2012 free agency

[MarquisDeSade]

In my dream scenario, we trade a middle infielder plus some pitching prospects for Adam Jones.

Hell yeah, d00d.  Adam Jones would be perfect, especially since I don't care about his UZR/voodoo hoodoo guru fielding nonsense.

[Tyler Durden]

I forgot about BJ Upton - he's probably 3rd on my list of realistic possibilities.  Throwing WErth out there in CF is also a decent backup plan - probably better than an Ankiel/right handed CF platoon.  Maybe some kind of modified platoon with Werth and Ankiel?  Morse/Werth/Gomes (or whoever) against lefties and Morse/Ankiel/Werth against righties?

[imref]

Hell yeah, d00d.  Adam Jones would be perfect, especially since I don't care about his UZR/voodoo hoodoo guru fielding nonsense.

I'd almost be more willing to have Morgan come back.

[MarquisDeSade]

Obviously you haven't watched Jones play or looked at his 2011 season.  He'd be an MVP on the Nats.

[Nathan]

I'd almost be more willing to have Morgan come back.

After the latest news on him?  Looks like the clock is about to strike midnight again, time for Morgan to turn back into the pumpkin, as it were.

[PANatsFan]

MOAR PLAYERZ

[aspenbubba]

  If Jones can't be had, maybe Coco Crisp as a plan B.  Nate McLouth or Cody Ross/Rick Ankiel as a plan C.  There doesn't appear to be a ton of CF's available either in trades or as FA.

With Werth finally playing in CF the Nats aren't limited in their search for available CF's we could now look for a RF or even a LF ( with Morse moving to RF). It certainally gives us more options.

[Evolution33]

With Werth finally playing in CF the Nats aren't limited in their search for available CF's we could now look for a RF or even a LF ( with Morse moving to RF). It certainally gives us more options.

From what I have seen of Werth in center he has looked good. He has covered the right center gap well, but I haven't seen him get many chances in the left center gap. I just looked at the list of free agent left and right fielders and now I am depressed. I guess the Nats could be the team that overpays for Berkman or play JD Drew for 100 games, but other than that it is a depressing list.

Left fielders
Pat Burrell (35)
Johnny Damon (37)
Mark DeRosa (37)
Jonny Gomes (31)
Carlos Guillen (36)
Scott Hairston (32)
Bill Hall (32) - $4MM mutual option with a $250K buyout
Willie Harris (34)
Eric Hinske (34) - $1.5MM club option with a $100K buyout
Raul Ibanez (40)
Conor Jackson (30)
Reed Johnson (35)
Ryan Ludwick (33)
Jason Michaels (36)
Laynce Nix (31)
Juan Pierre (34)
Scott Podsednik (36)
Juan Rivera (33)
Marcus Thames (35)
Josh Willingham (33)

Right fielders
Lance Berkman (36)
Willie Bloomquist (34) - $1.1MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Milton Bradley (34)
Michael Cuddyer (33)
David DeJesus (32)
J.D. Drew (36)
Kosuke Fukudome (35)
Willie Harris (34)
Brad Hawpe (33)
Jason Kubel (29)
Ryan Ludwick (33)
Xavier Nady (33)
Magglio Ordonez (38)
Cody Ross (31)
Nick Swisher (31) - $10.25MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Josh Willingham (33)

[epic_phalanx]

Outside of a trade, I think our best option is to bring back the Nix/Gomes platoon for ~$4MM to bridge the gap to Harper.

Desmond
Werth
Zimmerman
LaRoche
Morse
Nix/Gomes
Espinosa
Ramos

Should be an average offense at worst if the major players stay reasonably healthy.

*EDIT* I can't get over how much I liked the pitcher batting 8th with our dearth of a lead-off hitter. Maybe...

Werth
LaRoche
Zimmerman
Morse
Nix/Gomes
Espinosa
Ramos
Pitcher
Desmond

Though Davey will never do it, that'd probably be my preference.

[Evolution33]

I think the best line-up for the Nats would be.

Reyes
Jones
Zimmerman
Fielder
Morse
Werth
Espinosa
Ramos

[RD]

Jose Reyes or bust.

In a weak pitching market, guys like Edwin Jackson and CJ Wilson are going to be horribly overpaid. I can't imagine CC comes here, even if he does opt out. So signing a decent pitcher to a bloated contract isn't wise long term. Especially with arms on the horizon. Milone, Peacock, Detwiler and Wang are fine for two spots next season. Solis could even be in the mix. If Meyers impresses, him as well.

If none of those work out, the 2013 crop of FA pitchers is much better. Greinke, Marcum, Haren, Hamels, Cain, etc are all FA's. Sign one of them if we still have two open slots at the back end of the rotation. Id rather pay huge money to someone that deserves it, in the year that we should be contending(still think a lot needs to be figured out in 2012).

