All five of the free agent eligible players on the Nationals 40-man roster filed for free agency. CA Josh Bard, DH Dmitri Young, OF Austin Kearns, RHSP Livan Hernandez, and LHRP Ron Villone are all off of the Nationals 40-man roster. Additionally, the Nationals outrighted IF Pete Orr and RHPR Logan Kensing to Syracuse, also removing them from the 40-man.
The Nationals 40-man roster currently stands at 33/40. Three of those spots will be taken when OF Roger Bernadina, RHSP Jordan Zimmermann, & LHSP Scott Olsen are activated from the 60-day DL as required by rules.
#1 by JayB - November 7th, 2009 at 09:36
The pace of the winter roster moves seems very slow for the Nats. Is league rules and timing slowing this all down. These moves are no brainers and yet they still have not been made with respect to the 60 days. Why did they wait so long on D Young? Was he really ever going to be anything but gone from the Nats?
Side question…..what happens at the GM’s meetings this week. What type of items are on the agenda for this set of meetings. Why have both winter meetings and GM meetings?
#2 by BinM - November 7th, 2009 at 11:45
Brian: I think the actual count is 34/40 – Strasburg’s on the 40-man.
JayB: The Free Agent announcements can’t be made until the end of the World Series. I agree with you on the 60-day activations though – they could have been made anytime after the Nationals’ season ended.
#3 by JayB - November 7th, 2009 at 11:59
BinM….could they have cut Young and Kearns (and paid the $1 M) before now. Just seems to be stupid to hold on to them to that last minute…..just makes them look weak. This team needs bold decisive action…….Rizzo in the past has shown it….not sure why he wants to appear so weak as to let these two wastes of cash drive the timing.
#4 by Todd Boss - November 7th, 2009 at 12:09
On the contrary, i think cutting Young and Kearns prior to now would have made the team look petty. Plus Young was on the 60-day DL and (if I understand the transactions correctly) would have had to been activated to be released. And for most of the latter part of the season they were at 40/40. Why release an able bodied active player just so you can release a guy who was legitimately injured?
The WS just ended, and all 5 of their FAs declared. Its not slow or fast, its just the schedule of the baseball off-season.
As for 60-day dl re-instatement, who cares? In actuality leaving those guys on the DL gives the Nats a bit more manuverability right now.
#5 by JCA - November 7th, 2009 at 17:36
Brian – have you figured out who in the minor league system must be added to the 40 man or becomes a minor league FA or eligible for Rule 5?
#6 by catocony - November 7th, 2009 at 18:21
I think Clint Everts will be a minor-league free agent if they don’t add him to the 40-man, correct? If not, he would be Rule 5 eligible. Either way, he’s a candidate to be added. He had a great year and has a good comeback story.
Other than that, I can’t think of any minor leaguers we need to worry about. The guys from the 04 draft are the ones in the “add to 40-man or risk loss in Rule 5″ and I don’t think there’s anyone in that bunch who’s on anyone’s radar screen. I don’t think guys like Jack Spradlin from the 05 draft are quite there yet.
#7 by Ronny/Daggerrrrrr - November 7th, 2009 at 20:30
Brian- Do you think there’s a chance Brandon King will end up better than O’s 2009 draft pick Matt Hobgood?
#8 by Mark L - November 7th, 2009 at 20:36
Josh Wilkie & Clint Everts are the feel good stories of the year. Good luck to both of them.
#9 by Scot - November 7th, 2009 at 21:04
Todd Boss – comment #4 above. Well stated.
#10 by Jeff E. - November 7th, 2009 at 21:17
Christmas shopping begins in less than a month. Hmmm. Rizzo added the guy who was intrigal in Rick Ankiel ending up in STL, Varitek is a free agent and Rizz can surely find two short term vets to mentor the kids. Lackey is the real horse in the free agent pool. Brad Thompson had flashes of being a decent swing guy under Duncan in STL. Jon Garland too much off speed for the NL East confines?? everybody have a good holiday season. Back to Washington’s Spy Ring 1775….
#11 by VladiHondo - November 8th, 2009 at 00:05
Doing things before they HAVE to be done is petty, it gains us nothing to clear space before we actually need it – witness Jim Bow stating Chad Cordero would be non-tendered months before the fact. Or even our initial year when our impetuous GM signed Guzman and Vinny Castillo before they would likely have been non-tendered -costing us a 2nd and 3rd round pick in Zimmy’s draft year before the JMax pick.
We finally have adult leadership, no need to rush to do things that gain us nothing.
#12 by Mark L - November 8th, 2009 at 10:32
Couldn’t have said it better.
#13 by JayB - November 8th, 2009 at 10:54
Hey I fully agree Jimbo was the worst GM in baseball…..I am on record with that years ago…….The issue with Chad was not the timing it was not telling Chad before the decision…..Tell D Young and Kearns they are out and do it the day the season ends….or in D Young’s case I would have done it two years before when he showed up at 335 LBS…set the tone that that is just not going to be acceptable in the Nats organization.
#14 by Jeff E. - November 8th, 2009 at 12:57
Who here thinks the Nats could interest Lackey for 2 years???
