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Done


Well, well, well. See what happens when I go to bed early. 6th round pick Jack McGeary signs for $1.8 million (lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of sources). In the end, the Lerners decided to ignore MLB’s slot bonus and get the deal done.

Good.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 16th, 2007, 5:13 AM and is filed under Draft. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by Hartmanbirge - August 16th, 2007 at 06:11

    Brian…. I happen to be serving in Europe so am on different time schedule. First thing I did this morning was go to baseball america and there it was. I am still sitting here (now on lunch break) in total shock and disbelief. I have been worried for a few months now that Smoker would walk and I had mentally shoved McGeary off to the side as an impossibility. In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined that we’d get McGeary – just unbelievable. And to top it off, all of the kids are pitching well to the point where some of the lower selections now have to be considered as legitimate prospects (Meyers, Alaniz, Dean). This is shaping up as one of those drafts which turns an entire organization for years….

  2. #2 by Marc - August 16th, 2007 at 07:00

    I have said all along that when they drafted this kid relatively high (and I am not knocking the gamble in general) they had to expect to pay high to get him. They did and this should put to some rest the idea that the Lerners won’t spend, won’t rock the MLB boat. GREAT JOB.

  3. #3 by Louis J. - August 16th, 2007 at 07:12

    AMEN, Hartmanbirge!!

    The 2007 draft could be THE draft that turns this organization around. It sends a signal that the Nats are going to be players when it comes to competing for the great prospects. Congrats to the Lerner Family, Stan Kasten, Jim Bowden, Dana Clark & the scouting staff for finding, selecting and signing the talent they did in this darft. SMOKER AND MC GEARY puts the icing on a very successful year!

    Next, picture the Nationals signing free agent Aaron Rowand (3/4 years @ $30-40 million) to fix the centerfield problem and provide more offensive at the bottom of the lineup which would make 2008 very interesting AND somehow getting lucky in the 2008 draft to have “The Natural” Justin Smoak – the switch hitting first baseman from Univ of South Carolina- available in the first round when they select ASSUMING they are among the 15 teams with the worst records in MLB at the end of the 2007 season and can keep there 1st round pick despite signing Rowand. Things could get better fast.

  4. #4 by bdrube - August 16th, 2007 at 07:18

    …And lets not forget, they once again showed their resiliance by winning a tough game one night after blowing a heartbreaker.

    I get the strong sense that the Lerners, et al, are trying to build a classy organization that players (and free agents) will WANT to be associated with. That’s what the Belliard and Young signings and now these deals are all about. It is a more expensive way to do business, but it makes it easier to win championships if quality players (that’s you, Mr. Rowand) want to come to your organization knowing they’ll be treaetd right.

  5. #5 by Hartmanbirge - August 16th, 2007 at 08:01

    “I get the strong sense that the Lerners, et al, are trying to build a classy organization that players (and free agents) will WANT to be associated with.”

    I think this is EXACTLY what they’re doing…and I think it’s already achieved. Bet me that Soriano is having second thoughts – all that money can not buy you incremental happiness. I have not seen one player who the Nats cut ties with who didn’t have good things to say and the ones we currently have all profess desire to remain here. I wouldn’t underestimate this impact on some of these signings and before long it will also manifest at the higher FA level. Rowand would be a nice addition of course but I note that Nook is now around .275 which for a defensive guru in CF ain’t too bad (the A’s had Bill North for years play CF hitting .275). And remember that if we sign a FA we lose the draft choice – not sure I’d want to do that the way we’re going. In my eyes the holes at the ML level position players are all three outfield positions and short. The answers to those holes may be the current players however. I expect Kearns to hit a lot better in the new park and he’s turned out to be a very decent right fielder. I think the team can live with Logan if he hits where he is now. I think that Church has proven that he’s not the everyday long-term answer but what if Young moves out there when Johnson returns? And a healthy Guzman will buy us a year at ss. Within 3 years Marrero and Burgess are going to be knocking on the door… And I can’t help but be just absolutely SHOCKED at what has transpired on that pitching staff. Who would have thought that Redding would be going 6-7 innings per outing with sub 3.00 era? Hanrahan I think is the find of the year – he’s built like a horse and can throw 95mph deep into his pitch counts. Why on earth did LA let him go? Lannan has had everything imaginable thrown at him and has responded – what presence… what command. Hill has got to stay healthy and next year will be key for him. I think Chico is out of gas but will be OK. And all of these guys are young! They have a future in this league. Compare this to that pathetic creaky staff we had last year! I just think that this management and ownership group (where it all starts) have done an absolute stupendous job and we are so damn lucky to have them. McGeary!!! YES!!!!!! Smoker!!! YES!!! Way to go Nationals!!

  6. #6 by Mjames - August 16th, 2007 at 08:32

    This kid Justin Maxwell seems to have found his stroke. Let’s hope he keeps it up. His numbers are not too far from Marrero. If he keeps hitting he will get his average up to 300 with some very good RBI and HR numbers. This could be the center fielder we are looking for.

  7. #7 by Wooden U. Lykteneau - August 16th, 2007 at 10:50

    Maxwell also has terrific speed for his size — much like Darryl Strawberry.

  8. #8 by Louis J. - August 16th, 2007 at 12:27

    How good it is to now hear all the positive feelings about the Nationals organization (management, current team and farm system). Things have turned around in a positive way. The season ticket group I belong to will spend in excess of $52,000 on seats for 2008 AND they all now feel great about our expenditure!! Go figure !! This is what the Nationals good play, good draft with the proper commitment of money to sign the quality prospects and a new stadium will do for a franchise. In response to BDRUBE who referred to the money spend on signing players as “an expensive way to do business”, I believe the money spent should be viewed as an investment and not as an expense. The Nats success will have all of us spending more money to watch MLB and will make the Nats a desireable place where players want to be. Thank God that we have Kasten, Bowden et al. They appear to knon what they are doing.

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