Offseason moves?

[HalfSmokes]

But why would the Nats trade him otherwise?

If, big if, they think last year may be closer to his norm and don't want to risk him losing whatever value he may have left

[NJ Ave]

If, big if, they think last year may be closer to his norm and don't want to risk him losing whatever value he may have left

Again, Mike Rizzo is not Ernie Grunfeld.

Even if Danny is never healthy again, the potential reward of him becoming healthy in the next 3 years (during which the Nats can keep him on their roster in AAA, AAA, and for $500K on the ML roster) far outweighs trading him for an A-ball RP or whatever some people think he's "worth" based on a single injured year.

[NJ Ave]

I would think a smart GM whose team is poised for postseason play understands that having a potential 3-4 win middle infielder on your major league roster is much better than stashing a lottery ticket or two in single-A.

[HalfSmokes]

Again, Mike Rizzo is not Ernie Grunfeld.

Even if Danny is never healthy again, the potential reward of him becoming healthy in the next 3 years (during which the Nats can keep him on their roster in AAA, AAA, and for $500K on the ML roster) far outweighs trading him for an A-ball RP or whatever some people think he's "worth" based on a single injured year.

he was in AAA not on the DL, there has been no news of a surgery or rehab plan let alone a solid diagnosis- the hope is that he was injured, but it's far from certain that was the reason for his suck.

[NJ Ave]

he was in AAA not on the DL, there has been no news of a surgery or rehab plan let alone a solid diagnosis- the hope is that he was injured, but it's far from certain that was the reason for his suck.

What are you talking about? No solid diagnosis? There's been two - a torn rotator cuff and a broken wrist. If you're saying it's not certain that those caused hitting problems and that he's a .140 hitter now, I mean, I don't know how to respond to that.

I can't stop you thinking that it's better to have a single-A wildcard prospect than Danny Espinosa. But in my opinion MLB teams don't generally trade pre-arb players with multiple minor league options, because they've given up on them.

Unless someone offered someone to help the major league team this year, I'd rather have him playing in AAA the next two seasons than have whoever we got in a trade working his way up the ladder.

[HalfSmokes]

What are you talking about? No solid diagnosis? There's been two - a torn rotator cuff and a broken wrist. If you're saying it's not certain that those caused hitting problems and that he's a .140 hitter now, I mean, I don't know how to respond to that.

I can't stop you thinking that it's better to have a single-A wildcard prospect than Danny Espinosa. But in my opinion MLB teams don't generally trade pre-arb players with multiple minor league options, because they've given up on them.

Unless someone offered someone to help the major league team this year, I'd rather have him playing in AAA the next two seasons than have whoever we got in a trade working his way up the ladder.

except the team and the player were insisting that he was healthy the entire time he was putting up the .140. People assumed (probably rightly) that it was related to the offseason injury, but there was nothing official to that effect. Again, what was the rehab plan, when was the surgery, or are we just assuming that everything is good now? 

[Slateman]

Again, Mike Rizzo is not Ernie Grunfeld.

Even if Danny is never healthy again, the potential reward of him becoming healthy in the next 3 years (during which the Nats can keep him on their roster in AAA, AAA, and for $500K on the ML roster) far outweighs trading him for an A-ball RP or whatever some people think he's "worth" based on a single injured year.

Are we also discounting the end of 2012? He played with a torn rotator cuff at the end of 2012.

[NJ Ave]

1. He had played roughly two weeks of the 2013 season before breaking his wrist.

2. He was hitting badly through the day he broke his wrist too - .220/.313/.317 - so obviously his shoulder was affecting his performance prior to the wrist injury as well. Oh wait, that was RYAN ZIMMERMAN'S line through the day Espinosa broke his wrist. My point is we really have no idea whether his shoulder rehab would have worked or not. Two weeks is too small a sample size to say that his shoulder rehab was ineffective.

3. In spring training last year, Danny Espinosa had 78 ABs and hit .333/.358/.474 with a 22% K-rate. HE HAD MORE HITS IN SPRING TRAINING THAN DURING THE SEASON. Again, spring training isn't everything. But it also doesn't indicate either (a) his shoulder rehab was completely ineffective, or (b) he is now completely unable to hit.

4. It's hard to hit with a broken wrist, and it's not surprising that if he stupidly played through a broken wrist all season, he didn't hit well, shoulder or no shoulder.

5. We have no idea whether his wrist and shoulder are completely healed or not heading into the 2014 season.

But my ultimate point is that it doesn't matter. If he's having problems hitting, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2015, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2016, let him be a Lombardozzi type for $500K. Then make a decision in 2017.

But you don't trade a guy at the nadir of his trade value for peanuts when you have 3 years at a total cost of about $600K to either let him work his way to the majors again, or reestablish his trade value so you can get more for him.

[Mattionals]

1. He had played roughly two weeks of the 2013 season before breaking his wrist.

2. He was hitting badly through the day he broke his wrist too - .220/.313/.317 - so obviously his shoulder was affecting his performance prior to the wrist injury as well. Oh wait, that was RYAN ZIMMERMAN'S line through the day Espinosa broke his wrist. My point is we really have no idea whether his shoulder rehab would have worked or not. Two weeks is too small a sample size to say that his shoulder rehab was ineffective.

