The Reds outbid the Nats for the services of Aroldis Chapman, and now it looks like they have also won out on Orlando... Cabrera. I do find the tactics employed by the "New Front Office" fascinating. Rizzo is playing this like the drunk guy at the bar at last call; he will show interest in any girl with a pulse, and it all comes down to finding that one mark willing to go home with him. Most of these players on the Nats radar are ones that playoff contenders (the top 20 teams) covet to fill in the missing link, to push them over the top. And now with Cabrera a Red, Rizzo may actually get the second baseman of his dreams, Orlando Hudson.
The consensus was that the Nats needed to "rebuild." However, browsing the Washington farm reserves must have inspired a different approach. These signings look like that of a team trying to win, and of course the Nats are not trying to lose. However, look back to last year. The major league roster was so terrible last season, too many untested players were forced into roles they were not ready to handle. By bringing in some of these players on the cheap, hopefully some of these younger arms (Strasburg, Storen, Detwiler, Meyers... Stammen and Zimmermann) are able to develop outside the pressure of the major leagues and stay healthy. Most people feel the model for rebuilding is the Florida Marlins, an organization that sends their younger, cheaper players out there early and often, then trading them for more prospects prior to arbitration. The Nats have the money to keep their arbitration eligible players, so they make good use of the money.
However, take a look at these numbers: 73, 80, 72, 74, 78. Those are the win totals of those same Cincinnati Reds that have picked up Cabrera as a "final piece." The Reds are caught in the cycle that many teams get caught in year after year. They have enough capable major league players to feel they can compete, but never take the next step to breaking .500. Their problem, for quite a while, was holding on to players instead of cashing them in when their market value was highest, such as Adam Dunn, Aaron Harang, etc. Then they bring in second tier free agents, hoping Albert Pujols blows out a knee and they can sneak into the playoffs. In reality, they used up their young pitchers to quickly and are now hoping that Harang, Volquez, and Cueto can come back from injury. Had they eased of the accelerator in 2007 and 2008, they would have those guys healthy to join a peaking Homer Bailey and anchor Bronson Arroyo on opening day.
The Nats are likely to win 70-75 games this year, and making another small move coupled with the maturation of the young players on the roster, could improve on that to 75-80 wins. However, without a deep farm system, they will be forced to rely on getting lucky with a Jason Marquis or Orlando Hudson (both players who had outstanding impacts on their team last year) as a free agent, or hit home runs with the draft each season to avoid the type of sustained mediocrity posted by a team like the Reds. Sure, 78 wins looks so good to Nats fans right now, and given the current economic landscape, maybe that is as far as the Lerners feel they have to take the team to keep the fan base. The fans, though, really want to beat the Phillies, Mets, and Braves regularly, and probably will not hang around to watch ticket prices go up for a team destined for 70-80 wins each year because they invest too much in the present and past and not enough in the future.
Tough call
Monday, February 1, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Untouted Gem
Last year we watched as Josh Willingham absolutely shredded pitchers from mid-May to mid-August, but most of the rest of the league saw him as a "flash-in-the-pan" who couldn't even bring decent prospects in return. Hell, even after the double slam game, few team kicked the tires.
Dave Cameron disagrees. Apparently if he was on the market, he should be one of the most sought out bats, as his statistical doppleganger is considered the best free agent bat on the market (we heard you the first time Mr. Boras).
Hey, I love the Hammer, and I love Alabama, but he should be in line to bump his salary upwards of 8M if he exceeds last season's performance. And it isn't like Willingham is comically bad defensively; his legs are too short and he doesn't play line drives as well as an Austin Kearns. He is just regular bad at defense.
Dave Cameron disagrees. Apparently if he was on the market, he should be one of the most sought out bats, as his statistical doppleganger is considered the best free agent bat on the market (we heard you the first time Mr. Boras).
