2010 Offseason Wheeling and Dealing

[PANatsFan]

Everything I've read has shown me that Jacobs is a great guy . . . to have a beer with.

If he's 2010 Brad Eldred, great. But I'd rather have Chris Marrero in the bigs than Jacobs.

[DPMOmaha]

I just watched the interview with Rizzo.  I think the Mike Jacobs thing is way overblown.  Heyman asked him about Hudson, Garland and Jacobs and if they were looking to contact guys like that.  Rizzo just said that he'd talked to representatives of all of those guys and that he was looking for "perfect fits".  Jacobs sounds like any of the other FA's we've heard from that he just want's a job.  He'd come here because right now he's not getting a paycheck.  I think the bigger story from the MLB Network interview is that there's intrest in Garland.  We'd all assumed we weren't still looking at him with the Jason Marquis signing, but that may not be the case. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I had an exchange with Boz during his chat on this. He still is pushing for another 200 IP starter, so Garland is very much his favorite still out there.  He'd want Washburn in the alternative.  I suggested my idea that we look to bring in a riskier guy with higher peak performance, like Bedard or Wang. He prefers the innnings horse.  His instinct was that most of the above .500 2009 teams get 600 IP out of their top 3 pitchers.  He's slightly off when you actually look at the teams that made the playoffs (plus Detroit) as several were a bit short of that, but if he said 560 innings he'd have swept in about 6 out of the 9 (the only ones I checked).  He also said that over the hill guys like Pedro and Smoltz really were not capable of their peaks any more (I agree, but I'm not sure a declining Smoltz or Pedro is not better than Washburn now), but that Bedard might be interesting.

If the Nats were to try to add another starting pitcher, then I would like to see them go after a high upside, riskier starter either coming back from injury or an off season than a safe average to slightly below average filler type.  Garland is a bit better than that (average to slightly above), but at this point in his career, that is what Washburn's true talent is.   Sheets, Bedard, Wang, are still out there.  

The way I see the rotation setting up is that we will get close to 400 innings from Marquis and Lannan, and I'm pretty certain we can come up with viable 4th / 5th starters from among Detwiler, Stammen, Ballester, and Martin.  I'd peg that combo for more than 350 innings.  What we want is about another 180 innings or so out of our nominal 3d starter to get in the range of 930 innings.  That would have been 10th in the NL last year, with 942 as league average.  Right now, #3 would be Olsen, who, when healthy, is a 180+ inning pitcher, but is coming off an injury.  If you can get comparable or better quality, and figure on getting a few months out of that risky signing, you can figure to fill in that 180+ innings with the Olsen / ? combo.  

[JMW IV]

I would like to reiterate the WTFRizzo reaction.

the freak would we want Mike Jacobs for?

[DPMOmaha]

I would like to reiterate the WTFRizzo reaction.

the freak would we want Mike Jacobs for?

I really think it was more of a case of Laddsign hearing a name we hadn't heard before and going and taking it a little far.  In the actual interview, it was more of a throwaway line that triggered it.  The article written and the MLB Network interview have completely different vibes in regards to the intrest in Jacobs, IMO.

...unless there's a blockbuster deal for Dunn in the works we haven't heard about yet.

[Lintyfresh85]

Still... The Nats could find a much better replacement for Dunn than Mike Freakin' Jacobs.

Russell Branyan comes to mind.

[The Chief]

If Dunn were traded, it'd be great to see the kinds of excuses SF would come up with for Zimmerman coming back down to earth.

[sportsfan882]

@Buster_ESPN: #Nationals have put Josh Willingham back out on the market. If they deal him, could clear the way for Dunn to go to OF.

why?

[I can Throw]

Hello Jed Lowrie?????

[DPMOmaha]

@Buster_ESPN: #Nationals have put Josh Willingham back out on the market. If they deal him, could clear the way for Dunn to go to OF.

I could see them moving Hammer, but I don't see Dunn going back to the OF.

[UMDNats]

why?

Why not see what you can get for an asset?

[cmdterps44]

why?

I like Willingham but I like this as well. Maybe we can get solid people back. Just please god, Dont move Dunn to the OF.

I just hope we don't deal Willingham for crap. Hes an important part of our lineup!

