Nationals Farm Authority

So this is a Mike Stanton move almost … trade him at the deadline and then sign him in the offseason. Where will he be reporting and are the Nats on the hook for his contract?

Steve – The Clippers website (and MiLB’s transaction site) are the only ones reporting this. No idea if the Nationals are on the hook for any of it.

Is Stanton still with the Reds? I know he is having his troubles this year, so he might get let go. I think at that point, Bowden would have to sign him — it is in the social contract that Stanton pitch for the Nats, isn’t it?

I wonder if this is for compensation pick(s)? He was rated a group A last year and pretty high up the list. They could think he’s still high enough to get at least one pick.

It’s also possible they feel they can get prospects from someone like the Mets that they value more than whatever they may have given up in this deal.

they way they seem to have drafted this year, I sure wouldn’t mind seeing them load up on picks again.

You can’t trade your draft picks, at this point. The Angels aren’t due any picks for Carrasco, because they designated him for assignment. The Nats had to give up something to get him before he was released outright, but it probably wasn’t much.

Kevin – I think John was suggesting the Nationals acquired Carrasco with the thinking that someone would sign him in the off-season and thereby provide the Nationals compensation with a pick as part of the whole Type A/B free agent process.

Carrasco was actually unconditionally released by the Angels. I’m digging through the CBA to see what the ramifications financially are. it would seem that the Angels would be on the hook for his entire salary and if the Nationals provided any compensation, it would be minimal at best. But I cannot say that with 100% certainty.

That is what I was saying. When someone signs him next year, they may get a pick or two for him. He was rated a type A free agent after last season. My understanding is the ranking are based on the previous two seasons. I’m thinking the Nats feel he’s still rated high enough to warrent compensation this winter.

John-

I like your thinking, and it gives an easy answer to something I was pondering: Why would they take Carrasco back at some cost when they passed on a number of other pitchers who were underacheiving (such as Tomo Okha) when they were available on waivers?

And Brian, thanks- I was looking for the name of the situation where the team has 10 days to trade a player before he was free. Is that unconditional release?

The only caveat to that thinking John is the whole issue of what type of free agent he is and whether or not the Nationals would offer him arbitration. If Carrasco is in fact a Type A free agent, I’d find it highly unlikely that any team would surrender a non-protected first round pick for him. If he was a Type B the odds of him signing elsewhere improve since a team would not lose a pick to sign him, one is created in the supplemental first round. The arbitration comes into play because assuming he is not signed prior to the arbitration deadline, I think Carrasco would accept arbitration and therby put the Nationals in the position to pay a premium for him.

I think for arbitration, we should wait and see how he does. It’s possible he could come up to the Nats with no pressure and have a good rest of the season. If that happens that may also answer the type A situation. It depends on what relievers are available and how desperate clubs would be. If he does really well and there’s not a lot out there…

Do you know how arbitration works? Do they factor the whole career or just the most recent season. I would think being cut this year would work against him in a case.

I’m sure the Nats have factored everything in and feel they can either make a trade or get a comp pick for him. I can’t imagine they brought him in because they think he’s part of the future. They’ve done a good job managing assets(turning Wilkerson/Sledge into Smoker/Zimmermann…ect) I believe this is another part of that.

John – Regarding arbitration, rather than recreating the wheel, I’ll borrow from Hardball Times

According to the Basic Agreement, an arbitrator is supposed to consider several things when deciding upon a case. Most importantly, he/she is directed to consider:

The player’s contribution to his team His previous salary The salaries of players in a similar class

The last two points are extremely important — in arbitration, players are not all equal. When making a case for a player, the arbitrators are instructed to consider only the salaries of players with the same amount of major league experience, or one year more.

Here is the exact wording from the current Basic Agreement regarding this point:

The arbitration panel shall, except for a Player with five or more years of Major League service, give particular attention, for comparative salary purposes, to the contracts of Players with Major League service not exceeding one annual service group above the Player’s annual service group. This shall not limit the ability of a Player or his representative, because of special accomplishment, to argue the equal relevance of salaries of Players without regard to service, and the arbitration panel shall give whatever weight to such argument as is deemed appropriate.

Concerning Carrasco’s Release by the Angels on July 11th, he becomes a “free agent” and can sign with any team that wants him. The Angels are responsible for the balance of his salary LESS what he is paid by the Nationals (which typically is a pro-rated portion of the Major League minimum salary. And, no the Angels are not due a trade choice since they released him and before he can be a compensation pick for the Nationals, he has to be on the a Major League roster including DL lists and meet all the other performance qualifications to be a Type B frre agent which would be highly unlikely if the Angels released him because of poor performance. This is another good Bowden move adding inexpensive veteran players who can help the BIG CLUB some day for a short period. Who knows, being reunited with Randy St.Caire – who taught him the changeup- couls be good for both the Nationals and Carrasco. If Bascik can be a starter, so can Carrasco.

Carrasco is 37. I seriously doubt this is for the big club. They have to be thinking he can get them a young player somehow. I guess time will tell. Thanks for the info guys.

I just saw that he has an option for ’08. Perhaps the plan is to see if they can get his game back this year and have him help out in ’08 and then get a pick/trade next year.

I’m with you John. If they can resurrect Carrasco and feel that he can contribute in 2007, that will make it easier to package a current bullpen pitcher and ??? for a better prospect. THE PLAN is all about acquiring young players. They have Cordero, Rauch, Ayala, King,Colome, Rivera, Schroder and Booker & Carrasco in AAA. (Remember, Carrasco was good vs. lefty which would bode well if King is traded). Which combination gets you the better prospect(s).

Louis: I wonder how much value King would have. Also, the thought of a package for a prospect is interesting. I wonder if there’s a team they can make that work with. Perhaps Young+Cordero is a dream package for some contender and they’d give up more… it’s interesting.

Carrasco is a retread. he had moments of competency here but he looked completely worn out earlier in the year for the Halos. if he simply needed some mid-season time off, he could be useful once the Nats need some help in the pen after the trade deadline (to perhaps replace Rauch, King, Cordero, et al). but he’ll have to rediscover the 6-8 MPH he appeared to have lost earlier in the season.

either way, since he was DFA’d, the Nats had to give up something to get him, so they must feel he can offer something somewhere. Crazy Jim Bowden at it again :-)

Dave, Carrasco was DFA by the Angels on 07/03/07 and was finally “released’ by the Angels on 07/11/07 before the the maximum 10 day period was up. This made Carrasco a “free agent” and no compensation (player or $$$) was due the Angels. Bowden simply signed Carrasco to a minor league contract. But “Trader Jim” is up to something involving Cordero and/or Rauch and somehow Carrasco fits into that plan.

Hey guys. i think Young and Rauch are heading to the Red Sox’s . Read my post at All About the Nationals