10/11 offseason

[houston-nat]

Oliver Perez, Matt Chico, and John Lannan also have that distinction.

Oliver Perez is indeed a great Nationals player... because he consistently blows for the Mets.

[Evolution33]

Well, I didn't say we HAD to trade Willingham, it was just a friendly suggestion that the Prospects R' Us store... er... Dodgers farm system was open for raiding and they need a LF'er.

I think it is a good idea, but like anything it depends on what is offered. They have shown interest in moving Kemp and Billingsly for clubhouse chemistry and to lower payroll respectively. I would be more than happy if the Nats and Willingham could help them to accomplish that goal.

[tomterp]

First problem is that Zimmermann got hurt badly in his rookie season. Second is that he lost most of last season, and the injury required the team to limits his pitches once he got back.

Jordan Zimmermann is still a rookie, and he's recovering from injury. When he might have been learning his craft against major league hitters, he was rehabbing his elbow.

He might turn out OK, but he's still an untested rookie, learning his way.

Of course, but all that is why many are optimistic he'll mature into a top end of the rotation starter.  He's young, inexperienced, has had injuries, and yet has displayed excellent ability in limited action.  As long as he stays healthy, he will only get better for the next several years, and that's significant upside for a live arm.

[DPMOmaha]

He did pitch a half year consecutively.  16 consecutive starts from 4/20-7/18 in 09.  Looks like one break of 9 days between starts and all others are either 5 or 6.

I didn't remember him being up that long.  Either way, he hasn't really been around long enough to have adjustments made and countered.

[Vega]

Marlins close to signing John Buck to a three-year deal, per Rosenthal. Very uncharacteristic of the Marlins.

[Lintyfresh85]

As we had hoped/expected...

CMW looking to be back with Nats in 2011.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2010/11/chien-ming_wang_hopes_to_retur.html

[JCA-CrystalCity]

BTW - if we did deal for Uggla, it would be just one year - his last of arbitration.  He would be a type A this year, so we can hope he stays a type A / B and get back new prospects to replace the ones we give up.  Recycling.  It's green.  And we know the Lerners like green. 

[The Chief]

"The Plan (v3)"

-bring in bargain basement fringe type A player, let walk for prospects
-repeat as necessary
...
-wait for championship caliber team to spontaneously erupt from the ground.

[PANatsFan]

"The Plan (v3)"

-bring in bargain basement fringe type A player, let walk for prospects
-repeat as necessary
...
-wait for championship caliber team to spontaneously erupt from the ground.

Players are being traded before the arby deadline for picks by other teams.

[The Chief]

blank stare

[PANatsFan]

blank stare

If you don't take it to extremes, you can trade cash or a salary dump for picks, offer the free agent arbitration, he walks, you get two picks. I know your post was a joke but this is a new strategy this offseason.

[DPMOmaha]

If you don't take it to extremes, you can trade cash or a salary dump for picks, offer the free agent arbitration, he walks, you get two picks. I know your post was a joke but this is a new strategy this offseason.

And, also, it sets up a lightning/bottle type of season, especially if they can pull off a deal for Greinke and get Dunn back.  Then you reduce the variables needed to make it one of those random seasons. 

If Zimnn keeps improving, if Desmond/Espiniza keeps in proving, if Wang gets healthy, well that's better than the 12 things we needed to have happen.  Still unlikely, but at least plausible.

[Evolution33]

"The Plan (v3)"

-bring in bargain basement fringe type A player, let walk for prospects
-repeat as necessary
...
-wait for championship caliber team to spontaneously erupt from the ground.

That actually is a small part of what the A's do well. It is how they are able to stockpile draft picks year in and year out.

[The Chief]

That actually is a small part of what the A's do well. It is how they are able to stockpile draft picks year in and year out.

And that's great for them, but I'd prefer we not try to emulate the "lucking into it" strategy.

[HalfSmokes]

The As do it because they will never have the budget to compete any other way, unless you really believe the Lerners will never shell out, they probably aren't the team to emulate

[Evolution33]

The As do it because they will never have the budget to compete any other way, unless you really believe the Lerners will never shell out, they probably aren't the team to emulate

Baseball-reference estimates the Nationals 2011 payroll to be $79.7 million and Jon Heyman keeps saying the Nats are trying to spend big and make a splash. I also think with owners willing to shell out it might be an even better strategy. Look at what the Red Sox did with Billy Wagner. They took him as a salary dump and turned him into two high draft picks. they were able to take on what remained of Wagner's salary and then pay over slot for draft picks because of a willingness to spend.

[HalfSmokes]

Baseball-reference estimates the Nationals 2011 payroll to be $79.7 million and Jon Heyman keeps saying the Nats are trying to spend big and make a splash. I also think with owners willing to shell out it might be an even better strategy. Look at what the Red Sox did with Billy Wagner. They took him as a salary dump and turned him into two high draft picks. they were able to take on what remained of Wagner's salary and then pay over slot for draft picks because of a willingness to spend.

I'd love to see us doing that.

[comish4lif]

Baseball-reference estimates the Nationals 2011 payroll to be $79.7 million and Jon Heyman keeps saying the Nats are trying to spend big and make a splash. I also think with owners willing to shell out it might be an even better strategy. Look at what the Red Sox did with Billy Wagner. They took him as a salary dump and turned him into two high draft picks. they were able to take on what remained of Wagner's salary and then pay over slot for draft picks because of a willingness to spend.

 Not sure what B-R is doing here.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSN/2010-roster.shtml
They have the Nats with $22.43M committed already (Zimmerman, Stras, Pudge, Marquis and the AK buyout). That looks right.

Then they have us with $53.2M worth or arbitration increases. That's where they have some errors.

And then another $4M t fill out the roster.

[MarquisDeSade]

Baseball-reference estimates the Nationals 2011 payroll to be $79.7 million and Jon Heyman keeps saying the Nats are trying to spend big and make a splash.

Count me in the "believe it when I see it" camp.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Count me in the "believe it when I see it" camp.

Count me in the "more likely Jeffrey Loria increases the Marlins' payroll to $100 mil" camp.

[MarquisDeSade]

Count me in the "more likely Jeffrey Loria increases the Marlins' payroll to $100 mil" camp.

You mean before us, right?

[Sharp]

Wow... Braves just got Uggla for Michael Dunn and Omar Infante.  Worst deal ever for the Marlins.

[PANatsFan]

Wow... Braves just got Uggla for Michael Dunn and Omar Infante.  Worst deal ever for the Marlins.

Crap, the Braves don't need more hitters.

[Nathan]

Wow... Braves just got Uggla for Michael Dunn and Omar Infante.  Worst deal ever for the Marlins.

At least that closes one thread.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

At least that closes one thread.

Suck it, houston-nat.