Author Topic: Offseason moves? (Read 177167 times)

Mattionals · « **Reply #550 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:11:13 pm »

I would assume at this point that the Nats needs are becoming well defined. Span has convinced me. I will eat all the words about him right now. He is a good hitter, and the best leadoff hitter the Nats have ever had. His numbers are way too skewed against lefties this year, and career he is a better player against lefties. I think, if anything, he will bounce back against lefties next season and probably not hit righties as hot as he has this year.

The team needs a backup catcher and to revamp the bullpen. The bench is probably set with Brown, Lombo, Moore and Hairston. I'd rather the team move Hairston and keep Walters up though, as Walters is more versatile in the IF. Stammen, Clippard, Storen and Soriano all have jobs. The team is still looking to fill three spots in the pen, and hopefully two would be lefties. I think Abad is gone and Krol needs more seasoning as a reliever in AAA. Cedeno has impressed as a LOOGY, but that is at best what he is. A hard thrower would be welcome as another righty, but they don't just fall off of trees.

The rotation could go a few directions. For one, Roark has probably earned himself a spot in next year's rotation. So has Taylor Jordan. Now that the Nats have some depth, they could look to trade for a pitcher, hold on to their own or sign a free agent. I don't think there is a clear indication on what Rizzo would do, but it's good to know that the internal options have flourished a bit.

LaRoche probably stays, but the Nats really should pursue an upgrade at 1B, even if that upgrade is Ryan Zimmerman. 1B is probably the easiest spot to fill this offseason with guys like Abreu on the market. If Zim moves over, the 3B/2B crop is somewhat dry outside of Cano and to a lesser extent Howie Kendrick.

rbw5t · « **Reply #551 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:11:20 pm »

Quote from: imref on September 23, 2013, 03:37:55 pm

I am not at all worried about Span. Our biggest concerns IMHO are in the bullpen. I don't think we're going to move LaRoche. I expect at this point you'll see the same starting lineup you saw the last 2 months, with probably the same bench except for Tracy.

+1

I agree the lineup is, or should be, basically set. ALR in hindsight was probably a mistake, but we'll live with him at 1st for next season, with a little platooning Moore in against lefties. Zimmerman looks like his recovery is taking hold, and he should be better next year. I trust Desmond at this point to be what he has been the last two seasons. Rendon should be better in his second full season, and Harper should continue to improve as a (healthy) 21 yr old. Werth will probably not duplicate his monster year, but I look to Span being more like the player he was the last 2 months than the first 4 months. I agree a good backup catcher is a nice luxury, bc who knows about those hammies, but Ramos looks like a 140 game catcher if he can stay healthy. (Big "IF", I know). The top 3 staters are obviously set, but I like a Spring competition between Det, Jordan and Roark for the final 2 spots. The odd man out can serve as long man/spot starter. It'll be interesting to see how(if?) Christian Garcia fits into things if he is healthy. I think they've lost confidence/patience with Mattheus, but I think Soriano/Clip/Storen are all back. Hopefully Krol/Cedeno/Abad can impress from the left side, but we'll have to wait and see on that. Getting a top lefty specialist would be nice.

The biggest thing in my opinion to accomplish this offseason is to lock up Desi and Zmann. Revenues should be good from the park, so even without big TV money yet, I'm hopeful the Lerners will open the pursestrings to sign those guys. We have a very cheap rotation for how good they are, and will be even cheaper next year by filling out the backend from within. Span/Ramos/Harper are all bargains at this point, so I think you pretty much have to use that savings to go sign the players closer to free agency.

I think the races with the Braves over the next few years should be a lot of fun!

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #552 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:14:27 pm »

I'd imagine O'Flaherty and Downs will be hot commodities on the FA reliever market. I'd like the Nats to take a strong look at both of them. Nats need to match the pen the Braves have and those two have been a big part of it this year and in past years. The pen is also crucial to post season success. Priority one, IMO.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #553 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:17:53 pm »

pens are variable, I'd rather them not snag the 2014 Soriano. A backup catcher would be a nice luxury, but, as a rule, back up catchers tend to suck, so I don't think it's a requirement. If you look at offensive production, 1b is the only glaring hole

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #554 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:28:02 pm »

How is LaRoche a mistake in hindsight? Did anyone see a guy on the wrong side of 30 repeating a career year that also happened to occur during a contract year?

sph274 · « **Reply #555 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:35:21 pm »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on September 23, 2013, 04:28:02 pm

How is LaRoche a mistake in hindsight? Did anyone see a guy on the wrong side of 30 repeating a career year that also happened to occur during a contract year?

yea and we are just gonna pencil him in next year and hope for better years from both zim and laroche? so the basic consensus is "stay the course, but sign some relievers"? the offense is the big problem, i guess we can just wait on harper's breakout next year.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #556 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:42:37 pm »

Quote from: sph274 on September 23, 2013, 04:35:21 pm

yea and we are just gonna pencil him in next year and hope for better years from both zim and laroche? so the basic consensus is "stay the course, but sign some relievers"? the offense is the big problem, i guess we can just wait on harper's breakout next year.

