2012/13 Offseason Discussion Thread

[DPMOmaha]

Also, Garcia's not going to move Clipp off the set up role.

[monkeyhit]

I MIGHT agree with you if he didn't have Moore as an insurance policy.  That dude's gonna be a masher sooner rather than later and with experience all over the field, it wouldn't be a huge issue if they had to play him at 1B next year (and beyond, IMO).  Rizzo's not over any barrels.  He's not going to cave on what he thinks is the best move for this team.

You really think he'd trade Morse without having LaRoche re-signed?  I love Moore, but that move would be some gamble.

[Squab]

I was informed that the #Cardinals have interest in LHP Sean Burnett, who is looking to get a four-year deal. #Nats #MLB

4 years for a reliever? That's bananas.

[Tyler Durden]

Ladson tweeted that Burnett wants a 4 year deal.  Best of luck to him - I hope it's not the Nats who give it to him.

Maybe bring Michael Gonzalez back - 2 years and 4 mil?  No idea what it would take.

[Tyler Durden]

On LaRoche -

I don't really think the Nats need to give 3 years to LaRoche.  He's not going to hit 30+ homers regularly - last year was the first time he did since 2006.  His career OPS is .820 which isn't bad, but there is no reason to lock up that spot for a guy who likely is only going downhill from this point forward.  3 years would lock in LaRoche for his age 33, 34, and 35 years.  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/larocad01.shtml

I get the defensive argument, but I'm not convinced that Desmond's improvement didn't come mostly from Desmond himself maturing and knowing which throws to make and which ones he should not. 

Add in that Tyler Moore, Matt Skole, Rendon, or Zimmerman could all play 1B, there is no need to give him that third year when we'll probably need that cash to re-sign one of our current core guys.

[Slateman]

Need a starting pitcher now

[DPMOmaha]

You really think he'd trade Morse without having LaRoche re-signed?  I love Moore, but that move would be some gamble.

No, probably not, but that doesn't mean it puts Rizzo in a bind.  If he gets the right package, I have no doubt he'd pull the trigger.  He's not likely to come back after next year, anyway and frankly, there's not that much of a difference between him and Moore.

[Slateman]

Cubs are trying to trade Soriano to the Phillies.

[Tyler Durden]

What happened to the Dan Haren to the Cubs trade several weeks ago?  Did Haren have some kind of injury?

[Lintyfresh85]

He said he doesn't... so who knows.

[Squab]

What happened to the Dan Haren to the Cubs trade several weeks ago?  Did Haren have some kind of injury?

Nobody knows why it fell apart. But both Haren and his agent claim he's healthy and that wasn't the reason.
I still want him

[Tyler Durden]

If he's healthy, he'd be a good signing. 

After I just wrote a bunch of crap about being fine with keeping Morse for 1B and letting LaRoche walk, I'll throw this out there - if Morse can bring back a cost-controlled starter like Niemann or Wade Davis from the Rays or someone like that, I'd probably pull the trigger on that.  Someone threw out Jake McGee - he'd be fine I guess but he's strictly a reliever.  He's about as good a pitcher as any prospect we might get for Morse though.  Probably better.

Best case scenario to me is that they let LaRoche walk and use his money plus the non-tender money to bring in Greinke.  I don't know if the Lerners will let Rizzo spend that kind of dough, but it seems like it should be doable.  Plus, the following year, Morse's money comes off the books and he'll get replaced with a minimum salary guy like Rendon or Moore.

[zimm_da_kid]

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/article/could_nationals_move_espinosa/12339046?new_post=true

[Slateman]

We'd be selling low. Long term it would be better to see if Espinosa can fix it. Short term, I don't know if Lombo is much better.

[Lintyfresh85]

Lombo is much worse in the field and at the plate. Don't confuse more contact for better results.

[zoom]

Espinosa's ceiling is much higher, IMO.  Lombardozzi can play OF in a pinch (less likely now). Leave these 2 alone until we see how rendon does.   

[houston-nat]

Moving Espinosa now would be like moving Desmond 12 months ago. They won't do it.

[zimm_da_kid]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/21220606/six-or-seven-teams-are-looking-to-meet-with-mets-on-dickey

[Vega]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/21220606/six-or-seven-teams-are-looking-to-meet-with-mets-on-dickey

Dickey would be a fascinating acquisition, although I tend to agree with Heyman that Toronto matches up well with the Mets.

[welch]

Nats need to keep the depth players. They needed backups last year...and, come to think of it, they needed Morse to replace LaRoche in 2011. Maybe they can't carry Mores + LaRoche + Moore, but they certainly need Desmond + Espi + Lombo...even if Lombo is a more dependable hitter than Espi (and I would give Danny half the season to cut down his K's).

[zimm_da_kid]

goodwin for dickey plus an extension for 3 year extension for dickey.

[nobleisthyname]

I would not give any reliever more than two years; they're too variable. Hopefully we don't resign Burnett if he's asking for four.

[cmdterps44]

No way ZDK. I wouldn't do that at all.

[PebbleBall]

No way ZDK. I wouldn't do that at all.

This.  The Nats do not need to trade for SP at this point, and even if they did that's a bad deal.

[sportsfan882]

In response to a rumor regarding free agent lefty reliever Sean Burnett seeking a four-year deal, agent Jim Munsey told MLBTR tonight, "Those words have never come out of my mouth nor Sean's. We are not seeking a four-year deal and it's crazy to hear such rumors out there. Complete fabrication by someone."
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/sean-burnett-not-seeking-four-years.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#TVFzkdhkIEf2hyDY.99