Nationals new 1B discussion

[Tyler Durden]

and there is a report that Lee turned down more from San Diego to go to Baltimore.

Possible due to SD's park but who the f wants to go to B'more to guarantee a 5th place finish?  We should have been able to match B'more's offer and we shoudl offer a better opportunity to shine.

[PANatsFan]

Awesome string of drunk posts!

[Vega]

I am fully sober. Thus, combo breaker.

[Coladar]

I just happened upon this news, what a joke... At least it's highly likely that comment will turn out to be applicable. Just like I posted a few days ago, the Nats wait for the Os to make their move, and are left with leftovers. Worse, the leftover is LaRoche, who there is a good chance won't since the Nats won't offer enough years and he won't accept less than three. Phase two looks about like the second voyage (phase) of the Titanic at this point.

[Vega]

I just happened upon this news, what a joke... At least it's highly likely that comment will turn out to be applicable. Just like I posted a few days ago, the Nats wait for the Os to make their move, and are left with leftovers. Worse, the leftover is LaRoche, who there is a good chance won't since the Nats won't offer enough years and he won't accept less than three. Phase two looks about like the second voyage (phase) of the Titanic at this point.

Actually, I think we're a lock to get LaRoche unless Rizzo wants someone else. LaRoche is screwed, just like he was last season. He thought he was worth more than anyone was willing to give him. Now, he'll have to sign with us because all the other teams have filled their first base slots and we're the only team left that needs or wants him. It's the exact same situation that landed him in Arizona last season.

[PC]

He could also just wait until spring training and an injury to some team's starting first baseman, which is bound to happen.

[Vega]

He could also just wait until spring training and an injury to some team's starting first baseman, which is bound to happen.

That's a bit pessimistic, even for a Nats fan.

[comish4lif]

If this is the truth, then Rizzo did a perfect job, got the guy they probably wanted all along for less years.

The "perfect job"? Rizzo hasn't signed a first baseman yet. Sure, it seems obvious that we'll get Laroche. But, there's no guarantee.

I'm sure that Rizzo has a plan, I just don't think I like his plan. I really hated the Willingham trade, it seems classic Billy Beane in that Beane acquired a real baseball player and traded off 2 "toolsy" guys.

[Tyler Durden]

There are a few teams who are holding out for a 1B on the cheap.  I'm a little concerned that one of them will offer one year and 5 or 6 mil and LaRoche will take it.  He's done that before.

[hammondsnats]

The "perfect job"? Rizzo hasn't signed a first baseman yet. Sure, it seems obvious that we'll get Laroche. But, there's no guarantee.

I'm sure that Rizzo has a plan, I just don't think I like his plan. I really hated the Willingham trade, it seems classic Billy Beane in that Beane acquired a real baseball player and traded off 2 "toolsy" guys.

Yup

Just sign him already

[Tyler Durden]

Actually, I think we're a lock to get LaRoche unless Rizzo wants someone else. LaRoche is screwed, just like he was last season. He thought he was worth more than anyone was willing to give him. Now, he'll have to sign with us because all the other teams have filled their first base slots and we're the only team left that needs or wants him. It's the exact same situation that landed him in Arizona last season.

What if TB offers him 5 million?  If I were him, I might take that.

Next year's 1B market will be stacked, though.  All the guys who took one year deals plus potentially Pujols and Fielder.

[The Chief]

It would not surprise me if the Nats go to Spring Training with neither Lee nor Laroche.

I worry about this possibility

[Lintyfresh85]

It's ok.. the Nats media will still write flowery prose about whomever is manning 1B... because clearly, it's all part of Rizzo's plan.

[houston-nat]

What if TB offers him 5 million?  If I were him, I might take that.

If we offer LaRoche 2 years 16 million, and Tampa offers him 1 year 5 million, and he goes to Tampa in order to win, we will have to sit through months of the LAC crowd ranting about how idiotic the Lerners/Rizzo are for not signing LaRoche. I really, really, really hope LaRoche signs with us so we don't have to face that.

[The Chief]

Pavano + a 1B would put them at around $75, which people CLAIM would satisfy them, but I think nothing ever will.

as far as I know the only person who has actually said that is me, and even I said only for one season on the way towards an 85-90m payroll the following year.

[Smithian]

Can we please get it dunn and sign somebody?

