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

[PANatsFan]

SSB, they can't do the whole offseason in one day. If they can sign Pena/LaRoche and swing a big trade for premium starting pitching, we can have this conversation again, but right now, the Lerners/Rizzo are like a baby learning to climb a staircase. They've gotten up the first step.

JAIL - DO IT ALL TODAY!

[houston-nat]

I just realized this calls for an avatar change

[ronnynat]

Pfff.  Not like he's doing it pro bono.  Odds are he won't finish the contract here anyway.

True, but a lot of guys would have taken less money to play on one of the top teams.

[shoeshineboy]

SSB, they can't do the whole offseason in one day. If they can sign Pena/LaRoche and swing a big trade for premium starting pitching, we can have this conversation again, but right now, the Lerners/Rizzo are like a baby learning to climb a staircase. They've gotten up the first step.

I agree. I'm happy they have made a move - even if it is the move I didn't want them to make. But I'm not popping the champagne bottles or declaring the Lerners off the hook. I still want to see how Rizzo plays out the remaining months of the offseason. They still have opportunities to do a lot more and there is a lot of time left. I do believe that they should be more aggressive early in the offseason and not wait for bargains in February. But the overall offseason needs to be judged a few months from now. I may not like the way the Lerners handle things, but I do still have a lot of hope when it comes to Rizzo.

[houston-nat]

Okay, SSB, looks like we're on the same ground, really. I want to see what pitching we get before saying that the main business of the offseason is done. This improves the team a good bit, but it is just a really lavish sideshow to the pitching question.

[Kevrock]

I can't even begin to read through everything because the negativity is amazing.

Yes, this thread really surprised me.

now i gotta ask, what was so horrible about keeping Dunn AND signing Werth?

I think it's pretty clear that Rizzo did not think Dunn fit into his plans for the team, especially for four years. I'm not sure I agree, but it's nice that Rizzo is sticking to his organizational philosophy.

[houston-nat]

"We think he's going to be a big piece of the puzzle," Rizzo said. "We certainly have more holes to fill. We have more work to do, and we're certainly aggressively going on from here and beyond."

Boras said talks began just before Thanksgiving when Nationals owners Ted Lerner and Mark Lerner met with Werth at Boras' office in Newport Beach, Calif. The sides reached a preliminary agreement Friday.

"For Jayson this was a decision where he certainly wanted to know that this was [a] place that was not only going to take every step possible to sign young players in the draft, as they've exhibited, but also take steps a core system in the minor leagues [sic] and also take further steps and advance in the free-agent process so that he could be surrounded by quality major leaguers in addition to those already present in the Nationals organization."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/12/05/nationals.add.werth.ap/index.html

I counted at least four typos in the article.

[Spinman]

Yes, this thread really surprised me.

I think it's pretty clear that Rizzo did not think Dunn fit into his plans for the team, especially for four years. I'm not sure I agree, but it's nice that Rizzo is sticking to his organizational philosophy.

I think we can see Rizzo wants Golden Glove type of guys around. Worth in right. That's why I think Carlos Pena is coming here and he trades Desmond (and his errors) and prospects to get Greinke. Espinosa to SS.

[raleighnat]

No way he signs Werth and stops there.  Rizzo's not stupid.  At least Pena or LaRoche and I'm betting on a pitcher too.  Hopefully Pavano or even Lee.  With Werth in the bank, sign Pena and then you can have much more credible discussions with a Lee knowing that Strasburg is on the horizon in 2012, joined by Harper in 2013.

[ZIM4MVP]

So where would this put Harper when his time comes?  I would think 1B unless we sign Pena ^

[ronnynat]

So where would this put Harper when his time comes?  I would think 1B unless we sign Pena ^

Werth is a big dude. He could switch over to first in a few years. Or he could move to left.

[houston-nat]

So where would this put Harper when his time comes?  I would think 1B unless we sign Pena ^

Werth moves to left, then 1B, probably.

[Spinman]

So where would this put Harper when his time comes?  I would think 1B unless we sign Pena ^

Harper in center field with Tony plush as a decoy for 2 years.

[Spinman]

No way he signs Werth and stops there.  Rizzo's not stupid.  At least Pena or LaRoche and I'm betting on a pitcher too.  Hopefully Pavano or even Lee.  With Werth in the bank, sign Pena and then you can have much more credible discussions with a Lee knowing that Strasburg is on the horizon in 2012, joined by Harper in 2013.

Werth knows who we are getting or he wouldn't have signed so quickly. Its gotta be a deal with Pena, Lee, Greinke involved.

[Sharp]

Damn... did you see what Sandy Alderson said about this deal?

It makes some of our contracts look pretty good ... I thought they were trying to reduce the deficit in DC.

[houston-nat]

Sorry, Sandy, but this does not make Jason Bay look good.

Maybe Beltran though.

[ZIM4MVP]

Werth moves to left, then 1B, probably.

I'm leaning towards left, once Willingham walks.  Didn't Werth play CF when Victorino was hurt?

[Smithian]

Werth in left, Harper in right

[houston-nat]

I'm leaning towards left, once Willingham walks.  Didn't Werth play CF when Victorino was hurt?

Yep, he can play CF as well. So Riggleman can play double-switches with CFBernadina/RFWerth and CFWerth/RFMorse.

[PANatsFan]

Werth knows who we are getting or he wouldn't have signed so quickly. Its gotta be a deal with Pena, Lee, Greinke involved.

If you get those three, the Nats can make the playoffs without SS.

[natsfan4evr]

Great move... I honestly don't care about how much he costs, since our owners are the richest in baseball. I can see them trying to extend Zimm now.

I have a feeling this is just the beginning. I wouldn't be shocked if they land Pavano, especially after what they just paid Werth. The Nats could be the Yankees of the offseason. Imagine if they can lock up Zimm for 7-10 years too.

[ZIM4MVP]

Yep, he can play CF as well. So Riggleman can play double-switches with CFBernadina/RFWerth and CFWerth/RFMorse.

I bet Riggleman is drawing wood right now

[John]

I can't even begin to read through everything because the negativity is amazing.

Thanks for the warning. I won't read the other 7 pages.

This is a good signing. So what if they had to overpay a little. That is what current non-contending teams have to do to lure quality free agents.

From the content in news conference I had a feeling that is why Rizzo let Dunn go. I assume the following link is here somewhere but just in case it's not or if you are just starting on this page:

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101205&content_id=16258252&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

[PANatsFan]

I guess they are going to send Werth and Zim camping or hunting together or something

[MarquisDeSade]

Seriously, this deal has the potential to look awful in a few years, much less 6-7.  

Or like the Marquis deal and look horrible in April.  I just can't see the logic in signing a guy that's going to be approaching 32 on Opening Day to a $100+m seven year contract.  I mean, I can't be the only one that thinks we're going to see a significant decline by year three.