Read More: Chien-Ming Wang (P – WAS), Jordan Zimmermann (P – WAS), Stephen Strasburg (P – WAS), New York Yankees, Washington Nationals

It looks like the Washington Nationals have indeed re-signed Chien-Ming Wang, according to multiple reports by several local media members. The deal is pending a physical, according to Ben Goessling of MASN Sports, who had the news first. Wang will receive a one-year contract, according to reports from several local beat writers. The amount of money Wang will make is still unclear.

UPDATE: Wang will make $4 million, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman.

Wang has been with the Nationals for two years, but spent most of that time rehabbing reconstructive shoulder surgery. He appeared in 11 games in the second half of last season, going 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA. The Nationals envision him as a back-of-the-rotation starter behind Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. The 31-year old is best known for his work with the New York Yankees, whom he pitched for during the first five years of his MLB career.

For more on Wang and the rest of the Washington Nationals, visit Federal Baseball.

Read More: Stephen Strasburg (P – WAS), Washington Nationals

Stephen Strasburg’s pitching schedule for the month of September was laid out by Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson in a pre-game press conference with reporters Friday. Strasburg has already made one start, and Johnson said that his next three starts will occur at home.

Via Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post:

The Nationals have planned Stephen Strasburg’s scheduled so he will make his four starts back from Tommy John surgery at Nationals Park, at which point he will either make one road start on the season’s final day or conclude his major league season.

Those four starts are as follows.

Strasburg could then start on the road against the Marlins on September 28 on four days rest if so inclined. That decision would ultimately be up to the Nationals.

By Jeff Sullivan

– Editor

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Sep 2, 2011 – The Washington Nationals have been eyeing a September 6 return for Stephen Strasburg to the major leagues. The final hurdle he had to clear was a Thursday-night rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg. Strasburg made that start, and it went pretty well. From the game report:

Stephen Strasburg allowed one hit over six shutout innings Thursday night for Double-A Harrisburg in what was expected to be his final minor league rehab start before he returns to the Washington Nationals.

Featuring a fastball that hit 99 mph, the No. 1 pick from the 2009 draft left with Harrisburg leading Portland 9-0. He struck out four and threw 70 pitches, 53 for strikes.

Six innings. One hit. Three strikes for every ball. A fastball that reached near triple digits. And, according to various reports on Twitter, lots of offspeed pitches as well. If that sounds like Stephen Strasburg, that’s because it’s Stephen Strasburg, as if nothing ever happened.

Well, not exactly. He did stop at 70 pitches. Strasburg is still in the process of coming back from major surgery, so the stamina hasn’t yet built up. But he has been throwing more and more every time. His pitch counts for his six minor-league rehab starts:

31
33
49
60
64
70

Strasburg’s building up his arm, and as he’s built up his arm, he hasn’t lost anything in the way of stuff. His fastball is still getting up there, and his curve is still sharp (although not always as sharp as he wants it to be). About the only indication that Strasburg was ever hurt is that he’s been coming out of games early, but he’s been going deeper and deeper, and on Tuesday, facing the Dodgers, he should work deeper still.

It’s expected that Strasburg will throw about 80 pitches next week. The time after that, perhaps 85 to 90. The time after that, he could exceed 90, and the time after that, he could very well reach 100. Strasburg’s in line to make four or five starts with the Nationals before the season draws to a close, and by his final go, he could be completely back to what he was before the whole mess.

Which is kind of the point of giving him time. Some wonder whether it’s worth it for the Nationals to bring Strasburg back to pitch in September, thereby pushing him and risking injury. But for the Nationals, not only is Strasburg good for attendance and buzz – using him gives him a chance to get stretched out and re-acquainted with the major league experience, a part of preparing for 2012.