Better year for Zimmerman? I just want a more consistent one. He's hit his career numbers and has a chance to have the second best season of his career. Keep Harper, Werth, Zim, Desi and Ramos healthy, and I've got very few concerns about the offense. I also doubt a new manager gives LaRoche as big of a leash as Davey gave him with Moore sitting in the wings. I'm firmly on the side of stay the course.

mitlen · « **Reply #557 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:52:10 pm »

I'm a simple man (no comments

). The most important offseason move to me is, "Who's the new manager?" I hope they get someone who won't waste a lot of time with sentimentality (ALR ... Espi ... Eckstein ... etc.) As Rizzo often says, "It's a results oriented business." Either you perform or you sit or go. I believe that Nats need a guy who'll kick some ass (figuratively) when necessary. I want a guy who doesn't wanna come to you bar mitzvah; doesn't wanna marry your daughter or dance at her wedding. Doesn't necessarily wanna be your friend. Do your job or GTFO.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #558 on:** September 23, 2013, 04:52:12 pm »

If we were to go for a 1st base change, I might look at Adam Lind if his option was not picked up by the Jays. Admittedly, this year is much better than the past few, but I like having another .350 OBP guy. .283 /.353/ .498 is a nice line, and he's a lefty. Napoli is likely to be available, and he's another power / OBP guy. I want some tough at bats.

sph274 · « **Reply #559 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:11:48 pm »

Quote from: DPMOmaha on September 23, 2013, 04:42:37 pm

Better year for Zimmerman? I just want a more consistent one. He's hit his career numbers and has a chance to have the second best season of his career. Keep Harper, Werth, Zim, Desi and Ramos healthy, and I've got very few concerns about the offense. I also doubt a new manager gives LaRoche as big of a leash as Davey gave him with Moore sitting in the wings. I'm firmly on the side of stay the course.

he is one of if not the worst defensive player in the league. he lost a crap load of value with his defensive problems. if he does not have a better year next year in the field we are going to have big problems. he has been on fire recently. lets hope it carries over into next season.

zimm_da_kid · « **Reply #560 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:18:58 pm »

dump laroche and sign lind for a lind/moore platoon.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #561 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:19:21 pm »

Quote from: sph274 on September 23, 2013, 05:11:48 pm

he is one of if not the worst defensive player in the league. he lost a crap load of value with his defensive problems. if he does not have a better year next year in the field we are going to have big problems. he has been on fire recently. lets hope it carries over into next season.

coolcoolcool. If he's over the mind games we've seen him battle with his throwing like the play he made yesterday seem to indicate, he'll be just fine. If we're going to discount one good offensive season, why don't we do the same for one bad defensive one? It's taken a bit longer than I think most have expected for him to get over that, but I'm not gonna get too worked up over that yet, especially if we see more of what we saw out of that arm. If he's still got these throwing issues in March, I'll be much more concerned.

imref · « **Reply #562 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:21:22 pm »

Quote from: RobDibblesGhost on September 23, 2013, 03:46:43 pm

We need to find a good backup catcher. I don't think Solano is the answer.

agreed - torrealba.

Slateman · « **Reply #563 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:25:22 pm »

Quote from: imref on September 23, 2013, 03:36:37 pm

If you saw yesterday's second game, you'll know that Zimm is fine.

As I posted on another thread, he plays 3B at the same locations as Polanco, I didn't see him playing any more shallow (they both hug the IF grass when there's a LF hitter with speed batting though).

Unless he's playing defense like he did in 2009/2010, he's not fine.

UMDNats · « **Reply #564 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:31:12 pm »

Quote from: Mattionals on September 23, 2013, 04:11:13 pm

I would assume at this point that the Nats needs are becoming well defined. Span has convinced me. I will eat all the words about him right now. He is a good hitter, and the best leadoff hitter the Nats have ever had.

alfonso soriano is the best leadoff hitter we have ever had

MorseTheHorse · « **Reply #565 on:** September 23, 2013, 05:47:33 pm »

1B is the big question mark. I really wish we had seen more of Moore this year, to have a better sense if he could be the answer, but oh well.

2B is a bit worrisome too actually. Rendon will be good long term I think, but there could still be a lot of adjusting next year.

I guess back-up catchers aren't that good, but we should try to get one of the best in the league b/c A) we are a contender, B) Ramos' injury history.

But the best offseason move will be the huge addition by subtraction with respect to Davey.

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #566 on:** September 23, 2013, 06:12:40 pm »

I don't know if this has been posted but from MLBTR:

Quote

•Pitcher Dan Haren thinks the Nationals should aim to keep their team together, writes MLB.com's Andrew Simon. "Last year they had a great year and this year we’ve shown a lot of fight here the last few months. I think as close as things could stay to the guys in this room, I think the better," Haren says. He also appears to support bench coach Randy Knorr for the Nationals' managerial position, which will be open when Davey Johnson retires after the season. Haren himself is a free agent, of course, and he seems aware that he might not be part of the 2014 Nationals, even if they ultimately go with a similar roster: "I know there’ll be some subtle changes, me probably being one of them."

