2010 Offseason Wheeling and Dealing

[sportsfan882]

Hudson is not that good but he is > Guzman.

[sportsfan882]

BRIAN ROBERTS!!!  haha jk

The Birds are doomed to 4th or 5th Place in the AL East for all of eternity.

[PANatsFan]

Harlan said today on Nats Journal that if Hudson is signed Desmond goes to AAA, so actually keep him far, far away.

[sportsfan882]

Harlan said today on Nats Journal that if Hudson is signed Desmond goes to AAA, so actually keep him far, far away.

What left does Desmond have to do in AAA?

He is really excited to play well and make the team in ST.

Give him a chance. He deserves it.

[DPMOmaha]

Harlan said today on Nats Journal that if Hudson is signed Desmond goes to AAA, so actually keep him far, far away.

Hmmm, missed that. But let's play the hypothetical game, once more if they do get Hudson and send Desmond to AAA.

TPlush
Guz or Hudson?
Zimm
Dunn
Hammer
Dukes
Hudson?
Flores/Pudge?

I'm pretty sure Guz wouldn't want to hit in the 7 hole, just thinking about how he shut down when he moved to the 6 hole last year, but that's still a pretty potent lineup.  I'd really much rather see this one though:

TPlush
Hudson
Zimm
Dunn
Hammer
Dukes
Flores/Desmond
Desmond/Pudge

Either should put up a lot of runs.

[hammondsnats]

What left does Desmond have to do in AAA?

He is really excited to play well and make the team in ST.

Give him a chance. He deserves it.

It's interesting b/c Riggleman is a huuuuuuuuge fan of Desmond.  Everytime he gets an opportunity to speak, it seems like Riggs is always praising ID.  I think Rizzo and some of the front office believes Desmond needs more seasoning. 

[hammondsnats]

The Birds are doomed to 4th or 5th Place in the AL East for all of eternity.

Absolutely.  Hopefully we can't say the same about our Nats though.

[sportsfan882]

Absolutely.  Hopefully we can't say the same about our Nats though.

The NL East sucks. The division is wide open for the taking every year. Nats just have to get their stuff together and they can compete.

AL East is nearly impossible compete in unless you are Boston or NY.

[Minty Fresh]

like Dan Uggla?

No thanks.  We need help defensively.

[sportsfan882]

It's interesting b/c Riggleman is a huuuuuuuuge fan of Desmond.  Everytime he gets an opportunity to speak, it seems like Riggs is always praising ID.  I think Rizzo and some of the front office believes Desmond needs more seasoning. 

tf?

he has spent like 6 years in the Minors. enough seasoning

[Minty Fresh]

Hudson is not that good but he is > Guzman.

Not by much. 

[PANatsFan]

It wasn't Harlan, trying to find the link. I read too much . . .

[PANatsFan]

It was Bigsby Livingstone:

http://twitter.com/washingnats/status/6941143489

[JMW IV]

BRIAN ROBERTS!!!  haha jk (no really I'm serious. *dons Orioles Jersey)

fixed.

[JMW IV]

he has spent like 6 years in the Minors.

and he sucked ass in 5 of them.

he could benefit from more seasoning. at least another half-season.

[Lintyfresh85]

Not by much.  

Disagree on this one.

1. Hudson is cheaper. He only made 3.4 million last year. Guz is making 8 a year.
2. Hudson is a better defender. Hudson is a + 17.6 since 2002, Guzman is a -4.1 in UZR.
3. Hudson's approach at the plate is much better than Guzman. Guzman hit .284, Hudson hit .283. OBP - Guzman - .306, Hudson - .357
4. Hudson won't pout if he's moved out of the top of the lineup like Guzman did last year.
5. Seems to be a team first guy.

Hudson would be a much better player for the Nats provided that Guzman is moved and Desmond takes his spot at SS.

Hudson - Desmond > Guzman - Desmond

[PANatsFan]

Hudson would be a much better player for the Nats provided that Guzman is moved and Desmond takes his spot at SS.

That's the problem - it would have to be a complete salary dump for a fringe prospect. I think they'd have to have the deal all lined up, then sign Hudson, then pull the trigger on the Guzman deal. If they can swing all that, I'm for it. But Guzman+Desmond > Gusman+Hudson in my opinion.

[NatsDad14]

Disagree on this one.

