WASHINGTON - For the moment, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo plans to head into next season with newly acquired Yunel Escobar at second base and possible free-agent-to-be Ian Desmond at shortstop. Nike Vapormax Pas Cher Chine .That does not mean Desmond definitely wont be traded, if the right offer came along.Our approach with Ian Desmond has not changed one bit since the end of last season. Ian Desmond is our shortstop. Hes a leader of our team. Hes one of the best shortstops in all of baseball. And hes going to be the shortstop of the Washington Nationals, Rizzo said Thursday during a conference call with reporters.With that said, (for) Ian Desmond — or any other player on the roster — if a deal comes up that we cant refuse, well always look to improve ourselves for 2015 and beyond, he said.Heading into this off-season, Desmond was one of five key players for the Nationals who could become free agents after the next World Series. Another was reliever Tyler Clippard, dealt Wednesday to Oakland for Escobar.Escobar, who hit only .258 for Tampa Bay last season, has been a shortstop most of his career. He started 20 games at second base for Atlanta in 2007.We see Yuni as being an above-average defender at shortstop and at second base. He has been his entire career, except for last year, Rizzo said, explaining that limitations Escobar had in 2014 at shortstop for the Rays were due to shoulder and quadriceps problems that are now fine.We have no qualms about his defence, Rizzo added.Asked about Escobars three-game suspension in 2012 for wearing eye black displaying an anti-gay slur while playing for the Blue Jays, Rizzo said: Were not going to be an apologist for poor behaviour. But that was years ago and when he was a younger kid. We believe he has matured. ... We vetted him quite a bit.With Escobars arrival filling the Nationals need for a starting second baseman, Danny Espinosa will move to a vital bench role, Rizzo said.As for Clippard, a two-time NL All-Star, Rizzo called him maybe the best eighth-inning setup man in the history of the game.Rizzo said hes thinks Washington can replace the right-hander with someone already in the organization. If not, there could be another move.Were not ruling out adding any more personnel via trades or via free agents or minor league free agents, Rizzo said. Were still a month away from the start of spring training and, believe me, were not taking any vacations or anything like that.NOTES: The Nationals avoided arbitration with four players by agreeing to one-year contracts — $3.55 million for C Wilson Ramos; $2.25 million for RHP Craig Stammen; $1.8 million for 2B Danny Espinosa, with performances bonuses of $25,000 each at 200, 250, 300 and 350 plate appearances; and $1.2 million for C Jose Lobaton. Ramos hit .267 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs for the NL East champions last season, when he made $2,115,000. Stammen, mostly a middle-innings reliever, was 4-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 49 appearances in 2014, when he earned $1.35 million. Espinosa batted .219 with eight homers and 27 RBIs, while earning $540,850. Lobaton, Ramos backup, hit .234 with two homers and 12 RBIs; he made $950,000. Nike Air Vapormax Pas Cher . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. Air Max Plus Femme Pas Cher . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. http://www.maxnikepascher.fr/ .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Mike Leake had one of those nights that happen to pitchers every so often. Bad timing for this one. And now, the Cincinnati Reds face long odds against a second straight NL Central title. Daniel Murphy hit a three-run homer off Leake, whose long streak of scoreless innings got shattered early, and the New York Mets beat Cincinnati 4-2 on Tuesday night, a costly setback to the Reds hopes of another division title. The Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates clinched playoff spots on Monday night, but hoped to chase down the first-place St. Louis Cardinals with closing surges. Leakes one very bad inning made that much less likely for the Reds. Cincinnati fell a daunting three games behind St. Louis, which beat Washington 2-0 on Tuesday night. If they cant catch up, they are headed for the wild card playoff game next Tuesday. "Well forget about this one," manager Dusty Baker said. "Four games to go." Leake (14-7) gave up four runs and eight hits in only 1 2-3 innings, matching the shortest start of his career. Wilfredo Tovar ended his scoreless innings streak at 21 2-3 with an RBI single, and Murphys homer gave left-hander Jon Niese (8-8) the big lead. "That happens," Leake said. "There was one pitch that blew it open for them. They just got me." Niese kept lefties Joey Votto and Jay Bruce in check again, holding them to a combined 0 for 6 with four strikeouts. Niese allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings. Vic Black faced three batters in the ninth, getting his first career save on his second try. Eric Young Jr. had a single and a double, scored a run and stole his 42nd base for the Mets, who have won eight of 12. It was a stunning outing for Leake, who has been the Reds most effective starter lately. The right-hander allowed a total of two runs while winning his last three starts and getting his career-high 14th win. Will the one bad start weigh in Cincinnatis decision about its post-season pitching staff? "We arent even thinking about that yet," Baker said. "Everybodys capable of a bad start. This is the first one in a long time for him. "He didnt have his good control. He tthrew some balls over the heart of the plate and up. Air Max Plus Homme Pas Cher. " Leake gave up two singles in the first inning before escaping. Mike Baxter led off the second with a double and scored on Tovars single. The right-hander got an assist when Bruce threw Tovar out at the plate as he tried to score from second base on Nieses single to right field, but it wasnt enough. Murphys three-run homer on the 10th pitch of his at-bat made it 4-0 with two outs. When David Wright followed with a single -- the Mets eighth hit -- Baker made the change. Leake didnt look at his start as a final chance to make a bid for the post-season pitching staff. He was left off last year, but replaced the injured Johnny Cueto during Cincinnatis first-round series loss to San Francisco. "Naw, I wasnt fighting for anything," Leake said. "Theyre going to decide whatever they decide. Its not a competition for anything." Niese also got off to a rough start, giving up singles to Shin-Soo Choo and Brandon Phillips on his first two pitches of the game. He got out of that threat with the help of centre fielder Juan Lagares, who nailed Choo at the plate as he tried to score on Ryan Ludwicks single. Todd Frazier doubled in the second and came around on two groundouts. Choo tripled -- Lagares charged the ball and missed it -- and scored when Votto grounded into a double play in the fifth, cutting it to 4-2. Votto is 2 for 15 in his career against Niese with seven strikeouts. Bruce is 2 for 13 with six strikeouts. NOTES: Murphys 13 homers are a career high. ... Young has 26 steals in the second half of the season, most in the majors. ... Leake also lasted 1 2-3 innings on July 30 last season against San Diego. ... Leakes scoreless streak was the longest by a Reds starter since Tom Browning threw 23 straight scoreless innings in 1990, when the Reds won the World Series. ... Baker said the Reds havent decided how RHP Johnny Cueto fits into their post-season rotation and whether rookie Billy Hamilton will be on the playoff roster. ... The series concludes with a day game on Wednesday. RHP Mat Latos (14-6) starts for Cincinnati against RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-3). ' ' '