#15 by BinM - November 8th, 2009 at 14:32
@JeffE: Not me – That would be a real reach, imo. Lackey is 31y.o., with 6+ years service – He’ll likely be looking for a large payday; 3-4 years, $40-48M deal baseline, with a limited trade kicker. A non-contending team (like the Nationals) would probably have to offer $13M/yr for 4 years just to get him to consider, plus a 1st round draft pick (he’s a Type-A FA). He’s good, but I don’t think he’s worth all that.
#16 by BinM - November 8th, 2009 at 14:48
Ben Sheets might be a fit, if he rehabbed from his shoulder surgery reasonably well. Otherwise, either wait for the non-tendered FA’s to come available, or try to get a #1 via trade.
#17 by Andrew Stebbins - November 8th, 2009 at 15:52
Well, he’d cost the Nats their first pick in the 2nd round and give the Angels a pick in the supplementary round. Nats would keep 1/1.
#18 by BinM - November 8th, 2009 at 16:12
@Andrew Stebbins: Yes, the Nationals keep their 1st pick, but $52M/ 4 yrs (est.) plus two picks to the Angels? I’m still not seeing it. The team could be better off with either Sheets, a non-tendered SP, or a trade for a possible #1.
#19 by Jeff E. - November 8th, 2009 at 20:21
How such a simple question garners the cyber bar chat a brewin’. There is always LA needing to unload Chad Billingsby??? we shall see in 30 days.
#20 by Catocony - November 8th, 2009 at 21:22
We don’t need or want a reclamation project nor someone coming off of surgery. We need a guy who will start 30+ games, pitch 200 innings minimum, and not abuse the bullpen. I don’t know if Livan is the guy or not, but he likes it here and we could get him fairly cheap. We need a 1-2 year transition guy who can help out while Strasburg, Detwiler, Chico, Mock, Martin, Balester, Martis, Stamman, etc all get worked out and Zimmermann comes back in 2011. Out of that bunch, I think we’ll have 3 starters to go with Lannan in 2011. For now, keeping Olsen and Livan makes perfect sense, assuming Olsen’s arm is good. The year after next, we may have a home-grown rotation with the extras pitching middle relief and Storen closing.
Olsen and Livan as bridges, bring in one lefty and one righty free agent reliever, sign the best middle infield free agent available, and a quality catcher to either backup Flores or start, and we pretty much have a major league team.
#21 by Jeff E. - November 8th, 2009 at 21:55
we will have to see who the best middle infield F/A available is……worst case scenario….Adam Kennedy??? just creating conversation….I am a patient fellow. divorce mixxed with Dodger money issues could make O-dog available. meanwhile – eyes on Texas- what do they do with Blalock? 1b/DH? Ankiel still seems good for a few years…
#22 by joNAThan - November 9th, 2009 at 00:34
I would entertain the idea of Hudson at 2B for a 2-3 year contract. I think the OF is pretty much set, though it wouldn’t shock me to see Willingham traded.
As for the starters, Lannan and Livo, then let 2 others from the group Catocony mentions and take a flyer on a Sheets or Harden. Strasburg should be up at mid-season, let him grown into your #1 and don’t overspend on Lackey.
#23 by WallyBall - November 9th, 2009 at 10:13
I like Willingham and would like to see him stay, but … I wonder if he could bring back Vasquez? It wouldn’t work for ATL on pure baseball terms, but if they need to dump salary, it could make some sense for them.
#24 by Pilchard - November 9th, 2009 at 11:36
Would be a mistake to spend the big bucks on John Lackey. If the Nats were close to contending, it would make some sense, but the Nats are not in that postion.
Also, would hate to give up the draft picks to sign him as the future for this team is the draft and international FAs, not signing 30+ year old starters.
Signing Livo and another starter (Sheets, Mulder) to an incentive-laden contract makes sense, but I don’t see the point of signing Lackey to a 3/4 year deal for $50 to $60 million when he is not going to put this team over the top anyway.
Offering major dollars to Texiera made sense as he is projected at a high level 5+ years out; just can’t say that about any starting pitcher.
#25 by Andrew Stebbins - November 9th, 2009 at 11:42
My offseason wish list consists of Orlando Hudson, Rich Harden, Mike Gonzalez, Bengie Molina, JJ Putz, and Joel Piniero. I’m asking for way too much.
#26 by exporam - November 9th, 2009 at 13:17
I think the basic point is that there are pieces out there that would improve our team, AND we have the money to spend on them.
With Lackey, if you could get him for 3/$33 I say go for it – any more and it would be too much. Pick 2/1 is big, but doesn’t bother me since you can always trade Lackey later for players that are closer to major league ready.
Hudson would be nice #2, then you could trade Guz (eating salary) for RP. Put Desmond at SS and see what he does. Oh, and there is Espinosa too. This from Kevin Goldstein:
“Danny Espinosa, SS, Nationals (AFL: Phoenix) Yesterday’s stats: 3-for-3, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB
Espinosa remains an unheralded talent. A true shortstop with a high baseball IQ, Espinosa does have a tendency to strike out, but he hits for a decent average and has outstanding secondary skills for the position, with a bit of power and a very patient approach. He’s behind Ian Desmond on the depth chart for now, and we’ll know much more about his prospect status after he begins 2010 in Double-A.”