1. Hudson is cheaper. He only made 3.4 million last year. Guz is making 8 a year.
2. Hudson is a better defender. Hudson is a + 17.6 since 2002, Guzman is a -4.1 in UZR.
3. Hudson's approach at the plate is much better than Guzman. Guzman hit .284, Hudson hit .283. OBP - Guzman - .306, Hudson - .357
4. Hudson won't pout if he's moved out of the top of the lineup like Guzman did last year.
5. Seems to be a team first guy.

Hudson would be a much better player for the Nats provided that Guzman is moved and Desmond takes his spot at SS.

Hudson - Desmond > Guzman - Desmond

Hudson isn't really that much of a better defender than Guzman. His UZR in the last 4 years is -9.2. He's only had 1 above average year in the last years (it was 0.5). Do you know what Guzman's UZR is in the last 4 years? -9.2. Exactly the same as Hudson.

[UMDNats]

and he sucked ass in 5 of them.

he could benefit from more seasoning. at least another half-season.

What makes you say he needs more seasoning? All he did last year was come into the majors and light it up. I don't give a crap about his minor league stats right now, his major league play stands out. If he comes into spring training and continues to rake, then he deserves to be on the ML roster.

[Minty Fresh]

1. Hudson is cheaper. He only made 3.4 million last year. Guz is making 8 a year.

Starting to care less and less about this - especially when we're talking about a difference of a meager 4.2 MM for one year.

2. Hudson is a better defender. Hudson is a + 17.6 since 2002, Guzman is a -4.1 in UZR.

Hudson plays a different position than Guzman did.  Comparison in UZR is going to be skewed at best.

3. Hudson's approach at the plate is much better than Guzman. Guzman hit .284, Hudson hit .283. OBP - Guzman - .306, Hudson - .357

No argument.  But offense isn't as important to this team right now as defense.

4. Hudson won't pout if he's moved out of the top of the lineup like Guzman did last year.

Nobody has any way of knowing that.  All we can say is that he has no known history of it.

5. Seems to be a team first guy.

Seems to be, but then again, exactly how many 100+ loss teams has Hudson played for?

Hudson would be a much better player for the Nats provided that Guzman is moved and Desmond takes his spot at SS.

Hudson - Desmond > Guzman - Desmond

I think he's "better" but not by that wide a margin.

[blue911]

Linty, Hudson made about $7.9M after all the bonuses were paid.

[Lintyfresh85]

Linty, Hudson made about $7.9M after all the bonuses were paid.

You and your facts! I was just looking at base pay.

[JMW IV]

What makes you say he needs more seasoning? All he did last year was come into the majors and light it up. I don't give a crap about his minor league stats right now, his major league play stands out. If he comes into spring training and continues to rake, then he deserves to be on the ML roster.

"Need" and "could benefit from" are two different things.

I am saying that I would not be enraged or heartbroken if he spent a half-season in AAA next year.

he's got 89 plate appearances worth of major league experience. 21 games. I wouldn't mind giving him a little competition to make him earn the starting SS spot. and if he earns it, fine. if he doesn't, that's fine too, he's got nothing but time.

sorry, I'm not ready to anoint him as the greatest thing since sliced bread just yet, I'll need to see a little more than 89 plate appearances.

we've put people on pedestals before based on 3 weeks of play, and how well has that turned out for us?

[Lintyfresh85]

By the way. I'm not pushing for a Hudson - Guzman infield.

I'm pushing for a Hudson - Desmond 2B - SS combo.

If the Nats won't move Guzman, I don't want to add to the problem by picking up Hudson.

[JMW IV]

I'd like to sign a second baseman(not necessarily Hudson, but a Starting-caliber 2nd Baseman), and have Guzman/Desmond compete for SS.

and if Desmond wins, then dump Guzman for whatever we can get.  if Guzman wins, then send Desmond to AAA until he is ready to take Guzman's spot. OR,  keep Desmond as the backup MI until he is ready to unseat Guzman.

I don't see what's wrong with that, outside of the people who worship the ground Desmond walks on based on 21 MLB games, and 1 successful minor league season. not quite sure what the big rush is to start him right now. he's like 22 or 23 and we got him under team control for like 4 or 5 years still.

what I don't want, is to hand Desmond the starting SS spot from day 1, watch him falter, and then have no suitable alternative option for him. see: "Milledge, Lastings". also see: "Hernandez, Anderson"