All eyes will be on Strasburg next Tuesday, and for the rest of the season, but I don’t think people will be curious so much as they’ll be looking for Strasburg to confirm what they already figure: that he is just fine, and that the injury’s behind him. Tommy John is more of an inconvenience than anything else these days, and from all indications so far, Strasburg has emerged just peaches. There’s no reason to expect that to change as he moves from the minors to the majors.

Stephen Strasburg is finally back. That’s good for the Nationals, it’s good for baseball, and it’s good for all of us. It’s good for everybody, really, save for those who have to stand in front of him.

Read More: Stephen Strasburg (P – WAS), Washington Nationals

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The Washington Nationals are in the bottom third of the league when it comes to average attendance to home games, with about 24,152 coming out each time the Nats play, according to ESPN.

But that number is likely to get a little bit of juice in early September if pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg(notes) continues on his current rehab path and joins the team.

The Washington Post reports that Strasburg had a side session Wednesday with no major issues, which clears him to make a Triple-A start for the Syracuse Chiefs and throw 70 or 80 pitches. After that, he may pitch on Sept. 1 for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and then return to the Nationals lineup that he was last in back in August of 2010 when he tore a ligament in his arm.

“I don’t think he can come here before Sept. 6,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said, the Post reports. “That was the date that I heard. But where he’s at, the number of pitches, the consensus is he needs a couple more outings, then bring him back here.”

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Source: Washington PostESPN

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Washington Nationals sensation Stephen Strasburg(notes) started only 12 games last season (5-3, 2.91 ERA) before being shut down to have Tommy John surgery. He took a big step toward returning to the team Monday when he threw his first session off a mound since the September surgery, according to MLB.com.

Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, tweeted about the event: “First bullpen in the books. Felt great! Hopefully time will speed up now!”

MLB.com notes that “there is an outside chance Strasburg could return to the Nationals this year,” but a 2012 return is more likely.

“That basically means he’s on the slope instead of flat ground,” Nats Manager Jim Riggleman said, according to MLB.com. “It’s probably 50 percent effort-wise. It’s the next step in the rehab — to get him throwing downhill, instead of on flat ground.”

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Source: MLB.comStephen Strasburg

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For the first time since having Tommy John surgery in early September, Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg(notes) is actually throwing the ball again.

“He told me that he tossed a ball, that he was really excited,” Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty said, according to the Washington Post. “I just kind of laughed. He was so excited to be able to toss a ball. I’m not sure what the process is, because it can vary. But I know he tossed a ball. It was a very short distance. He was very happy.”

Strasburg is rehabbing in Southern California but will join his teammates in Florida this weekend for spring training, though his rehab schedule has him not pitching in a game until 12-to-18 months after the surgery, the Post notes. He’ll spend spring training soft tossing.

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Source: Washington Post

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For the first time since having Tommy John surgery in early September, Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg(notes) is actually throwing the ball again.

“He told me that he tossed a ball, that he was really excited,” Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty said, according to the Washington Post. “I just kind of laughed. He was so excited to be able to toss a ball. I’m not sure what the process is, because it can vary. But I know he tossed a ball. It was a very short distance. He was very happy.”

Strasburg is rehabbing in Southern California but will join his teammates in Florida this weekend for spring training, though his rehab schedule has him not pitching in a game till 12-to-18 months after surgery, the Post notes. He’ll spend spring training soft tossing.

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Source: Washington Post

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Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts as a rookie in 12 starts last year. (J. Pat Carter/Associated Press)

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has begun throwing as he moves forward with his recovery from reconstructive elbow surgery.

The right-hander, operated on Sept. 3, began a “soft toss” program in San Diego with a physical therapist, the Nationals said Thursday. He will start a more formalized throwing program when he arrives at spring training in Viera, Fla.

Recuperation time from the surgery is usually 12 to 18 months.

Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 earned-run average and 92 strikeouts as a rookie in 12 starts last year, striking out 14 in his major league debut.

The top pick in the 2009 amateur draft, Strasburg signed for a draft-record $15.1 million US.