Jayson Werth signs w/ Nationals for 7y/$126m

[The Rock]

I like it.  It's a lot of money, but for the Nats to sign any free agents right now they were going to have to go WAY above market value to acquire someone decent to improve the team.

[DPMOmaha]

So, does this spell the end for Bernadina or Morgan?

[shoeshineboy]

I like Werth, but I am really not a fan of this deal. I guess we'll be eating salary in a couple of years when we trade him away before he gets too old. If this is their way of trying to show they are willing to spend, they just make themselves look stupid if this is the peak of their dealings. Basically, they just overspent to try and replace the offense they lost. I'll be anxious to see what other moves they make.

[NatsDad14]

This where the Lerners past cheapness hurt them. Now they have to significantly overpay free agents

[hammondsnats]

This move sucks.

It totally sucks. Werth maybe fills Dunn's role from last year for a crap load lot more money. If they had re-signed Dunn and ADDED Werth I'd be impressed. As of now, it's nothing more than playing a shell game on the fans.

This is a terrible deal, that's going to kill the Nats for years to come.

WELL NO crap WE SHOULD'VE RESIGNED DUNN.

BUT I'LL BE DAMNED TO HELL HAVING JAYSON WERTH IN OUR OUTFIELD IS BETTER THAN WHAT OUR OTHER OPTIONS WOULD BE.

If you read my post, you would know I am not forgiving the Lerners for being cheap SOBs.  But this definitely a good move.  We are going to have to overpay.  That's what happens when you lose 300 games in 3 years because of having bottom 5 payrolls.  They dug their own hole and i hope to god they dig out. 

I said before Dunn + Crawford/Werth + Lee/stud pitcher would be a great offseason.  If we can swing Werth + stud pitcher, okay not bad, but after seeing this deal go through ... I feel better today than I did yesterday.

[Five Banners]

This move sucks.

It totally sucks. Werth maybe fills Dunn's role from last year for a crap load lot more money. If they had re-signed Dunn and ADDED Werth I'd be impressed. As of now, it's nothing more than playing a shell game on the fans.

This is a terrible deal, that's going to kill the Nats for years to come.

LACS = Lerners are Cheap Snyders; half the spending, all the incompetence! 

[zoom]

I don't think Willingham will be a Nat after the Winter meetings.  I am hoping they can put together a package with Willingham (Bernadina, quality pitcher) and go for Greinke.

[Coladar]

So, does this spell the end for Bernadina or Morgan?

Depends on first. Sign a first baseman, or Willingham or Morse to first. In the latter scenario, if Willingham is at first, Bernadina starts. If Morse, Bernadina benched until Morgan kills someone and is banned. If they sign Pena, Bernadina and Morse are done as non-PHs.

[DPMOmaha]

This where the Lerners past cheapness hurt them. Now they have to significantly overpay free agents

But, we knew that was going to be the case.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Why is everyone still discussing the Lerners?  Is no one willing to admit that Mike Rizzo might just be a bad GM?

[Evolution33]

Since no one has said it yet.

[PANatsFan]

Since no one has said it yet.

Dude my avatar is coming hold your horses

[Lintyfresh85]

Why is everyone still discussing the Lerners?  Is no one willing to admit that Mike Rizzo might just be a bad GM?

I'll fully admit.

He's a glorified scout that is in way over his head.

[Coladar]

Werth is a better all-around player than Dunn. Just not as much of a power threat.

Exactly, which is why I said possibly better. He's an OF, defense only matters so much. He's good for five to ten less HRs or so than Dunn on average. He's clearly better than Dunn, but it isn't by a mile.

[MarquisDeSade]

Ok, how long until he comes down with a mystery injury?

[Sharp]

Ok, how long until he comes down with a mystery injury?

Probably four months or so

Look let's just celebrate for once

[Evolution33]

Exactly, which is why I said possibly better. He's an OF, defense only matters so much. He's good for five to ten less HRs or so than Dunn on average. He's clearly better than Dunn, but it isn't by a mile.

By 1.1 wins last year. So by a couple yards.

[ronnynat]

Why is everyone still discussing the Lerners?  Is no one willing to admit that Mike Rizzo might just be a bad GM?

What did Rizzo do wrong here? There's no cap, so if this is what he thought it would take to get Werth and keep him from going to another team, he did a good job. So far all he's done is make our team better and get 2 high draft picks for us. And there's PLENTY of offseason left to make more moves.

[PANatsFan]

Why is everyone still discussing the Lerners?  Is no one willing to admit that Mike Rizzo might just be a bad GM?

Stan was the cancer for the team. That is abundantly clear. Screw him. Rizzo may be a mad genius, we need to wait and see.

Now there's a really good player for my kid to root for that's here for the long haul, and that means something to me. Extend Zim and Strasburg when you get the chance, and Ted Lerner will be the hero of DC.

[xposbrad]

I don't know about this deal. Obviously it's an overpayment, but it's obvious this team WILL have to overpay anyone to sign here, that's a given. I'm skeptical about any outfielder that kind of money from years 36-38.

Look at what Lance Berkman just signed for and he's 34. So it's not crazy to think that kind of production could be obtained for half price. Yes I understand Werth is a better fielder, but still, you can see the point. So not sure exactly what the Nats were thinking with this one. I'm pretty sure AGON is going to sign for 18-20m/yr and he's one of the best hitters in the game, and younger.

I don't know, happy we signed him, not happy at 7 years and not happy at 18m/yr but overall just happy we improved.

[shoeshineboy]

Exactly, which is why I said possibly better. He's an OF, defense only matters so much. He's good for five to ten less HRs or so than Dunn on average. He's clearly better than Dunn, but it isn't by a mile.

Right. This is a lot of money to commit to a guy who will net a minimal improvement. It's a start, but the Lerners better keep the vault open and Rizzo better be ready to make some more deals. This is one move, but it can't be the end.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I'll fully admit.

He's a glorified scout that is in way over his head.

That's what I've thought of him from very early on, admittedly.

I've always been turned off by the fact the way he's handled scouting in the Far East.

Not only did we keep hearing about operations there only to never see significant signings, but he appointed freaking Bill Singer to head operations there.  This is the same Bill Singer who spouted racist insults at Kim Ng at the winter meetings some time ago.

[PC]

7/126 is A LOT for A LONG TIME!

[Lintyfresh85]

Until he's 35 and he can't play anymore and we're all nagging at a massive contract that will still be 4-5 years left.

As others have said... LAC past history makes us terribly overspend on contracts and screw us in the end.

Rizzo needs to go.

Terrible move.

[tomterp]

Werth has a great bat, really upgrades the outfield.

There's been talk that Willingham is available, would not surprise me at all to see Josh flipped for starting pitching or another need (2nd base, if Desmond also moved?).

Yeah, too much money, but at this point they've been paying too little all along, nice to see it flip the other way.