I don't think the terms have been announced officially, but it was reported that the As ate a lot of Suzuki's salary this year, and some next year.
Ramos was very badly injured. I think the Nats needed to do something - even if its a little problematic next year - to insure against the chance that Ramos may never catch again. I don't know if Suzuki is the right move or not, but assuming the Nats don't pick up the option, they at least have a capable major league catcher next year.
I'm not saying Frietas could be the key to the championship this year...not even next year, as he was in High Class A ball. I don't think Leon is that good, and Flores struggles (not only defensively but offensively as well), but to trade away 2 top prospect catchers within a year? That concerns me. Not only that, there needs to be the understanding that when Ramos comes back he IS the starter. Another huge issue I have is the amount of money Suzuki makes in order, to essentially, be a backup catcher.
He makes $5 million this year, over $6 million next, and in the option year at $8 million. He gets this salary and he's not even in the top 10 catchers in the league. Cleveland's Carlos Santana (who will be moved to 1st within 2 years to bring up our young Vietnamese catcher) (and who is one of the better C's in the league) doesn't even make $3.5 million until 2014. (Then $6 mil. in '15, $8.25 in '16, and $12 mil. in '17).
He gets overpaid to be an average catcher at best. Not only that, this should stay Ramos's job when he returns.
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washington-nationals/kurt-suzuki/
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cleveland-indians/carlos-santana/
Not only that, but they'll need to focus on resigning Ramos as well...
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washington-nationals/wilson-ramos/
