2010 Offseason Wheeling and Dealing

[The Chief]

Not getting my hopes up, but it'd be awesome if we got him.

You get excited about Wang.

Ha!

[DPMOmaha]

Hopefully no one has given up on Detwiler yet. I still think he could be a solid Major League pitcher.

No, not even a little bit, but, let's say Wang does come back to close to what he was before the injury.  That's a guy who was a 18-20 game winner in the Bronx.  We know what Lannan and Marquis bring.  So, if you can get Wang for 2 years, that's him and Marquis through 2011.  If you've got an opportunity to add a Josh Beckett or Brandon Webb to that mix, I think you've got to do it.  It does a couple of things.  It takes the pressure off SS to be THE guy tomorrow.  It let's Zmann get back to full speed without the pressure of filling a rotation spot and it gives you a ton of organizational depth which you can then use in a multitude of ways.  Then, in 2012, hopefully SS will be ready to be the Ace, Zmann and Detwiler will be ready to step in where Marquis and Wang were and we're off and rolling.  It might create a log jam next year (2011) but I think it's worth taking a strong look at.

It's possible SS blows the NL away this year and Detwiler and Balester force the issue, and if they do, that's great, but I think we're competing for the NL East in 2012 regardless, but I think that with some aggressive moves next offseason with a deep(er) FA market, you could jumpstart that in 2011.

[Vega]

So long as his contract is almost completely made of incentives, I would be more than happy to have Wang.

[imref]

here's more:

Nationals among leaders for Wang
By Ben Goessling on February 9, 2010 9:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You might want to hold onto those pitching staff projections just a little longer. According to a source familiar with the situation, the Nationals are one of the teams that's "way ahead of the pack" in pursuit of free-agent pitcher Chien-Ming Wang.

The 29-year-old Taiwanese pitcher, who won 19 games for the Yankees in both 2006 and 2007 but made just 24 starts in 2008-09 because of a variety of injuries, is ahead of schedule in his return from shoulder surgery. He is throwing without pain will be able to throw off a mound in a week to 10 days, which could be the final sign for interested teams the right-hander is healthy.

But according to the source, the Nationals have already made an aggressive effort to evaluate the pitcher.

"If you know (general manager) Mike Rizzo at all, you know they're ahead of the pack," the source said. "If there was a checklist of 20 things teams are doing, the Nationals are way ahead in their study."

The source could not say if the Nationals had made an offer to Wang, but made it clear they're in serious competition for his services.

The Dodgers are a serious possibility because of Wang's history with manager Joe Torre while both were with the Yankees, the source said, but the Nationals "are right up there."

http://masnsports.com/2010/02/nationals-among-leaders-for-wa.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[PANatsFan]

Notice how these sources said that same things that Capps did, Rizzo was there from the beginning with the professionalism to impress? Nice.

[PatsNats28]

Come on Nats.

He'd plug a huge hole.

I was gonna say TWSS, but then I was like oh wait...

[cmdterps44]

Nice linty, Nice

[Minty Fresh]

Hopefully no one has given up on Detwiler yet. I still think he could be a solid Major League pitcher.

That's what's nice about these Marquis-type signings.  They're just filling in for when the kids are ready....

[HTT]

MLBTR is reporting Wang and Nats close to deal:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/chienming-wang-close-to-deal-with-nationals.html

[PatsNats28]

MLBTR is reporting Wang and Nats close to deal:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/chienming-wang-close-to-deal-with-nationals.html

[cmdterps44]

Now it says that Wang and the Dodgers are in talks... I hope the Nats come out on top of this.

[imref]

latest tweet on mlbtr says that the Dodgers are out of the running.

[PANatsFan]

The impression I get is that Wang wanted to play for Torre. I don't think the Dodgers have payroll flexibility.

[DPMOmaha]

latest tweet on mlbtr says that the Dodgers are out of the running.

#dodgers have pulled out of wang derby. if it was indeed 2-team race, he's headed for #nats. @PeteAbe said nats this morn.