Hey, I love the Hammer, and I love Alabama, but he should be in line to bump his salary upwards of 8M if he exceeds last season's performance. And it isn't like Willingham is comically bad defensively; his legs are too short and he doesn't play line drives as well as an Austin Kearns. He is just regular bad at defense.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Three Signings That Won't Make You Cringe
As the free agent market begins to dry up, the less desirable teams are forced to scramble to claim the best remaining players to fill the gaps on their rosters. Watching the Royals make a panic moves to acquire flawed veterans Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel, the fact of the matter is that Rizzo has made most of the right moves to improve the team 10+ wins for 2010. It is doubtful that the NL East will be as terrible as it was last season, but the improved pitching will make them a more difficult team to sweep.
Going into the offseason, the Nats did not have many "holes" (besides the abyss called the bullpen), but many "areas for improvement." The biggest hole outside the bullpen has been the farm. They were forced to call up anyone with a pulse, mostly with less than desirable results. Second base still needs to be addressed, and Rizzo has gone out of his way to put his card in every agents' hand. It has been the number of proven major leaguers and AAAA guys looking for a second chance they have shrewdly brought in via minor league contracts. Having a player blocked in AAA is never a bad problem; needing regular innings from Justin Maxwell is a bad problem.
The Nats picked up Tyler Walker for a one year deal for less than a million bucks, in an era that Brandon Lyon received 3 years and 15 million. Walker is considered more of short-relief guy, better at working against righties, but his splits improved in 2009. According to the Pitch f/x, he didn't change stuff or approach much, so it is possible he had a lucky 53 batters. However, Walker has sustained a BABIP well below average for three straight seasons, and those numbers are not dependent upon his split stats. He also strikes out more than twice as many as he walks, which is unheard of in the Nats organization). My inclination is that he figured out how to get guys out with his B-rated stuff. He is an epic upgrade over a leech like Julian Tarvarez, and a good experienced role player for a bullpen that lacked most of that phrase at the beginning of Spring Training last season.
Chris Duncan doesn't figure to be in the equation unless there is an injury... of course, that is what the farm is for. His bat shows some pop, but he moves like he should be playing with the old timers in the All-Star weekend softball game. (Random tangent: my roommate and I just happened to catch the greatest play ever made in history of that series. First inning of the 2004 game, 2 outs and a dying quail is flipped into shallow center field. The center fielder hardly moved, and it looked like a sure single. Out of the right corner of the screen, a gray moustached blur came skidding across the grass face-first, full extension, and robbed the batter. Then 57 year-old Rollie Fingers flipped the ball back to the infield and trotted off to the dugout.) Duncan is only signed to a minor league deal, so if he does rediscover his swing at Syracuse and can get on base around league average, he will be a valuable bat off the bench or backup for Willingham.
The coup went under the radar though, as the Nats also stole Chuck James for a minor league deal. Chuck James isn't an All Star. He is coming of rotator cuff and labrum surgery, but it will be 18 months when camp opens. It will probably take a few months to rebuild strength, but it is likely, given his 2:1 K:BB number when healthy, that he will be in a similar, if not better position to contribute to the organization in 2010. The trouble he brings is that he is slight and doesn't create much of a downward plane with his fastball, leaving him prone to flyballs. However, regardless of his style, he is a steady lefty that can fill in the back of the rotation better that JD Martin. He should be considered "Scott Olsen insurance. If he adds a third pitch, something that can change the hitters' horizontal plane more than his fastball/changeup combo, he will have an impact on the major league roster this season.
Going into the offseason, the Nats did not have many "holes" (besides the abyss called the bullpen), but many "areas for improvement." The biggest hole outside the bullpen has been the farm. They were forced to call up anyone with a pulse, mostly with less than desirable results. Second base still needs to be addressed, and Rizzo has gone out of his way to put his card in every agents' hand. It has been the number of proven major leaguers and AAAA guys looking for a second chance they have shrewdly brought in via minor league contracts. Having a player blocked in AAA is never a bad problem; needing regular innings from Justin Maxwell is a bad problem.