#27 by Sue Dinem - November 9th, 2009 at 15:21
It cannot be stressed enough how much better on defense Espinosa is than Desmond at the same stage. As for the strikeouts, the very good sign is that a majority of them come looking. That’s a skill that usually comes very late to hitters, if at all.
#28 by Pilchard - November 9th, 2009 at 16:06
mlbtraderumors has projected (they are just wildass guesses) where the top 50 FAs will sign, and they have the Nats signing C Benji Molina, 2b Orlando Hudson and P Carl Pavano. Not bad projections.
#29 by Mark L. - November 9th, 2009 at 16:27
Thanks, Sue, from someone who has seen a lot of both. The word on Espinosa was that of a great glove, but not the hitting skills to be a big star. Look forward to seeing him in Harrisburg next year, if that’s where he’s headed.
#30 by Sue Dinem - November 9th, 2009 at 17:51
I would be shocked if Espinosa started back at Potomac. I’m expecting him and Tom Milone to make the jump based on prospect status. Michael Burgess and William Atwood will have to have very strong showings in spring training to not repeat at Potomac. Anyone else that makes the jump will be as roster-filler (e.g. Peacock, Whiting).
#31 by BinM - November 9th, 2009 at 18:13
Sue D: Of the players in the lower minors in 2009, I think Lombardozzi might make the jump to HAR in 2010, along with Espinosa, Valdez, and maybe Whiting from POT. Milone looks like a SP candidate for HAR, with guys like English, Garcia, Philabaum, Pena & Kimball filling bullpen spots.
#32 by Tom D - November 9th, 2009 at 18:30
Sue D: Curious as to what your thoughts are on some of the AA pitchers from this year and where they might start next year…Meyers, Mandel and Arneson.
Thanks Much!
#33 by Wallyball - November 9th, 2009 at 21:09
From MLB.com
Nationals lose three more to Blue Jays Bob Hamelin, Marteese Robinson and Brian Parker have decided to leave the Nationals and work for the Blue Jays. They will be reunited with former Nationals scouting director Dana Brown.
Parker was Washington’s director of baseball operations and was with the organization for seven seasons. Hamelin and Robinson were area scouts for the Nationals.
Hamelin acknowledged that he left the Nationals to be with Brown, who is currently a special assistant to Blue Jays general manager Alexander Anthopoulos.
“I have a good relationship with Dana and I enjoyed working with him in Washington,” Hamelin said. “That makes the transition easier. I’ll be doing some pro scouting. It’s more of a promotion type of thing.”
#34 by RD - November 9th, 2009 at 21:51
Forget Hudson. He cost the Dodgers a first round pick, and his numbers were better than the year before(aside from avg).
Giving up picks for Hudson makes no sense, especially when you consider the fact that he was benched in favor of our super sub, Ronnie Belliard.
Solid player, but not woth what its going to take to get him. And moving Guzman isn’t going to be easy, so that causes a problem with them.
Just let Desmond and Guzman ride it out. See what Desmond has, and let Espinosa be set to take over in 2011. If he takes a step back or isn’t ready, then sign someone next year.
Id be in favor of signing Bengie Molina and Jon Garland. Garland is an innings eater … He’s pitched 191 innings or more in each of the last 8 seasons. Both may also bring trade value as the deadline draws near of we have other options ready to go at that point of the season.
#35 by sjm - November 9th, 2009 at 23:42
I also like Garland and would like to see Livan back – not sure about Hudson and might like to see the young guys plus I am guessing we are stuck with Guzman – we do need another catcher as well but we are going into this year much stronger than last
#36 by Jeff E. - November 10th, 2009 at 00:06
If that ex-po reunion happens in TOR with Milton heading north in that 3 way then O-dog to mets comes true. Dittos on Mike Gonzalez, Pinero and whatever catcher makes sense. Would a return to NL lower that pavano era much like that one 1st half in MTL when he was a shoe in for All-star team before his proverbial injury. The only constant is change. Good luck to the NAts guys building an interesting team in TOR. Love the cyber chatter. that is what is needed. Was Bob Hamelin the same former Royal 1b???
#37 by Jeff E. - November 10th, 2009 at 00:07
whatever happened to SF Giant IF prospect , Emmanuel Burriss??
#38 by Mark L. - November 10th, 2009 at 09:28
The Giants took a lot of heat for bringing up Burriss before he was ready. Unfortunately, he proved the criticism correct by not being able to hit major league pitching. He’s still young, and hopefully will be ready in a year or two. Terrific glove.
#39 by exporam - November 10th, 2009 at 11:11
BA latest issue has the Nats top ten: 1. Strasburg (like this is a surprise!) 2. Norris 3. Storen 4. Desmond 5. Espinosa 6. Marrero 7. Kobernus 8. Maxwell 9. Burgess 10. Hood
Seems about right, though I might swap out Perez for Maxwell.
#40 by SpringfieldFan - November 10th, 2009 at 15:51
Don’t forget that Burriss was injured for the second half of the season