Fielder

[zimm_da_kid]

Fielder + Morse >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Fielder >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pagan + Morse

you're missing my point.  I would much rather have Hammy, Bourn, Victorino, or Uptown upton

[Lintyfresh85]

So who should we believe? Kilgore says we are aggressively pursuing Fielder while Ladson says we are 99% out unless the price drops big time.

They're both likely saying the exact same thing.

[Nathan]

So who should we believe? Kilgore says we are aggressively pursuing Fielder while Ladson says we are 99% out unless the price drops big time.

I thought we obviously weren't pursuing Fielder at all and all the writers needed to go to jail ?

[UMDNats]

you're missing my point.  I would much rather have Hammy, Bourn, Victorino, or Uptown upton

We're not getting Josh Hamilton.

Victorino has no reason to sign here.

Bourn is unlikely, he'll be the top target of every team in the league.

Upton is the only one I could actually see but we're then putting all of our eggs in one basket.

[zimm_da_kid]

The Nationals are “patiently and aggressively” pursuing Fielder, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports. Nationals principal owners Ted and Mark Lerner met with agent Scott Boras at the owners’ meetings this evening, according to Kilgore. Boras touched base with other owners, including Jeffrey Loria of the Marlins.

Kilgore>Ladbob fartnuts

to the bolded part about the marlins... crap

[zimm_da_kid]

We're not getting Josh Hamilton.

Victorino has no reason to sign here. 

  its all about the money

[Lintyfresh85]

Bourn is unlikely, he'll be the top target of every team in the league.

Detwiler better magically become a Cy Young candidate year in and year out.

[Nathan]

  its all about the money

So then he has no reason to sign here

[UMDNats]

  its all about the money

He'll get money from every team in the league, and there's no incentive for him to make the Phillies fans hate him when he can just go to any team for the same cash.

[sportsfan882]

I thought we obviously weren't pursuing Fielder at all and all the writers needed to go to jail ?

I agree, I still don't think we are truly in the mix but I hate reporters reporting two conflicting things in a matter of one day.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I thought we obviously weren't pursuing Fielder at all and all the writers needed to go to jail  ?

I agree

SF agrees with someone doing an exaggerated parody of himself

[zimm_da_kid]

SF agrees with someone doing an exaggerated parody of himself

Well he is assclown

[UMDNats]

SF agrees with someone doing an exaggerated parody of himself

[InsaneBoost]

So the Marlins are back in the mix? How is that even possible with all the money they've spent / building a new stadium?

[The Chief]

This meme cracks me up.

[DPMOmaha]

Are those players guaranteed to be free agents, though? We say that now but I don't buy that all those players will be available.

Free agent center fielders will be hot commodities, much more than the market for Fielder is right now. Why would Victorino sign here when he can sign anywhere (or stay in Philly)? Bourn will be the #1 free agent and Upton will also be wanted by a ton of teams.

No, there are never any guarantees, there's always a gamble any move, whether that means waiting for a market that will provide more opportunities, signing the big deal like Fielder or passing on that deal.  We thought there was going to be a huge market for Fielder too but that didn't shape up to be the case.  Boston won't be in the mix, I don't think the Yankees will be in the mix.  The lot of small market teams won't either.  Atlanta trying to move for Adam Jones seems to say they don't intend to keep Bourn.  The Angels, Dodgers, Cardinals won't be either.  Maybe the Mets, Giants or Marlins jump in, but I expect the Nats to sign him or one of the other guys because it is actually a NEED for this team.  Prince is not, he's a luxury.  They have options at 1B.  Very good ones, maybe even long term ones.

Again and I know this has been discussed but why would "signing xxx next year" be any truer than signing xxx any other year.  Every year is next year and xxx never gets signed.

See above.  CF is an actual need, Rizzo's white whale.  Prince and 1B are not needs, sorry, they're just not.  It's not a better or worse debate.  Prince is a "better" player than the CF options that will likely be available next year, but he's not a player that the Nats NEED. 

[mimontero88]

No, there are never any guarantees, there's always a gamble any move, whether that means waiting for a market that will provide more opportunities, signing the big deal like Fielder or passing on that deal.  We thought there was going to be a huge market for Fielder too but that didn't shape up to be the case.  Boston won't be in the mix, I don't think the Yankees will be in the mix.  The lot of small market teams won't either.  Atlanta trying to move for Adam Jones seems to say they don't intend to keep Bourn.  I expect the Nats to sign him or one of the other guys because it is actually a NEED for this team.  Prince is not, he's a luxury.  They have options at 1B.  Very good ones, maybe even long term ones.

See above.  CF is an actual need, Rizzo's white whale.  Prince and 1B are not needs, sorry, they're just not.  It's not a better or worse debate.  Prince is a "better" player than the CF options that will likely be available next year, but he's not a player that the Nats NEED. 

+1

[InsaneBoost]

Montero, your avatar pisses me off, therefore you do!

[PC]

...but I expect the Nats to sign him or one of the other guys because it is actually a NEED for this team.

Why would you expect that?  This team has had lots of needs that haven't been addressed.  Why would next year be different than the others?  Why would we be expected to believe that next year will be different?  EVERY YEAR IS NEXT YEAR FOR THIS FRANCHISE!

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  What is fool me six times?

[MorseTheHorse]

For everyone saying every year is next year, uhm didn't we sign Jayson Werth last offseason?

[PC]

For everyone saying every year is next year, uhm didn't we sign Jayson Werth last offseason?

Don't remind me.

[InsaneBoost]

Don't be talking down on my boy Werth.

[Vega]

And did we not finally acquire Rizzo's other white whale by getting a legit top of the rotation starter this offseason?

[skippy1999]

Montero, your avatar pisses me off, therefore you do!

   OMG this thread has become hysterical!

[DPMOmaha]

Why would you expect that?  This team has had lots of needs that haven't been addressed.  Why would next year be different than the others?  Why would we be expected to believe that next year will be different?  EVERY YEAR IS NEXT YEAR FOR THIS FRANCHISE!

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  What is fool me six times?

Except it's not.  This year can be this year and IMO, that's without Fielder.  They've got most of their NEEDS filled either through drafting and development, a couple of schrewed trades and perhaps a little luck, the NEEDS, are mostly covered or will be up here very soon.  CF/leadoff is the gaping one.  SS follows and the bench after that.  Beyond that, there's not much glaring.  They need to get better offensively, absolutely, but addressing that first need should fill a pretty good chuck of that, but there isn't much out there available right now.  1B isn't a NEED and the offense he'll generate isn't worth the 14 mil a year it will cost to bring it in.  He won't be driving in that many runs in the first place if that CF/leadoff thing isn't figured out.

The reality is that next year is the year every year for every team but one.  When Rizzo's identifies what he believes to be a NEED, he's gone after it until he's got it.  CF/leadoff is the lone exception, he's still in pursuit.  That's why I expect it.