2015-2016 Offseason Discussion Thread

[Slateman]

Time for the Nats to step in and swipe Fowler from Baltimore.

Why?

[madj55]

We should be swiping Gallardo from Baltimore.

[tomterp]

Agree to a point.  But then you have two guys like Fowler or Desmond who absolutely deserve to be on MLB rosters sitting at home because teams are scared of losing their precious draft pick.

Poor starving athletes, $5m or $10m on a 1 year deal doesn't hardly pay the cost of flying to spring training. 

[Slateman]

We should be swiping Gallardo from Baltimore.

But we have him in Tanner

[madj55]

But we have him in Tanner

Can't tell if this is sarcasm...

[Slateman]

Can't tell if this is sarcasm...

15 wins bro

[BrandonK]

15 wins bro

Cy Young numbers!

[whytev]

Will we? 2011 was a long time ago

There is nothing elite about Danny. Except facial hair.

Desmond hit 19 in 641 PA.

Espinosa hit 13 in 412.

The math checks out.

[whytev]

Except he was floundering in the second half. .604 OPS with a 32% K rate. Dude shouldn't have played a game with that kind of performance.

That performance started right after he was virtually benched for no good reason.

[Ray D]

That performance started right after he was virtually benched for no good reason.

It was when Rendon came back.  They were not going to sit Rendon or Escobar, and for inexplicable reasons, they insisted on keeping Desmond at shortstop. Won't have that problem this season.

[whytev]

It was when Rendon came back.  They were not going to sit Rendon or Escobar, and for inexplicable reasons, they insisted on keeping Desmond at shortstop. Won't have that problem this season.

I know. Keeping Desmond in the lineup, at the time, counted as "no good reason" to me.

[dracnal]

I know. Keeping Desmond in the lineup, at the time, counted as "no good reason" to me.

I know way less about the gentleman's agreements and unwritten part of baseball, but benching a guy in a walk year after he rejected an extension might fall into an image issue.  Create the perception that his numbers were bad because he didn't get the shot he deserved, that it was retaliation, etc., and I think it'd make at least a couple FAs pause.

[mitlen]

I know way less about the gentleman's agreements and unwritten part of baseball, but benching a guy in a walk year after he rejected an extension might fall into an image issue.  Create the perception that his numbers were bad because he didn't get the shot he deserved, that it was retaliation, etc., and I think it'd make at least a couple FAs pause.

Good point  ...   as well as Storen, etc.    I have no idea what goes on anywhere in the Nats' organization but when I sniff the wind, I some time smell Rizzo as petty.

[skippy1999]

I know way less about the gentleman's agreements and unwritten part of baseball, but benching a guy in a walk year after he rejected an extension might fall into an image issue.  Create the perception that his numbers were bad because he didn't get the shot he deserved, that it was retaliation, etc., and I think it'd make at least a couple FAs pause.

I cannot even imagine that entered Rizzo's mind, and honestly if it did he is the worst.  The point every year is to WIN.  Desi did not help us win at all last year and it was more than apparent a few months in that he wasn't going to, he should have been benched for the good of the team's chance to win last year. I can't imagine any FA would hold trying to field the best possible team to win at that moment against a team I just can't. 

[skippy1999]

Good point  ...   as well as Storen, etc.    I have no idea what goes on anywhere in the Nats' organization but when I sniff the wind, I some time smell Rizzo as petty.

Storen being demoted maybe would be seen as a big negative by FA's but I can't see keeping throwing bad players out there because you're afraid free agents one or two or three years down the line might hold it against you if you sit players who aren't producing. 

[mitlen]

Storen being demoted maybe would be seen as a big negative by FA's but I can't see keeping throwing bad players out there because you're afraid free agents one or two or three years down the line might hold it against you if you sit players who aren't producing. 

It's just a feel I have about him by watching him.     I have no concrete reason to feel this way.     Shallow assessment?     Perhaps.    However,  I usually come pretty close when I trust my instincts.    I don't trust him.

[skippy1999]

It's just a feel I have about him by watching him.     I have no concrete reason to feel this way.     Shallow assessment?     Perhaps.    However,  I usually come pretty close when I trust my instincts.

By watching Rizzo? 

[mitlen]

By watching Rizzo? 

Yeah  ....  He's shifty.        He's a guy who when he starts talking, I tilt my head to the side and I squint.

[skippy1999]

Yeah  ....  He's shifty.        He's a guy who when he starts talking, I tilt my head to the side and I squint.

haha oh I agree with that definitely, I was just saying I hoped he wouldn't let how a FA might view something prevent him from doing what's right for the team at that moment, if that makes sense.

[HalfSmokes]

Storen being demoted maybe would be seen as a big negative by FA's but I can't see keeping throwing bad players out there because you're afraid free agents one or two or three years down the line might hold it against you if you sit players who aren't producing. 

except storen was playing really well before his demotion

[mitlen]

haha oh I agree with that definitely, I was just saying I hoped he wouldn't let how a FA might view something prevent him from doing what's right for the team at that moment, if that makes sense.

Maybe take it a step further psychologically, I wonder if his view of what's right for the team isn't over ruled by what satisfies his pettiness/wants.    i.e. "I think the team would be better without Storen.   Plus, that'd give me a chance to hose him.    I don't like his losin' arse anyway.   It'll be good for the team."       On the flip side, "Matt Williams is as dumb as a box of rocks but he's my buddy from Arizona.    I'll hire him anyway.   It'll be good for the team."     

BTW, I didn't stay at the HIE last night.

[skippy1999]

except storen was playing really well before his demotion

yea that's why I said that one might be viewed negatively by FA's.

[skippy1999]

Maybe take it a step further psychologically, I wonder if his view of what's right for the team isn't over ruled by what satisfies his pettiness/wants.    i.e. "I think the team would be better without Storen.   Plus, that'd give me a chance to hose him.    I don't like his losin' arse anyway.   It'll be good for the team."       On the flip side, "Matt Williams is as dumb as a box of rocks but he's my buddy from Arizona.    I'll hire him anyway.   It'll be good for the team."     

BTW, I didn't stay at the HIE last night.

haha Oh I think he definitely let his stubborn pride or whatever get in the way of doing what was best for the team, Williams should've been fired several times last year but most definitely the second he let Pap go back out to pitch after choking our star player!

[HalfSmokes]

yea that's why I said that one might be viewed negatively by FA's.

if you're a borderline free agent, I think it goes beyond that (maybe back to Lannan sitting in AAA instead of getting traded), if you're a top tier free agent, you should be encouraged on how this team handles its stars

[MorseTheHorse]

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2016/02/11/could-ian-desmond-somehow-end-up-back-in-washington/

Serious question tho.  What's preventing a sign and trade (like occurs in the NBA I think...don't follow it at all) to help a team that wants Desi avoid losing a pick