The Nats picked up Tyler Walker for a one year deal for less than a million bucks, in an era that Brandon Lyon received 3 years and 15 million. Walker is considered more of short-relief guy, better at working against righties, but his splits improved in 2009. According to the Pitch f/x, he didn't change stuff or approach much, so it is possible he had a lucky 53 batters. However, Walker has sustained a BABIP well below average for three straight seasons, and those numbers are not dependent upon his split stats. He also strikes out more than twice as many as he walks, which is unheard of in the Nats organization). My inclination is that he figured out how to get guys out with his B-rated stuff. He is an epic upgrade over a leech like Julian Tarvarez, and a good experienced role player for a bullpen that lacked most of that phrase at the beginning of Spring Training last season.
Chris Duncan doesn't figure to be in the equation unless there is an injury... of course, that is what the farm is for. His bat shows some pop, but he moves like he should be playing with the old timers in the All-Star weekend softball game. (Random tangent: my roommate and I just happened to catch the greatest play ever made in history of that series. First inning of the 2004 game, 2 outs and a dying quail is flipped into shallow center field. The center fielder hardly moved, and it looked like a sure single. Out of the right corner of the screen, a gray moustached blur came skidding across the grass face-first, full extension, and robbed the batter. Then 57 year-old Rollie Fingers flipped the ball back to the infield and trotted off to the dugout.) Duncan is only signed to a minor league deal, so if he does rediscover his swing at Syracuse and can get on base around league average, he will be a valuable bat off the bench or backup for Willingham.
The coup went under the radar though, as the Nats also stole Chuck James for a minor league deal. Chuck James isn't an All Star. He is coming of rotator cuff and labrum surgery, but it will be 18 months when camp opens. It will probably take a few months to rebuild strength, but it is likely, given his 2:1 K:BB number when healthy, that he will be in a similar, if not better position to contribute to the organization in 2010. The trouble he brings is that he is slight and doesn't create much of a downward plane with his fastball, leaving him prone to flyballs. However, regardless of his style, he is a steady lefty that can fill in the back of the rotation better that JD Martin. He should be considered "Scott Olsen insurance. If he adds a third pitch, something that can change the hitters' horizontal plane more than his fastball/changeup combo, he will have an impact on the major league roster this season.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Nats Dodge Bullet, Lose Chapman Sweepstakes
Take in from someone who had to follow Ariel Prieto... Cuban defectors rarely pan out, and never reach expectations. I think it has something to do with the word "defect" that gets everybody all wound up. Because the player is defecting, everyone acts like it is a one shot deal, neglecting the fact that the player is not a "once-in-a-lifetime" talent. Had Ardolis Chapman played the last three years at an NCAA power, would he be considered "The best collegiate pitcher ever?" Possibly, but unlikely. However, the Nationals already signed that guy. Why risk putting another 30 million into an unproven commodity who is likely to fold under the pressure and riches of major league baseball.
It was a good move to pursue and make a fair offer that wouldn't hinder the the club in signing free agents and draft picks this year, but unless there was proof he could contribute to the club in 2010 and 2011, it was best to pass on Chapman and focus on getting a sure solution in the middle infield and scouting the amateur draft field.
It was a good move to pursue and make a fair offer that wouldn't hinder the the club in signing free agents and draft picks this year, but unless there was proof he could contribute to the club in 2010 and 2011, it was best to pass on Chapman and focus on getting a sure solution in the middle infield and scouting the amateur draft field.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
One Step Forward, One Step Back
Josh Whitesell has proven he can abuse the Pacific Coast League, and the Nats are giving him a chance to audition as Adam Dunn's understudy. Dunn isn't going to be a National forever. He is worth 10-15 M to an AL team, and that type of investment for the Nats is foolish given his defensive liabilities. Bringing Nick Johnson back this season would also have been foolish, given that his value has peaked and his presence would require reshuffling the defense.
