Author Topic: What A Load Of Crap (Dmitri Young On the 40-Man) (Read 2626 times)

Nat of the Living Dead · « **Topic Start:** March 26, 2009, 05:22:28 PM »

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2009/03/nationals_intend_to_add_d_youn.html?wprss=nationalsjournal

Quote

Nats Intend To Add Dmitri Young To 40-Man Roster

The Nationals intend to add Dmitri Young to the 40-man roster before Opening Day because of a handshake agreement that was made this winter between Young and then-General Manager Jim Bowden. Though Bowden resigned in February and Young, because of back problems, has not participated in an exhibition game since March 1, the Nationals will honor the deal, two sources said.

The Nationals in November initially dropped the first baseman from their 40-man roster, outrighting him to Class AAA Syracuse and clearing space for the Rule 5 Draft. Sources say that Bowden promised Young that the move would be temporary. Bowden's motivation for doing this remains unclear.

Young, due to make $5 million this year, remains several steps from regaining the form that helped him hit .320 and win the National League comeback-player-of-the-year award in 2007, his first season with the Nationals. In 2008, Young missed the second half of his season while battling complications from diabetes. Although Young is slimmer this spring -- the team says his diabetes is not currently a concern -- he has missed almost a month because of lingering back problems. Only recently has Young resumed playing in Washington's minor league games; he received several at bats today, and stroked two singles.

If Young, 35, is placed on the 40-man roster, he does not need to be on the active major league club. The 40-man roster serves as the pool of players eligible for the 25-man team, though, and if Young is added, the Nationals will need to drop somebody else.

The handshake agreement stands as the final evidence of the bond between Young and Bowden, whose careers first overlapped with the Cincinnati Reds, where Young played from 1998 until 2001. All but finished with baseball after 2006, dealing with a divorce, legal problems and substance abuse issues, Young revived his career when Bowden gave him a non-guaranteed offer. Halfway through his all-star season in 2007, Young was rewarded by Bowden with a two-year, $10 million deal.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #1:** March 26, 2009, 05:24:47 PM »

that's awful. Both Dmitri and WMP should be outright released.

Nat of the Living Dead · « **Reply #2:** March 26, 2009, 05:28:20 PM »

I can't believe they are honoring this just over a handshake, A HANDSHAKE-- from Jim Bowden.

arlington · « **Reply #3:** March 26, 2009, 05:44:46 PM »

Releasing him seems to be the answer. Why bother with shenanigans like the 60 day DL? Just say good bye and pay him his $5 million.

Bowden must have made the deal with the knowledge of his superiors, otherwise the club would tell Young (and Bowden if he vouched for it) that this was a fabrication. But if any player doesn't fit the needs of a club, the club always has the right to release the player. Young cannot compel the Nationals to keep him on their 40-man. He can only compel them to pay him.

BerkeleyNat · « **Reply #4:** March 26, 2009, 05:59:30 PM »

Unfriggenbelievable! Thank god Bowden is gone.

UMDNats · « **Reply #5:** March 26, 2009, 06:19:20 PM »

hammondsnats · « **Reply #6:** March 26, 2009, 06:29:55 PM »

it's because he's a nice guy

daveb32 · « **Reply #7:** March 26, 2009, 06:39:34 PM »

I've heard a lot of reasons to add someone to ygr roster, but I think pity is the worst reason.

tomterp · « **Reply #8:** March 26, 2009, 06:44:45 PM »

bizarre.

DCFan · « **Reply #9:** March 26, 2009, 06:45:57 PM »

Dang you boys are dense! If the Nats are to restore their rep around baseball and more importantly with future free agents, then they have no choice but to honor the handshake agreement made by the previous administration. To do otherwise is to further cement the idea (as far fetched as it may seem to some) that the Nats are cheap.

tomterp · « **Reply #10:** March 26, 2009, 06:48:35 PM »

Quote from: DCFan on March 26, 2009, 06:45:57 PM

Dang you boys are dense! If the Nats are to restore their rep around baseball and more importantly with future free agents, then they have no choice but to honor the handshake agreement made by the previous administration. To do otherwise is to further cement the idea (as far fetched as it may seem to some) that the Nats are cheap.

Dense? Nah, of course that's WHY they did it. It was an honor/reputation thing. It's just bizarre that Jimbo would promise that to Young on a handshake, and then that the club would make a point to honor the agreement. When's the last time you heard of a club doing such a thing?

KnorrForYourMoney · « **Reply #11:** March 26, 2009, 06:52:09 PM »

Quote from: DCFan on March 26, 2009, 06:45:57 PM

Dang you boys are dense! If the Nats are to restore their rep around baseball and more importantly with future free agents, then they have no choice but to honor the handshake agreement made by the previous administration. To do otherwise is to further cement the idea (as far fetched as it may seem to some) that the Nats are cheap.

