[A power outage kept me from posting on Monday]

• Sunday recap: you have to think that Austin Kearns is sick and tired of all those Austin Powers jokes, given that, well, he hasn't demonstrated any power at the plate in recent weeks. Fortunately, he got his mojo back Sunday afternoon, cranking a three-run homer for the only offense in the series finale against the Rockies. Yeah, baby. Nats win, 3-0. (Box score)
• In a surprising development, late yesterday the Nats announced that they have signed Ronnie Belliard to a two-year contract extension worth $3.5 million. The deal presumably means that Belliard is off the trade market just over a week before the deadline; several teams had reportedly expressed an interest in trading for the infielder. However, GM Jim Bowden said, "Every player in our entire organization is on the trade market, if that's what you want to call it."
• Fox Sports reported yesterday that the Nats are interested in trading for Adam Dunn, a longtime favorite of Bowden when he was the Reds GM. The Reds are reportedly scouting Nats prospects at high-A Potomac. One challenge: the Nats would also have to sign Dunn to a contract to keep him from becoming a free agent after this season.
• The Nats are scouting Detroit pitching prospect Jair Jurrjens, currently pitching in Double-A. The Tigers are reportedly interested in either Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch.
• The Tigers aren't the only team interested in Cordero, who is attracting interest from a number of teams because of strong performance of late. Cordero has converted his last seven save opportunities and has a 1.65 ERA since coming off the bereavement list two months ago.
• Trading Cordero, Rauch, Dmitri Young, or others is needed because, contrary to team statements, the Nats are still some time away from contenting in the NL East, says Mark Zuckerman. "In other words, Washington shouldn't be building for 2008. It should be building for 2009 and beyond, and the organization would be wise to take that tact [sic] with this summer's trade deadline."
• John Lannan is ready to pitch in the majors, proclaims scouting director Dana Brown, although the team hasn't made a decision yet about calling him up for the day-night doubleheader Saturday. Lannan, at the very least, has mastered the tired cliche: "I'm just taking one start at a time. I can't control what happens."
• The Nats are considering scheduling more day games next season. Excluding Opening Day, the seven non-Sunday day games have drawn about 3,000 more per game than their season average.