Baseball America has their weekly listing of the minor league transactions and the Nationals have made a few moves:
Signed: RHP Nick Maness, LHP Chuck James, 3B Angel Gonzalez, OF Kevin Mench
Placed on restricted list: RHP Randy Matias
James was already known. The lefty has an outside shot at the #5 spot but seems more likely a candidate for the rotation in Syracuse.
Maness is a blast from the past. BA had Maness in their first ever Prospect Handbook back in 2001 where he was ranked #7 in the Mets organization. Baseball Reference has no stats on him from 2007 through 2009. Seems like roster filler.
Gonzalez split his time between the Carolina and Eastern Leagues in 2009, while playing in the Pirates organization. I’ll go with the hunch that he was recommended by the newly hired Bryan Minniti who joined Washington from Pittsburgh. I’d imagine he’s in line for a utility role with Harrisburg
And finally, a fellow Blue Hen alum in Kevin Mench. Mench was originally signed by current Nats Director of Player Development Doug Harris back when both were with the Rangers. Mench had a couple of good seasons for Texas back in 2004-05 but spent the 2009 season in Japan. If he sticks, I’d imagine he’s the DH in Syracuse.
Matias being placed on the restricted list could be for a variety of reasons.
#1 by Positively Half St. - February 2nd, 2010 at 21:02
Seeing Kevin Mench’s name was a bit of a shock, actually. Man, he seemed to have a future not long ago (seemed- I guess it was longer than I thought).
Sometimes I just want a player that I liked to have one good year to snag one $1M contract, so that the rest of his life will have a cushion. I see Shawn Hill trying yet again, but hope that previous salaries make this quixotic attempt with Toronto this year a luxury he and his family can afford.
#2 by Steve - February 2nd, 2010 at 23:56
There was some speculation that Mench juiced in 2004, 2005. The Rangers if I remember correctly hit a ton of HR’s that year and a few of them were implemented in juicing. And to think Mench is a “good person”. Hope he turns it around could still be a 4th or 5th OF.
#3 by jeff e. - February 3rd, 2010 at 12:23
I atalentm satisfied now since the HARR 3b sitution on paper has been made clearer with Angel Gonzalez joining some 3b platoon on city isle. My question on Mench is this- how Falstafian is he now? Left over league belt size? Perhaps Rizzo and Harris needed months to compress all the opinions of the new talent brought in. Valentines greetings to all.
#4 by Berndaddy - February 3rd, 2010 at 15:26
Marco Estrada just got picked up by the Brewers…wow Rizzo improving the 40 man, eh…