Id entertain trading for someone, especially if we signed Reyes. Desmond and Storen is a decent start for a good starter. With our minor league system, including two prospects should get us a legit 2/3 starter.

[wpa2629]

Jose Reyes is fine if you don't mind a player spending a third of his time on the DL every year. What is the realistic time frame for Harper? June of next year maybe? That could change a lot of this outfield discussions

[imref]

Obviously you haven't watched Jones play or looked at his 2011 season.  He'd be an MVP on the Nats.

yeah, probably, the -10.3 UZR/150 scares me.

[Terpfan76]

Jose Reyes is fine if you don't mind a player spending a third of his time on the DL every year. What is the realistic time frame for Harper? June of next year maybe? That could change a lot of this outfield discussions

With as many people that wanted to keep The Hammer here, I don't see what the problem is A healthy Reyes would be a great get for this team, but we can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one gets filled first I reckon.

[Evolution33]

I think a package of Lombo, Norris, and Peacock could get something mighty nice for the Nationals. Either a CF or a starting pitcher. I wonder what it would take to get Matt Kemp? Lombo, Norris, Peacock, Ray, Marrero?

[MarquisDeSade]

yeah, probably, the -10.3 UZR/150 scares me.

I could give a rats azz about that, like I said.  Even with the crappy defence there are only two guys on the Nats with Fangraph WARs above Adam Jones - Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa.  I don't see how we can really care about defence in the outfield when Ean "E6" Desmond is your starting SS.

[Evolution33]

I could give a rats azz about that, like I said.  Even with the crappy defence there are only two guys on the Nats with Fangraph WARs above Adam Jones - Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa.  I don't see how we can really care about defence in the outfield when Ean "E6" Desmond is your starting SS.

If the Nationals can get a third good pitcher to go behind Strasburg and Zimmermann there won't be any need to worry about outfield defense.

[MarquisDeSade]

If the Nationals can get a third good pitcher to go behind Strasburg and Zimmermann there won't be any need to worry about outfield defense.

Right, actually, I don't care about defence at all at this point.  Give me someone with some pop and a decent OBP and SLG for an OF and let's do it.  Jones is that guy.  Hell, so is Big Mike Stanton.

[Evolution33]

Right, actually, I don't care about defence at all at this point.  Give me someone with some pop and a decent OBP and SLG for an OF and let's do it.  Jones is that guy.  Hell, so is Big Mike Stanton.

If the Nationals got Mike Stanton I wouldn't wear pants for a year.

[MarquisDeSade]

If the Nationals got Mike Stanton I wouldn't wear pants for a year.

I think I get the joke, but what, exactly, do you mean by this?

[RD]

Jose Reyes is fine if you don't mind a player spending a third of his time on the DL every year. What is the realistic time frame for Harper? June of next year maybe? That could change a lot of this outfield discussions

Im not advocating giving Carl Crawford money to Reyes. But I do think the injury history drives his price down a bit. If you can sign him to a deal for 5 years, 18-20mill, I say thats a steal.

I also dont think Reyes is as injury prone as some seem. In 4 years from 2005-2008, he missed a total of 15 games. That is amazingly durable.

He did miss most of 2009, and missed time last year. He did play in more than 80% of Mets games last year. That's not that bad. He'll miss a little more this season. FYI, for those that have mentioned Willingham, 144 games is his career high, which is only 10 more than Reyes missed last year. And Willingham usually plays in about 115 games, 20 less than Reyes did last year. And less than Reyes will play this year. Just saying, when people bring up his name ...

I agree the most recent happenings is more important and Reyes has missed time, so its a concern. But, its not like he's going to come here and play 100 games every season either. I just think Reyes is the one big money guy I would go after this season, but I wouldnt give him a 7 year, $25mill per type of deal.

[hammondsnats]

MOAR PLAYERZ

more payroll!

[hammondsnats]

SS reyes/desmond/lombo
CF Werth
3B Zimmerman
LF Morse
RF Cuddyer
2B Espinosa (SS if it's lombo)
1B Marrero/LaRoche
C Ramos

[RD]

I think a package of Lombo, Norris, and Peacock could get something mighty nice for the Nationals. Either a CF or a starting pitcher. I wonder what it would take to get Matt Kemp? Lombo, Norris, Peacock, Ray, Marrero?

Itll take a lot to get Kemp.

Probably, Espinosa, Norris, Peacock, and Cole.

This is an MVP candidate, in his prime. Even with his impending free agency, he's going to fetch a ton.

[Evolution33]

I think I get the joke, but what, exactly, do you mean by this?

I would be very happy.