Nov. 3, 2019

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

The Nationals celebrated their World Series victory with a parade in Washington on Saturday and after a day off, they're headed to the White House to be feted by President Donald Trump on Monday.

And before they all scatter to their homes, how about manager Dave Martinez and third-base coach Bob Henley coming to Montreal to a public reception with the Commissioner's Trophy?

Just Martinez and Henley because they are former Expos players. I was thinking no other players would join Martinez and Henley. We could suggest World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg but he's no longer a National, having opted out of the remainder of the his big-loot contract.

Despite the howl of many Expos fans who absolutely detest the Nationals, having Martinez and Henley in Montreal would be an acceptable, conciliatory course of action, a compromise between the Nationals haters and those who accept that they won.

In all fairness to Washington, that city was only one of a few that wanted the Expos in 2004. Portland, Ore. and other cities put in bids but Washington was deemed the best fit at the time by Major League Baseball.

I've already emailed Martinez and Henley about this possible course of action. I would be surprised to hear from them, considering how busy their schedules are.

I'm not a fan at all of merging the history of the Expos and Nationals but I would love to see Martinez and Henley come to Montreal, if not this week, then sometime before Christmas. Not a parade, just a reception and news conference.