 

This stuff is just too easy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If we do get this pitcher, is there any chance that the Republican Minority Leader in the US House could throw out the first pitch at the pitcher's first start?

[Nathan]

[DPMOmaha]

If we do get this pitcher, is there any chance that the Republican Minority Leader in the US House could throw out the first pitch at the pitcher's first start?

If John Boehner makes the trip, hopefully he brings the minority whip with him too.

[PANatsFan]

I'm excited for a game to be lost on an E1 so headlines can say "Nats doomed by Wang's Boner"

[sportsfan882]

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/02/wang-bruney-burnett-benson-and-dukes.html

It's getting close to arbitration time, with hearings scheduled to take place next week in the Tampa area for the Nats' two yet-unsigned arbitration-eligible players: relievers Brian Bruney and Sean Burnett. While last-minute settlements often take place in these cases -- remember last year when Jim Bowden worked out deals with Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham after both had already flown to Arizona for their hearings? -- it does not appear that will be the case this year. A source familiar with the Nats' two cases this spring said GM Mike Rizzo is committed to taking both Bruney and Burnett to hearings and not settling in advance. Bruney, whose hearing is scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 16), is asking for $1.85 million. The Nats are offering $1.5 million. Burnett, whose hearing is scheduled for Thursday (Feb. 18) is asking for $925,000. The Nats are offering $775,000.

Even if the Nationals wind up signing Wang, they're still looking for more veteran pitching help. Indeed, they've had discussions with the agent for right-hander Kris Benson within the last two days, according to a source familiar with the talks. Benson, of course, is the former No. 1 overall draft pick of the Pirates back in 1996 whose career has been derailed by injuries (and the exploits of his attention-seeking wife, Anna). He pitched only 22 1/3 innings last season for the Rangers, and prior to that, last pitched in the majors in 2006 for the Orioles. So obviously any deal with the Nats would be non-guaranteed and incentive-laden. If nothing else, the source said, Benson could serve some purpose as a mentor for Stephen Strasburg, having been through just about everything Strasburg could now face as a fellow No. 1 pick.

no thanks

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Actually, Benson would be a nice "Crash Davis" type for Strasburg, even if he never makes the MLB roster.

[sportsfan882]

But Benson is everything we don't want SS to be. What a bum. He was a flop.

[Minty Fresh]

But Benson is everything we don't want SS to be. What a bum. He was a flop.

Did you watch Bull Durham? 

You're making JCA's point for him.

[imref]

So Wang went to work, and so did the Nationals. In the dugout, Zimmerman was already thinking about his previous at-bat against Wang, one in which the right-hander jammed him with a sinker that he grounded harmlessly to second. It is a measure of his maturity, which the Nationals say can't be overstated, that a 21-year-old takes the time to learn from each time up.

"It's not an act," said veteran reliever Mike Stanton, who was in the majors before Zimmerman turned 5. "He's mature. He's a pretty quiet kid. He doesn't show anybody up. And he understands the game like a veteran. He has great instincts. He's the real deal."

With one out, pinch hitter Marlon Anderson pulled a single into right, and Zimmerman came to the plate with one thought in his head. "I hope he throws that same pitch," he said.

Wang did, his 107th of the day. But this time, it stayed up, and Zimmerman drilled it. The Nationals gathered at home, and before Zimmerman arrived, he tossed his helmet in the air before leaping gleefully into the throbbing mass of teammates that embraced him.

[tomterp]

By Mike Axisa [February 12 at 3:18pm CST]
The Nationals have some interest in free agent righty Kris Benson, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. GM Mike Rizzo and Benson's agent Gregg Clifton are hoping to meet early next week after a snow storm got in the way this week (link goes to Twitter).

Benson, 35, is apparently 100% after battling arm injuries for the better part of the last three seasons. In 22.1 innings for the Rangers last season, he allowed 23 runs with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). It was his first big league action since 2006. As long as they don't guarantee him a roster spot, there's nothing wrong with seeing what Benson has to offer in Spring Training.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/nationals-have-interest-in-kris-benson.html

[Evolution33]

How does Anna Benson feel about Wang?








(I just couldn't resist)