Nationals complete deal with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer  —  The Washington Nationals radically altered the baseball landscape Sunday night, ending a winter of relative inactivity by agreeing to a seven-year contract with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks.

(USATSI)  —  Top right-handed starter Max Scherzer and the Nationals are in agreement on a seven-year deal, CBSSports.com has learned.  —  Details of the deal beyond the seven years are not known.  —  Scherzer was reported by the Washington Post to have been “very close” …

JP Morosi  —  Despair not, Wisconsin sports fans.  Your favorite team remains involved in a competition certain to grip the nation's attention over the next two weeks.  —  Which team will trade for Jordan Zimmermann?  —  See?  Sunday's fourth-quarter collapse in Seattle actually was for the best.

Nationals Build Potential Super-Team, Add Max Scherzer  —  Here's maybe the simplest way to put this: a season ago, by his peripherals, Tanner Roark was about a three-win pitcher.  By his actual runs allowed, he was about a five-win pitcher.  He actually finished with a higher RA9-WAR …

Scherzer part of Rizzo's grand plan, or Lerner's all-in play for 2015?  —  FOX Sports  —  Knowing whether it was Nats GM Mike Rizzo (left) or owner Ted Lerner who ultimately made the call on acquiring Max Scherzer could be the biggest barometer for the club's true intentions for the roster this season.

Cubs acquire Dexter Fowler from Astros  —  The Chicago Cubs intensified their push toward 2015 playoff status by acquiring switch-hitting leadoff center fielder Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros in exchange for infielder Luis Valbuena and pitcher Dan Straily.