Today, Nationals’ General Manager Mike Rizzo was named the Executive of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Rizzo will be presented with the award on January 24 in Boston. The Boston chapter is one of the few to still present individual awards.

Rizzo led the Nationals in improving scouting and player development. He signed top draft picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Rizzo also traded for pitcher Gio Gonzalez last off season and acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki during the 2012 season. This season was the Nationals first winning season, with an 18-win improvement from last season.

Earlier this off season Rizzo finished second as Executive of the Year by Sporting News.

Other news:

• The deadline for the Nationals to set their 40-man roster is at midnight tonight. This is in anticipation of the Rule 5 Draft which take place on December 6. This could lead to releasing some more current expendable players such as Jesus Flores.
• The Nationals released their Spring Training schedule last Friday. Spring Training will start earlier this year (in late February) because of the World Baseball Classic. No report date for the players has been announced yet. Individual game tickets for Spring Training games go on sale on January 19.