Stan Kasten, who was the Nationals’ president from 2006 to 2010, is part of a triumvirate of businessmen who last night reached a deal to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Stan Kasten, the only President that the Washington Nationals have ever had, announced this afternoon that he was stepping down at the end of the season. Kasten will still hang on to his minority ownership stake in the team.

Nationals Team President Stan Kasten appeared alongside racing Teddy Roosevelt in an interview on ESPN to discuss why Teddy just can’t win the Presidents Race. In the video clip above, Kasten states that one day, Teddy will win. “It’s inevitable he’s gonna win, and the only way to make sure you’re here for that night, is come every night,” Kasten said. Hrm. That’s the first we’ve heard of any such plans to Let Teddy…

UPDATE (4:10pm): Nuthin! Per Barry Svrluga, the Nats passed the trade deadline without making a move, despite a flurry of late rumors. While they might make minor moves in August (like last year with Livan), they decided against moving Rauch or Cordero. Let’s hope Chief’s feelings aren’t hurt and he strikes out Dunn for the save tonight! UPDATE (2:35pm): The Red Sox, rumored to have sought after Cordero since last winter, have reportedly filled their…

Baseball’s amateur draft hasn’t quite established the same caché as the NFL, with All Day Draft Coverage, mock “war rooms” and the like. This is partially because baseball’s deep player development system delays the impact of most draftees and partly because baseball’s draft has twenty bazillion rounds. Even without a media circus, though, the 2007 Draft looms large for the Nats and their plans for future development. Many of their decisions over the past few…

[Editor’s Note: With the Nationals readying to begin their third season in D.C., change is constant and questions abound. Today, like last year, we take a look at the 2007 roster and all the new contributors. Next week, we’ll discuss this year’s most pressing questions with some of the Nats’ best bloggers.] With the Nats preparing to head north from spring training in Viera for their third season on the Anacostia, it’s time to take…

So we’re six weeks into the Nats post-Robinson era, and no one besides Stan Kasten and Jim Bowden has any clue what’s going on in the search for a manager. Kasten is dedicated to a process that is “thorough” and he is “prepared to hire the best fit.” He recently said an announcement might be made in the next two weeks, but resists giving any insight into the process whatsoever. What’s going on down there…

This much is known about the Nats’ managerial search: 1) With Piniella and Girardi having withdrawn, the position is unlikely to be filled by recognized “name”. 2) The process has been conducted with Karl Rove-like secrecy. 3) Because of #2, the press is essentially groping in the dark for leads, and the final selection will most likely not have been on anyone’s lists two weeks ago. For the prospective candidates, the description of the Nat’s…

Having dismissed Frank Robinson at the end of the season, the Nats are casting a wide net for possible replacements. Reports yesterday regarding the sudden firing (and availability) of four-time World Series winner Joe Torre now appear to be premature, according to the NY Post. With the nascent Torre-to-the-Nats campaign already toast, we take a look at the other candidates in the rumor mill… Lou Pinella Experience: Played briefly for O’s and Indians, but mostly…

Livan Hernandez is Frank Robinson’s kind of player: crafty, with dogged determination and competitive fire. He wants the ball in every situation. He’s eaten innings in big chunks, leading the league in IP for three years straight. He’s loyal, perhaps to a fault. He’s been one of the faces of the franchise in recent years, and was the first player to throw a pitch for the Nationals last year. Despite not having the best…