3. In spring training last year, Danny Espinosa had 78 ABs and hit .333/.358/.474 with a 22% K-rate. HE HAD MORE HITS IN SPRING TRAINING THAN DURING THE SEASON. Again, spring training isn't everything. But it also doesn't indicate either (a) his shoulder rehab was completely ineffective, or (b) he is now completely unable to hit.

4. It's hard to hit with a broken wrist, and it's not surprising that if he stupidly played through a broken wrist all season, he didn't hit well, shoulder or no shoulder.

5. We have no idea whether his wrist and shoulder are completely healed or not heading into the 2014 season.

But my ultimate point is that it doesn't matter. If he's having problems hitting, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2015, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2016, let him be a Lombardozzi type for $500K. Then make a decision in 2017.

But you don't trade a guy at the nadir of his trade value for peanuts when you have 3 years at a total cost of about $600K to either let him work his way to the majors again, or reestablish his trade value so you can get more for him.

Listen to this man.

[Slateman]

But my ultimate point is that it doesn't matter. If he's having problems hitting, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2015, send him to AAA. If he's not hitting in 2016, let him be a Lombardozzi type for $500K. Then make a decision in 2017.

But you don't trade a guy at the nadir of his trade value for peanuts when you have 3 years at a total cost of about $600K to either let him work his way to the majors again, or reestablish his trade value so you can get more for him.

Unless, of course, he's burned his bridges and you can get something you need, now, for him. Like a back up catcher.

[NJ Ave]

BUCFTW.

[dshawg77]

Pardon my ignorance for this-but is there an "offseason moves tracker" so to speak? Just curious if I missed any moves this offseason.

Thanks for your time.

[WhiteWhale]

Pardon my ignorance for this-but is there an "offseason moves tracker" so to speak? Just curious if I missed any moves this offseason.

Thanks for your time.

The Nationals website has a transaction tracker.
You can also use mlbtr and sort for Nationals info
To get your info here you also have to sift through poo slinging about things that may/may not/should have/should not have happened.

[PebbleBall]

Pardon my ignorance for this-but is there an "offseason moves tracker" so to speak? Just curious if I missed any moves this offseason.

Thanks for your time.

Here's a good free agent one:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/hot_stove/y2013/free_agent_tracker.jsp

[dshawg77]

Thanks everyone!

Your thoughts on the offseason thus far? Fister is a big coup in my eyes!

I don't think we need another pitcher (AJ Burnett rumors) personally.

[wpa2629]

Pardon my ignorance for this-but is there an "offseason moves tracker" so to speak? Just curious if I missed any moves this offseason.

Thanks for your time.

Ignorance is welcomed - Nay EMBRACED here ...

[KnorrForYourMoney]

So is being passive-aggressive

[PebbleBall]

Thanks everyone!

Your thoughts on the offseason thus far? Fister is a big coup in my eyes!

I don't think we need another pitcher (AJ Burnett rumors) personally.

I think we need another pitcher (David Price rumors).

[PC]

Nationals interested in reliever Ryan Madson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/02/11/nationals-interested-in-reliever-ryan-madson/

[WhiteWhale]

Does Rizzo have an incentive clause dealing with reclamation projects or something?

[mitlen]

Does Rizzo have an incentive clause dealing with reclamation projects or something?

I've come to the conclusion that he's simply a dumpster diver.    It's his eccentricity.    As long as he keeps us winning, it's all good.    I won't complain about reclamations as long as he's extending Desi, Harper, etc. and bringing in a Fiester and a Gio every once in awhile.     

[Squab]

Does Rizzo have an incentive clause dealing with reclamation projects or something?

I think the idea is that you give up little cash for a lottery ticket. You give up nothing and most likely get nothing, but no harm done. If he does return to form you got a bargain. Seems like a no brainer to me. With so many teams interested in a guy like that, it's just how much are you willing to spend for that lottery ticket.

Unless someone offers him a major leage deal, there's no way he gets a major league deal from the Nats. But Rizzo might be willing to drop a million on the chance that he does return to some useful form.

[wpa2629]

Sure ... lightening in a bottle - take a shot and see what happens

[dshawg77]

The whole Orioles offseason was "dumpster diving" and voiding contracts.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Interesting that Dan Connolly of the Sun is saying Arroyo avoided the Os because he did not want to have them monkey around and try to void his contract.

But, according to one source, another serious factor was that the Orioles had failed two players' physicals this offseason -- outfielder Tyler Colvin's one-year deal and the high-profile decision to walk away from Balfour and his two-year, $15 million agreement due to concerns about his right shoulder.

Arroyo will be 37 this month. He has never been on the disabled list. He keeps himself in tremendous shape. But he also has thrown more than 2,300 innings, counting playoffs, in his major league career. Certainly, there is wear and tear on his arm -- no way there couldn't be.

The concern, the source said, was that if the Orioles weren't 100 percent committed to Arroyo and the deal they had offered, the club could pull back on the deal after the physical and attempt to re-negotiate an agreement.

And, this late in the offseason, especially with a 37-year-old, there'd be very little chance he could find a similar contract elsewhere if he were perceived as potentially damaged goods.



Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-bronson-arroyo-grant-balfour-effect-20140210,0,5099758.story#ixzz2t3Ifm9oo