Mattionals · « **Reply #567 on:** September 23, 2013, 08:29:33 pm »

Considering that Lind is cheap, the Jays probably pick up his option. I'm not opposed to playing Werth at 1B with Granderson in LF.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #568 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:42:19 am »

there was noise in MLBTR that they are thinking about picking up the option. I think some of that will have to do with how they sort 1st base out. If they want to play E5 there, or if they bring in another player like Morneau, then maybe they let Lind walk.

Morneau of course is a big bat that will be out there, but, unless he falls and takes a pillow contract, I don't see him coming here short term.

Frankly, I'm looking forward perhaps to seeing Skole and Moore on a time share. Lind would be a decent bridge guy on a pillow contract. If he does not work out, commit to Moore.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #569 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:58:56 am »

In retrospect, this line up has good power even in the absence of a Fielder / Votto type first baseman.

We had 5 20+ HR hitters, even with shortened seasons, plus Ramos is a huge bat at catcher. Add some development from Rendon, and power is not the problem in 2014. In 2013, we are 3d in the NL to the Barves in HR (177 to 158, with the Cubs at 170) as of today. In SLG, we are behind the Rockies (.420) and tied for 2d with the Barves and Cards (.401).

We can argue all day about the merits of "weaver ball" vs. "small ball," but, if you have a big slugging team, it helps to have base runners on when you hit the homer or get the double / triple to clear the bases. A very real weakness of this offense is the lack of OBP. A team .315 OBP just does not hack it, or maybe a team OBP of .315 is hacking and that is the problem. 4 of the 5 NL playoff teams plus the D-backs had higher OBPs, and for 4 of those teams, we were not even close (we just edged out the Pirates at .313). If you could bring in a high OBP 1st baseman, then I would be happy with ~20 HRs out of that spot.

natidude · « **Reply #570 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:31:53 am »

Offseason moves?

New Manager.

C: Set with Ramos. Hopefully he can give us 130 games next year.
1B: Who knows. Stuck with ALR next year. Hopefully he puts weight back on and reverts to 2012 minus the slow start. Have Moore in for lefties.
2B: Rendon/Lombardozzi platoon.
SS: Pretty set with Desmond.
3B: Pretty set with Zimmerman. He's not going to be moved to first any time soon, and he doesn't need to be, the throwing troubles seem to be behind him.
OF: Pretty set with Harper, who can hopefully avoid walls and learn when to play with some restraint without changing who he is, Span, who will hopefully hit lefthanded pitching better, and Werth.

Rotation: Stras-Gio-J Zimm-Detwiler-Roark.
Pen: Stuck with Soriano another year, Clipp, Storen, Stammen, Krol, Cedeno, Abad.

I'm thinking minus free agent signings the opening day 25 man roster at this point is
Stras, Gio, J Zimm, Detwiler, Roark, Soriano, Clippard, Krol, Storen, Stammen, Cedeno, Abad, Desmond, LaRoche, Lombardozzi, Rendon, Zimmerman, Harper, Werth, Span, Moore, Walters, Brown + the backup catcher.

Mattheus is gone. Ohlendorf is traded/gone. Taylor Jordan is in AAA for more seasoning.

Of course the most likely things to change are the bench & bullpen. We'll see what happens.

Slateman · « **Reply #571 on:** September 24, 2013, 12:32:52 pm »

Can we get rid of Soriano?

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #572 on:** September 24, 2013, 12:58:45 pm »

I think we are stuck with both Soriano and Laroche for 2014. No one will want their contracts until at least the trade deadline.

Think they should platoon Laroche with Moore. Put Storen as closer and put Soriano as the 7th inning guy. If he doesn't like it tough.

Let Roark, Detwiler, Jordan, Cole and Karns battle out for the last two spots. If you can find a decent veteran not too expensive as number 4 go for it.

Find a solid backup catcher

If things don't pan out by mid season consider more moves. May have been fools old last 6 weeks but would give guys like Span, RZimm the benefit of the doubt to start next season.

3bside · « **Reply #573 on:** September 25, 2013, 09:26:12 am »

New here. I don't think they do anything on the FA market this year for a starter. Garza will get offered much more than he's worth, and the rest of the FA pitchers aren't that great. We have a lot of trading chips this offseason. Tyler Moore really should go somewhere where he can play every day, and Espinosa needs a new start somewhere. We also have a bunch of AAA players who might be able to play on a non-contender -- Perez, Kobernus, Walters, Brown. Even Tanner Roark may be tradeable if it means bringing back an established starter. He may be a case of trading high, like Brad Peacock.

Slateman · « **Reply #574 on:** September 25, 2013, 01:04:15 pm »

Can we get rid of Soriano?