It isn't fair to judge Whitesell on his 115 ML at bats; that wouldn't even qualify for the rookie status (though his 45 games may... I forget). Plus, with the number of extra moves needed to work in pinch hitters for pitchers, it helps to have a first baseman who doesn't have to be lifted late in games. He should get a fair shake at the job should Adam Dunn choose to seek greener pastures next year. Obviously, the organization thought highly enough of his skill set to bring him back after Jim Bowden left him for dead on waivers.
Eric Bruntlett, on the other hand, doesn't really provide much to the organization other that utility value. He's an average fielder and a very weak hitter. It is difficult to argue he can improve a single position at Syracuse, let alone on the ML roster. Fortunately, minor league deals, unless they have a clause built into them like Mike MacDougal's, are a win-win for the player and the team.
It isn't fair to judge Whitesell on his 115 ML at bats; that wouldn't even qualify for the rookie status (though his 45 games may... I forget). Plus, with the number of extra moves needed to work in pinch hitters for pitchers, it helps to have a first baseman who doesn't have to be lifted late in games. He should get a fair shake at the job should Adam Dunn choose to seek greener pastures next year. Obviously, the organization thought highly enough of his skill set to bring him back after Jim Bowden left him for dead on waivers.
Eric Bruntlett, on the other hand, doesn't really provide much to the organization other that utility value. He's an average fielder and a very weak hitter. It is difficult to argue he can improve a single position at Syracuse, let alone on the ML roster. Fortunately, minor league deals, unless they have a clause built into them like Mike MacDougal's, are a win-win for the player and the team.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Guardado to a Minor League Deal
If there is one thing Eddie isn't, it's everyday. Most 39 year old "athletes" with his body type are long done with professional sports, though there are exceptions (David Wells). He gave the 2-seamer/cutter a shot last year to extend his career and scrapped it mid-season. His velocity is way down across the board, especially on his slider, and his release point is all over the place.
I see him being a valuable set-up man under two conditions. First, if he figures out that 2-seamer/cutter; he needs to be able to occasionally get out right-handed hitters. And second, if he can share a little of his baseball IQ and experience with the band of young misfits running around Nats Park. Most likely, he gets a shot or two early, struggles with command and velocity, and sees much the same results as Ron Villone.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Matt Capps- 3.5 million
This isn't an unreasonable deal if he in fact is the closer. However, there is an equally reasonable chance that he isn't even the best ex-Pirate reliever to come to town. One year gives the Nats a low risk option to evaluate all their closer options, which should include everybody floating around. I really feel that Clippard and Storen are the two best options, followed by Capps and MacDougal.
To be fair, Capps was ridiculously unlucky (.370 BABIP) on an offensively challenged team, following two seasons of fortune (.272 BABIP). He's a standard fastball/slider closer, and his velocities have remained solid for three seasons. It's unlikely he will be as bad as his 2009 numbers would indicate, but I'm not sold loading up on former Pirates.
To be fair, Capps was ridiculously unlucky (.370 BABIP) on an offensively challenged team, following two seasons of fortune (.272 BABIP). He's a standard fastball/slider closer, and his velocities have remained solid for three seasons. It's unlikely he will be as bad as his 2009 numbers would indicate, but I'm not sold loading up on former Pirates.
Jason Marquis Now? The Pros and Cons
Upon seeing the Nats bring in Jason Marquis, I wondered if the team was suffering an identity crisis. Sure, Marquis is Rizzo's wet dream starter. He keeps the ball low and in the park, works efficiently, and by all accounts is a team first guy. The numbers and timing leave much to be desired, though. Here is a simple run down of the deal.
Con: Marquis is coming off a career year during which he was selected to the NL All-Star team. His candidacy, while solid, were clearly boosted by an inflated win total. This bargaining chip gave his team a leg up in any negotiations. The Nats, being really bad, did not need any further handicaps.
Pro: He can work deep into games, taking the burden off John Lannan to play stopper every five days.
Con: He posted career highs in innings pitched and batters faced, all the while tailing off dramatically in September.