Dang you are dense (again

)! All bets are off when a new administration enters.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #12:** March 26, 2009, 06:52:42 PM »

Well, releasing him would allow him to go to a club he actually can make while keeping his $5m, rather than forcing him to stay in Syracuse to make the $5m. Releasing him would be plenty honorable.

DCFan · « **Reply #13:** March 26, 2009, 06:53:51 PM »

Quote from: tomterp on March 26, 2009, 06:48:35 PM

Dense? Nah, of course that's WHY they did it. It was an honor/reputation thing. It's just bizarre that Jimbo would promise that to Young on a handshake, and then that the club would make a point to honor the agreement. When's the last time you heard of a club doing such a thing?

Can't. Most would just stiff him and move on with nary a thought. But we're talking about the Nats. Boras must have a permanent woody thinking about his negotiations with them over Strasburg.

Nat of the Living Dead · « **Reply #14:** March 26, 2009, 07:03:12 PM »

Quote from: DCFan on March 26, 2009, 06:45:57 PM

Dang you boys are dense! If the Nats are to restore their rep around baseball and more importantly with future free agents, then they have no choice but to honor the handshake agreement made by the previous administration. To do otherwise is to further cement the idea (as far fetched as it may seem to some) that the Nats are cheap.

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard (I guess it shouldn't be considering who posted it). The fact the Nats are even honoring such an "agreement" makes them even bigger laughing stocks.

blue911 · « **Reply #15:** March 26, 2009, 07:04:48 PM »

Now Chico has somebody to talk food with, how nice.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #16:** March 26, 2009, 07:05:26 PM »

Quote from: Nat of the LivingDead on March 26, 2009, 07:03:12 PM

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard (I guess it shouldn't be considering who posted it). The fact the Nats are even honoring such an "agreement" makes them even bigger laughing stocks.

QFT

PANatsFan · « **Reply #17:** March 26, 2009, 07:26:43 PM »

You would think that Dmitri would have had a part of the bargain too, like getting in shape. This sucks.

CALSGR8 · « **Reply #18:** March 26, 2009, 07:33:28 PM »

Yes it does suck but how is this different from other players who have ailments.

Its his back that's the issue and not his diabetes any more. How is this different from Nick Johnson's leg and then his hip? How is this different than others who have been injured off and on during the last 2 seasons? It said that he has slimmed down. His diabetes is under control.

How does this differ than with the catcher they kept on for so long last year! Forgot his name. Its not that different!

Roarin Storen · « **Reply #19:** March 26, 2009, 07:34:51 PM »

I love Dmit way too much to be angry at this (even though I know it would have been best for the team to have him go).

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #20:** March 26, 2009, 07:35:22 PM »

He has not slimmed down much at all. That's all a bunch of BS. He looks HUGE.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #21:** March 26, 2009, 07:35:51 PM »

Quote from: CALSGR8 on March 26, 2009, 07:33:28 PM

Yes it does suck but how is this different from other players who have ailments.

Its his back that's the issue and not his diabetes any more. How is this different from Nick Johnson's leg and then his hip? How is this different than others who have been injured off and on during the last 2 seasons? It said that he has slimmed down. His diabetes is under control.

How does this differ than with the catcher they kept on for so long last year! Forgot his name. Its not that different!

It's different because he's taking up room on the 40 man. NJ wasn't.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #22:** March 26, 2009, 07:37:38 PM »

So who gets exposed to waivers now? Desmond? Hinckley? Marco Estrada? This is garbage. Some more guys are gonna get exposed later when we bring up guys like Tavarez and Colome, but at least that accomplishes something.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #23:** March 26, 2009, 07:42:59 PM »

Quote from: PANatsFan on March 26, 2009, 07:37:38 PM

So who gets exposed to waivers now? Desmond? Hinckley? Marco Estrada? This is garbage. Some more guys are gonna get exposed later when we bring up guys like Tavarez and Colome, but at least that accomplishes something.

say bye bye to Terrell Young. Casto has shown little, he's expendable.

shoeshineboy · « **Reply #24:** March 26, 2009, 07:52:01 PM »

The handshake thing with Jim Bowden is bogus (was there a wad of cash is that handshake?) Nevertheless, if Young is not healthy, he should be on the DL. If he is healthy and not ready, he should go to Syracuse. If he is healthy and able to swing a bat and continue to do drills, I want his ass on the bench, because he is still one of the best options to PH in key situations. We're out 5M anyway, so there is no reason to ditch him if he is useful. But the organization shouldn't hesitate to send him to Syracuse if he is not ready, regardless of whatever crap JB pulled.