[The Chief]

Pwning souls = agreeing with hammonds -- noted for future reference.

if you're trying to be unbiased (which I'm not so sure of) then you should probably also note that and "sanity" = agreeing with PA

[comish4lif]

Actually, I think we're a lock to get LaRoche unless Rizzo wants someone else. LaRoche is screwed, just like he was last season. He thought he was worth more than anyone was willing to give him. Now, he'll have to sign with us because all the other teams have filled their first base slots and we're the only team left that needs or wants him. It's the exact same situation that landed him in Arizona last season.

Or, if Rizzo is happy with what he has and doesn't want Laroche, and didn't want Lee nor Peña.

As for the "will $75m make me happy"? In my case, of they get Laroche and a starting pitcher (Pavano)  to go with Werth, I'd be happy because it fits into the category of the Nats trying to get better.

Not that it would be the way that I would have done it, but if it shakes out that way, I wouldn't complain. But I think if it ends up with the Nats getting Werth for $126m and having a lower payroll and IMO a worse team, then no, I'm not happy with the progress.

[Tyler Durden]

If we offer LaRoche 2 years 16 million, and Tampa offers him 1 year 5 million, and he goes to Tampa in order to win, we will have to sit through months of the LAC crowd ranting about how idiotic the Lerners/Rizzo are for not signing LaRoche. I really, really, really hope LaRoche signs with us so we don't have to face that.

People would be right to complain.  It may not mean that the Lerners are cheap, but somebody f'd up if we're entering the season with Kotchman or Branyan plus Morse at 1B and Bernadina in LF with nothing behind him.

They should have given Pena or Lee 12 million for one season instead of whiffing on them plus whiffing on LaRoche, if it comes to that.

[The Chief]

He thought he was worth more than anyone was willing to give him. Now, he'll have to sign with us because ...we're the only team left that needs or wants him.

gosh that sounds familiar.  we have such a classy organization

[MarquisDeSade]

Not that it would be the way that I would have done it, but if it shakes out that way, I wouldn't complain. But I think if it ends up with the Nats getting Werth for $126m and having a lower payroll and IMO a worse team, then no, I'm not happy with the progress.

Not to be Debbie Downer but if we go into Spring Training with the starters we had in 2010 we really haven't done crap other than upgrade our offense marginally. 

Lannan might be good again for an entire season, he might be mediocre (like always). 

Marquis sucks.  Innings eater, sinker, ground ball outs.  Who cares.  If he isn't injured he's going to be so overwhelming mediocre we're going to miss the days of Mike Bacsik and Micah Bowie. 

Livo - who knows what 2011 will look like for him. 

JZimm - if he stays solid our only "rock" in the rotation. 

Maya - BP fast ball, getting fat, will probably get lit up every other start. 

Wang - Will he ever pitch again?  I really don't believe it until I'll see it.  I also have zero delusions he's every going to return to 2007 form.

Strasburg - Maybe he makes it back in September, maybe he doesn't.  No reason to pencil him in at this point.

Pavano - One year for $8m is no big deal.  He'll probably suck ass like Marquis but he'll, barring injury, probably give us 25 starts of which 12 will be underwhelming/borderline crapshows. 

Did I miss anybody?

[UMDNats]

gosh that sounds familiar.  we have such a classy organization

i believe julian tavarez said it best

[The Chief]

If we offer LaRoche 2 years 16 million, and Tampa offers him 1 year 5 million, and he goes to Tampa in order to win, we will have to sit through months of the LAC crowd ranting about how idiotic the Lerners/Rizzo are for not signing LaRoche. I really, really, really hope LaRoche signs with us so we don't have to face that.

I'm not even LAC but the arrogance with which people sometimes regard the idea befuddles me.  There is a chance that they might actually BE cheap ya know.

[spidernat]

if you're trying to be unbiased (which I'm not so sure of) then you should probably also note that and "sanity" = agreeing with PA

  Absolutely true.

as far as I know the only person who has actually said that is me, and even I said only for one season on the way towards an 85-90m payroll the following year.

A search of "75 million" shows how many times that figure has been thrown out concerning the Nats' payroll.

[RyanTheRiot]

It's incredibly easy for the fan to say "what's $1 million here or $2 million there?"  It's a lot harder for an owner to actually shell out that money.  And it's not about being "cheap"