Pro: The last three years, he survived hitters' paradises Wrigley Field and Coors Field, posting an ERA+ of 100 or better. He approaches the game consistently and has adjusted to his environment.
Con: His FIP in 2009 was three-quarters of a run better than his career average. Trends are nice to see; spike raise question marks. He is likely to regress closer to his career numbers.
Pro: He has pitched for a playoff team every year in his career.
Con: He is not a strikeout pitcher, now pitching for a team that desperately needs one.
Pro: An understated talent of his, Jason Marquis is not useless with a bat in his hand. He isn't a power hitter, nor can he take a walk, but his aggressive approach puts pressure on the other pitcher and can move runners from first to third and second to home on occasion. The Nats had 39 successful sacrifices in 2009; Marquis has 32... in his career (with 9 last year).
Con: Last time he pitched as many innings in a season, he stunk the following year.
Pro: He is 6 days older than me... age is not a factor.
Con: His groundball success in Denver was greatly assisted by having Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes swallowing everything behind him. There are currently no such luxuries on the Nats roster.
Pro: He throws his sinking fastball early and often, staying ahead of hitters.
Con: Two-seamers tear the hell out of fingers and forearms. He may not be injury-prone, but these register a cumulative toll.
In all, it is easy to slam the deal because the Nats were forced to overpay to acquire the services of a league average pitcher. However, league average is a lofty goal for the Nats, so this could be a savvy move buy a few wins to show improvement going forward. B- for not getting him last season.
Con: Marquis is coming off a career year during which he was selected to the NL All-Star team. His candidacy, while solid, were clearly boosted by an inflated win total. This bargaining chip gave his team a leg up in any negotiations. The Nats, being really bad, did not need any further handicaps.
Pro: He can work deep into games, taking the burden off John Lannan to play stopper every five days.
Con: He posted career highs in innings pitched and batters faced, all the while tailing off dramatically in September.
Pro: The last three years, he survived hitters' paradises Wrigley Field and Coors Field, posting an ERA+ of 100 or better. He approaches the game consistently and has adjusted to his environment.
Con: His FIP in 2009 was three-quarters of a run better than his career average. Trends are nice to see; spike raise question marks. He is likely to regress closer to his career numbers.
Pro: He has pitched for a playoff team every year in his career.
Con: He is not a strikeout pitcher, now pitching for a team that desperately needs one.
Pro: An understated talent of his, Jason Marquis is not useless with a bat in his hand. He isn't a power hitter, nor can he take a walk, but his aggressive approach puts pressure on the other pitcher and can move runners from first to third and second to home on occasion. The Nats had 39 successful sacrifices in 2009; Marquis has 32... in his career (with 9 last year).
Con: Last time he pitched as many innings in a season, he stunk the following year.
Pro: He is 6 days older than me... age is not a factor.
Con: His groundball success in Denver was greatly assisted by having Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes swallowing everything behind him. There are currently no such luxuries on the Nats roster.
Pro: He throws his sinking fastball early and often, staying ahead of hitters.
Con: Two-seamers tear the hell out of fingers and forearms. He may not be injury-prone, but these register a cumulative toll.
In all, it is easy to slam the deal because the Nats were forced to overpay to acquire the services of a league average pitcher. However, league average is a lofty goal for the Nats, so this could be a savvy move buy a few wins to show improvement going forward. B- for not getting him last season.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Do the Nationals Think They Can Win in 2010?
After foregoing the Rule 5 Draft by dealing their top pick to the Yankees for Brian Bruney, a mediocre pitcher who will make Joel Hanrahan look reliable, a wondered about the realistic short term goals of the Washington Nationals. Everybody wants to win, and winning sooner is always better than winning later, but teams who try to cut corners sacrifice much more further down the road (see: Redskins, Washington).