[UMDNats]

If we move Willingham I'd like to give Maxwell at shot at everyday LF/RF (move Dukes to left or whatever). See if he can stick around with his hitting; we know his defense and power are fine, but maybe he can still develop.

[DPMOmaha]

I'd like to see what Morse could do in the lineup everyday too.

[houston-nat]

Dunn to OF is purely Buster Olney's speculation. He probably just guesses, "If they move Willingham, they will put Dunn back in left" because he's never heard of Maxwell/etc.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I wonder if they move Willingham for a pitcher or middle infielder whether they would then sign Johnny Damon, who is dirt cheap.  Morgan and Damon at the top of the order, followed by Zimmerman and Dunn, would grind up pitchers with long counts.  I'm not quite so keen on lefties in 3 of the top 4 spots, but perhaps you slot in Desmond or Guzman and bat Damon 3d. 

Getting back to the observation that this may be a triple-friendly park good for lefty pull hitters, you could see Damon run up some impressive numbers here.

[aspenbubba]

I am taking exception to all the Maxwell , Bernadina and Morse advocates that they will not start now or ever for any MLB club.They have potential to be 4-5 OF only if that. I recall that so many of the posters were salivating on a prospective outfield of Maxwell. Burgess and Daniels three years ago. They were only prospects then and now they are languishing in the minors with the exception of Maxwell. Let's talk about Marrero.He is so far away from AAA that I don't even consider him a prospect.

Just because they are prospects in our system doesn't mean that they will ever make the show. My guess is that 10-15 % do and a vast majority of those are for a cuppa coffee. I don't see many impact players in our system but then I don't think that any other team is loaded with them either.This isn't the NFL where there are relatively few busts in the first or second rounds. We just remember them because they are so spectacular and are great trivia questions.

[hammondsnats]

Why in the hell would the Nats trade Willingham?  We're getting him at great value for that price and he's more than serviceable.  Focus on the 2nd base position and getting another starting pitcher, then we can head into spring training and call it a successful offseason.

[UMDNats]

I am taking exception to all the Maxwell , Bernadina and Morse advocates that they will not start now or ever for any MLB club.They have potential to be 4-5 OF only if that. I recall that so many of the posters were salivating on a prospective outfield of Maxwell. Burgess and Daniels three years ago. They were only prospects then and now they are languishing in the minors with the exception of Maxwell. Let's talk about Marrero.He is so far away from AAA that I don't even consider him a prospect.

Just because they are prospects in our system doesn't mean that they will ever make the show. My guess is that 10-15 % do and a vast majority of those are for a cuppa coffee. I don't see many impact players in our system but then I don't think that any other team is loaded with them either.This isn't the NFL where there are relatively few busts in the first or second rounds. We just remember them because they are so spectacular and are great trivia questions.

I don't think Maxwell would be a great starter someday, I just think that he'd make a great 4th OF, and want to see what he can do.

[Nathan]

Why in the hell would the Nats trade Willingham?

So that we can...

...Focus on the 2nd base position and getting another starting pitcher, then we can head into spring training and call it a successful offseason.

If we trade him I would think that it would be for a 2B or a starter.

[aspenbubba]

Why in the hell would the Nats trade Willingham?  We're getting him at great value for that price and he's more than serviceable.  Focus on the 2nd base position and getting another starting pitcher, then we can head into spring training and call it a successful offseason.

Or Dunn for that matter

[hammondsnats]

So that we can...If we trade him I would think that it would be for a 2B or a starter.

But Willingham is better than Maxwell/Bernadina.  And if we move Dunn there, then we have to worry about 1B (Jacobs is not the answer and I don't think Marrero is ready).

[cmdterps44]

So that we can...If we trade him I would think that it would be for a 2B or a starter.

Well Hudson still is available. It would definitely depend on the second baseman when Hudson is still on the market. Starter... crap it better be someone freakin good.

[ronnynat]

So that we can...

If we trade him I would think that it would be for a 2B or a starter.

And there are a lot more FA outfield options than middle infielders.

I like Nady, Dye, and Winn. I'm pretty sure they're all available still. I think they'd all accept a one year contract at this point.

[aspenbubba]

There is still Damon and his asking price is ONLY 25% more than Dunns salary (LOL)