2010 Offseason Wheeling and Dealing

[JMW IV]

Oh, didnt know they were going to nontender him. Yeah decrease the offer then.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I'm going to put my neck out and make the wild prediction that Scott Olsen, if he isn't traded, ditched or dies of lung cancer, will make a nice little comeback this season. Nothing world beating, but he will contribute.

Frank Robinson's soul passed through mine and I got that "feeling."

[Potomac Cannons]

I'm going to put my neck out and make the wild prediction that Scott Olsen, if he isn't traded, ditched or dies of lung cancer, will make a nice little comeback this season. Nothing world beating, but he will contribute.

Frank Robinson's soul passed through mine and I got that "feeling."

I would offer Olsen a 3.1m 1 year deal and avoid arbitration.  He's still very young and hadn't had arm problems until last year.  If he comes back strong I think we still have control for 2011.  If he doesn't, it's no big deal and he gets released back into the wild.

[sportsfan882]

I'm going to put my neck out and make the wild prediction that Scott Olsen, if he isn't traded, ditched or dies of lung cancer, will make a nice little comeback this season. Nothing world beating, but he will contribute.

Frank Robinson's soul passed through mine and I got that "feeling."

not with that injury. Nats should pass on tendering him a contract.

[Potomac Cannons]

not with that injury. Nats should pass on tendering him a contract.

He's already healthy.  He was throwing before the season ended.  He has had one injury.  His arm is supposedly fine.  Give him a shot this year and hope it works.

[tomterp]

I would offer Olsen a 3.1m 1 year deal and avoid arbitration. 

If we offer him arbitration, he's almost sure to accept it, right?  And if he accepts it the club can still cut him before the season starts, and only owe a fraction of his contract.  That would be a lower risk path for the team to take.

[Sniper 1]

Didn't Olsen have essentially the same injury (and surgery) that Cordero had?  Cordero rehabbed for a year, and then got lit up in A ball last season.  I wouldn't touch Olsen with that injury.

[hammondsnats]

Per NJ:

Here's an abbreviated list of starting pitchers available on the market: Jon Garland, Jarrod Washburn, John Smoltz, Ben Sheets, Joel Pineiro, Vicente Padilla, Jason Marquis, John Lackey, Rich Harden, Livan Hernandez.

Which one(s) do you want here and which one(s) do you think will end up here?  I know there is always the option of a trade, but for this exercise, use the aforementioned names.

[tomterp]

Didn't Olsen have essentially the same injury (and surgery) that Cordero had?  Cordero rehabbed for a year, and then got lit up in A ball last season.  I wouldn't touch Olsen with that injury.

The speed gun won't lie.  Shawn Hill won in arby, but was cut anyway when he couldn't get it done, right?

[hammondsnats]

I find it interesting we haven't inquired about Erik Bedard.  I know there's talk that he may be a headcase and who knows if he's a 100% healthy, but he seems like a guy the Nats would want (along with Harden/Duch/Sheets) as the risky play.

[Minty Fresh]

Which one(s) do you want here...?

Ben Sheets
Jon Garland

which one(s) do you think will end up here?

Jon Garland

[Potomac Cannons]

Per NJ:
 

Which one(s) do you want here and which one(s) do you think will end up here?

Want...Garland, Harden, Sheets, Pineiro

Will get...Garland

Why doesn't Doug Davis end up on these lists?  He's clearly in the 2nd tier of SPs this offseason, but he's going to give you league average K/9 and FIP and a slightly high WHIP.

[hammondsnats]

Want...Garland, Harden, Sheets, Pineiro

Will get...Garland

Why doesn't Doug Davis end up on these lists?  He's clearly in the 2nd tier of SPs this offseason, but he's going to give you league average K/9 and FIP and a slightly high WHIP.

Again, I think I'll be happy with a Garland/Harden combo.

And yeah that is interesting we haven't heard much about Davis.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Brutter Lafferstock wrote on his Twitter that the Nats are going to be giving Cristian Guzman a chance at second so Orlando Hudson is basically out of the equation now.

Take it for what it is worth.

[houston-nat]

Kevin Millwood for Chris Ray. Why didn't we pick up Millwood? Is Rizzo taking a nap?

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Kevin Millwood for Chris Ray. Why didn't we pick up Millwood? Is Rizzo taking a nap?

It's snowing in Indy right now. He must have looked out his window and just went back to bed.

[ronnynat]

Kevin Millwood for Chris Ray. Why didn't we pick up Millwood? Is Rizzo taking a nap?

They wanted a reliever. The only guy w/ any value that we're willing to trade right now is Willingham.

[blue911]

They wanted a reliever. The only guy w/ any value that we're willing to trade right now is Willingham.

We could have given them Brian Bruney.

[ronnynat]

We could have given them Brian Bruney.

True

[blue911]

True

Millwood is due his $15M signing bonus after his contract expires. So even though his 2010 salary is $12M, there may be more moneys owed as part/all of the signing bonus.

[Potomac Cannons]

Kevin Millwood for Chris Ray. Why didn't we pick up Millwood? Is Rizzo taking a nap?

Millwood?  Why trade something for a guy who isn't as good as the FA SPs who will sign for less than the salary he has guaranteed?

The last three years his two of the three out of K/9, WHIP and FIP have been bad.  That's a 35 year old pitcher in pretty clear decline for 12m and you have to give up something to get him.  If the receiving team gets stuck with his signing bonus then they have to pay him 15m on top of that somewhere between 2011-2015.  Not good kids, not good.

I'd rather have any of the myriad of SPs on the FA market (Garland, Pavano, Sheets, Harden, Davis, etc.) who are likely going to put up at least equal numbers for less money than give up anything of value for Millwood.

[Nathan]

I'd definitely take a chance on Sheets.

[Potomac Cannons]

I find it interesting we haven't inquired about Erik Bedard.  I know there's talk that he may be a headcase and who knows if he's a 100% healthy, but he seems like a guy the Nats would want (along with Harden/Duch/Sheets) as the risky play.

The guy quits whenever he feels like it.  No physical or mental toughness and the greatest thing he brings to a team is being traded when he looks like he's got it together. 

[JMW IV]

Pavano

accepted arbitration.

[sportsfan882]

The Nationals have met this week with the agent for free agent starting pitcher Livan Hernandez, with interest on both sides in a new deal for the 34-year-old right-hander who went 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA for the Nationals in 2009 after signing with them as a free agent in August.

"The Nationals are aware that Livan would like to return to Washington next season," agent Barry Praver said.

Praver would not characterize the talks, but Hernandez is expected to command only a one-year contract with a low base and ample performance incentives.