The draft picks surrendered to acquire this batch of free agents may not amount to a bag of rosin at the major league level; that is the rub with the amateur draft. There are very few "sure things" and even the best picks take three to five years to contribute. However, the conventional way to improve the organizational talent is to draft and acquire other organizations' proven prospects via trade. This doesn't have to be "Moneyball."
Honestly, I expected the Nats to be somewhat dormant in the free agent market, maybe trading for a couple of early arbitration players to get a couple of roster spots filled cheaply. Most of the rest of the work would be done to bring in as many options as possible to grow the talent at Harrisburg and Syracuse to compete in 2011 and 2012. The existing talent on the roster is good for about a ten win improvement in 2010, then as the pitching staff shakes out, modifications through free agency could be made to boost wins in subsequent years. Rizzo, on the other hand, dumped several draft picks in favor of known major league quantities.
Doug Slaten: known quantity, familiar with front office players
Brian Bruney: known quantity with limited major league upside, but should put up better numbers than Hanrahan or MacDougal
Jerry Owens: Nyjer Morgan insurance... somebody to play quality defensive CF in AAA
Ryan Speier: Local kid whose numbers should be league average
Ivan Rodriguez: Offensive production will be easy to project (no a good omen, in this case), clearly a signal that they are worried about Flores
Scott Olsen: Very low-risk, possibly high reward deal... the outlier
Jason Marquis: A good fit if the Nats improve their middle infield defense... though this deal looks like one a team who thinks it is in contention makes to add depth (Jeff Suppan to the Brewers, Carl Pavano to the Indians, etc)... a deal with little reward other than he has more experience than all those AAAA guys
Jamie Burke: Crash Davis?
Joel Peralta: Definition of AAAA
Logan Kensing: Somebody put on their Bad Idea Jeans and handed out a contract.
The Nationals are clearly trying avoid 100 losses in 2010. They may even avoid 90 with these options. However, most of these guys have had a shot and proved that they couldn't contribute much to a contender, aside from Marquis. When the Nats are expected to make another step forward in 2011, they will still have a glut of guys who are past their prime and won't be expected to improve.
The Rays needed four solid years to develop their slew of top picks, and never quit acquiring young prospects. It took an astute GM to sort through the mess and jettison the ones not expected to fulfill their promise (Delmon Young). Mike Rizzo is putting too much faith in the level of talent in the low minors right now, and for the Nats to continue to improve, their cannot be a dud amongst them. If there are, which there always are, they will be playing the free agent scramble every December to piece together a 75-win team from the leavings.
Mike Rizzo looks to be doubling-down on the Nyjer Morgan move and gambling for similar results. The Nats do have more financial resources than many teams, and may feel that the next two years are critical for establishing a paying crowd and television audience; that cannot be done with a AAA roster. In the end, the tactics cannot be condemned, though it should be mentioned that few franchises have successfully rebuilt this way.
The draft picks surrendered to acquire this batch of free agents may not amount to a bag of rosin at the major league level; that is the rub with the amateur draft. There are very few "sure things" and even the best picks take three to five years to contribute. However, the conventional way to improve the organizational talent is to draft and acquire other organizations' proven prospects via trade. This doesn't have to be "Moneyball."
Honestly, I expected the Nats to be somewhat dormant in the free agent market, maybe trading for a couple of early arbitration players to get a couple of roster spots filled cheaply. Most of the rest of the work would be done to bring in as many options as possible to grow the talent at Harrisburg and Syracuse to compete in 2011 and 2012. The existing talent on the roster is good for about a ten win improvement in 2010, then as the pitching staff shakes out, modifications through free agency could be made to boost wins in subsequent years. Rizzo, on the other hand, dumped several draft picks in favor of known major league quantities.
