward Tayla Harris, agile small Shaleise Law, versatile tall Tahlia Randall and reliable defender Emily Bates will form Brisbanes nucleus for many years. Imports Katelyn Ashmore (Victoria) and Jess Wueschtner (WA) add speed and skill, and Sabrina Frederick Traub (WA) will stretch opposition defences in size and strength. Victorian defender Nicole Hildebrand might be the star pick with her courageous ball-winning ability. The performances of older Queensland stateswomen such as Emma Zielke and Leah Kaslar will be vital if the Lions are to be in the premiership hunt.There is no pattern to Carltons list other than theyve got depth everywhere and have a little of everything needed to cope with any situation. Darcy Vescio and Brianna Davey, Australias most versatile players, will smash you on the scoreboard then intercept across half back on the next play. And the rest of the squad? Talls. Smalls. Insiders. Outsiders. Attackers. Shut down players. Carlton will be able to cover whatever their rivals throw at them, making them a likely contender for the AFLW premiership.Collingwood boast five of AFLWs most dangerous forwards - Moana Hope, Sarah DArcy, Jessica Cameron, Jasmine Garner and Lauren Tesorerio, who can debilitate the best defender. Their defence runs just as deep, with none better than Nicola Stevens, AFLWs best defensive pressure kick and a rare contested mark. Defenders Steph Chiocci and Penny Cula Reids execution will hurt teams on the rebound. The Pies shallow inside midfield depth will see them scrap at stoppages but their outside runners are quality and ruck Emma King is brilliant.dddddddddddd. If offence wins games and defence wins championships, then Collingwood could be two thirds of their way to the premiership.If stemming the talent flow to other states was Fremantles first challenge, enticing coach Michelle Cowan from the Demons was their first win. The Dockers will be dangerous by foot through Kara Donnellan and the sublime Kirby Bentley, who fans will adore. Their young defence featuring Ebony Antonio and Hayley Miller is elite, but losing key forwards interstate has left them vulnerable. Goal kicker Amy Lavells return to the game is a positive while forward Kira Phillips rare talent will need consistency. Balancing elite athleticism and skill make Fremantle one of the competitions most hunted teams.Greater Western Sydney plugged their experience gap by recruiting nine interstate players. Emma Swanson (WA) and Jessica Dal Pos (Victoria) will support midfielders Nicola Barr and Maddie Collier. Victorians Phoebe McWilliams and Louise Stephenson will add much-needed height and forward strength. The Giants harvested the ample junior NSW talent now flowing upwards. Erin McKinnon, 18 in December and the AFLWs youngest player, will shoulder the Giants ruck work. Forward Kate Stanton, 18, will also impress. The Giants need their local senior talent to stand up if they are going to be in the mix.Pre-signing the experienced Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman, Elise ODea and Melissa Hickey bode well for Melbourne. On draft day they deviated from experience however, recruiting 18 players who have played no more than one year of VFL football. All-Australian 18-year-olds Deanna Berry, Katherine Smith, Lily Mithen, and their junior state team peer, Jasmine Grierson, will be stars of the future, as will Jess Anderson. But have Melbourne gone too young, too soon? The Demons coach, former TAC Cup premiership coach Michael Stinear, whose ability to get immediate results with young players is revered, may be the key ingredient to their AFLW success.The Western Bulldogs might be a premiership contender due to their long list of midfielders. With stoppages the critical feature of coach Paul Groves success, it was no surprise they made emerging midfielder Jamie Lambert their first draft pick. Add hard-hitting Hayley Wildes and Hannah Scott to elite runners, Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney, and the Dogs should own the inside football. Katie Brennan will play a greater running role than her previous forward days too, while the recruitment of four genuine rucks in Tiarna Ernst, Lauren Spark, Courtney Clarkson and Aasta OConnor will well serve Groves game plan.AFLW teams started their five-month training programs on November 21. ' ' '