Doug Slaten: known quantity, familiar with front office players
Brian Bruney: known quantity with limited major league upside, but should put up better numbers than Hanrahan or MacDougal
Jerry Owens: Nyjer Morgan insurance... somebody to play quality defensive CF in AAA
Ryan Speier: Local kid whose numbers should be league average
Ivan Rodriguez: Offensive production will be easy to project (no a good omen, in this case), clearly a signal that they are worried about Flores
Scott Olsen: Very low-risk, possibly high reward deal... the outlier
Jason Marquis: A good fit if the Nats improve their middle infield defense... though this deal looks like one a team who thinks it is in contention makes to add depth (Jeff Suppan to the Brewers, Carl Pavano to the Indians, etc)... a deal with little reward other than he has more experience than all those AAAA guys
Jamie Burke: Crash Davis?
Joel Peralta: Definition of AAAA
Logan Kensing: Somebody put on their Bad Idea Jeans and handed out a contract.
The Nationals are clearly trying avoid 100 losses in 2010. They may even avoid 90 with these options. However, most of these guys have had a shot and proved that they couldn't contribute much to a contender, aside from Marquis. When the Nats are expected to make another step forward in 2011, they will still have a glut of guys who are past their prime and won't be expected to improve.
The Rays needed four solid years to develop their slew of top picks, and never quit acquiring young prospects. It took an astute GM to sort through the mess and jettison the ones not expected to fulfill their promise (Delmon Young). Mike Rizzo is putting too much faith in the level of talent in the low minors right now, and for the Nats to continue to improve, their cannot be a dud amongst them. If there are, which there always are, they will be playing the free agent scramble every December to piece together a 75-win team from the leavings.
Mike Rizzo looks to be doubling-down on the Nyjer Morgan move and gambling for similar results. The Nats do have more financial resources than many teams, and may feel that the next two years are critical for establishing a paying crowd and television audience; that cannot be done with a AAA roster. In the end, the tactics cannot be condemned, though it should be mentioned that few franchises have successfully rebuilt this way.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Beast Awakens...
Blogspot has apparently been blocked by my place of work, making it more difficult to post timely responses.
Gotta love the Winter Meetings
The Nationals filled one of the openings on their roster at catcher by replacing Josh Bard with Ivan Rodriguez, and opened another by trading for Brian Bruney.
Let's start with Pudge. The value for the deal is fine, but the truth of the matter is that he isn't here to push Wil out; he is in as insurance for Jesus Flores. If Flores can't make it back for the start of the season, a viable (although below average) 1-2 punch behind the plate exists. Nieves could probably move on, but is still a good clubhouse presence and the team. Rodriguez does not offer much of an offensive upgrade over Nieves (and I could easily extrapolate that he will be worse), but the biggest weakness the Nats had behind the plate in 2009 was experience. The pitchers were not well managed, baserunners were able to run at will, and there was no major league credibility off of which to build confidence.
The pressure is going to still be on Flores to match his hot 2008 start, and Rodriguez represents a mentor, not competition. The Nats probably could have driven a harder bargain, but losing out on Pudge and bringing in a younger backup represents pressure.
The Bruney trade will be covered later, as it reveals more about the philosophy of the front office moving forward.
Gotta love the Winter Meetings
The Nationals filled one of the openings on their roster at catcher by replacing Josh Bard with Ivan Rodriguez, and opened another by trading for Brian Bruney.
Let's start with Pudge. The value for the deal is fine, but the truth of the matter is that he isn't here to push Wil out; he is in as insurance for Jesus Flores. If Flores can't make it back for the start of the season, a viable (although below average) 1-2 punch behind the plate exists. Nieves could probably move on, but is still a good clubhouse presence and the team. Rodriguez does not offer much of an offensive upgrade over Nieves (and I could easily extrapolate that he will be worse), but the biggest weakness the Nats had behind the plate in 2009 was experience. The pitchers were not well managed, baserunners were able to run at will, and there was no major league credibility off of which to build confidence.
The pressure is going to still be on Flores to match his hot 2008 start, and Rodriguez represents a mentor, not competition. The Nats probably could have driven a harder bargain, but losing out on Pudge and bringing in a younger backup represents pressure.
The Bruney trade will be covered later, as it reveals more about the philosophy of the front office moving forward.
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