Offseason moves?

[NationalHeat]

I don't like this Oliver Perez idea floated by Kilgore one bit. I can't get bad Oliver out of my head. Don't care what he did in that monster of a park in Seattle.

[blue911]

I don't like this Oliver Perez idea floated by Kilgore one bit. I can't get bad Oliver out of my head. Don't care what he did in that monster of a park in Seattle.

Spin Williams was the coach that put his mechanics back together

[imref]

Spin Williams was the coach that put his mechanics back together

76 innings at Harrisburg with a 3.09 ERA and 58/27 K/BB ratio.  Not terrible, but not great.

[blue911]

76 innings at Harrisburg with a 3.09 ERA and 58/27 K/BB ratio.  Not terrible, but not great.

I guess you don't remember how terrible he was in 09 & 10. He couldn't repeat his delivery with the Mets it appears that is what Williams had him work on. Seattle moving to the pen was a good move also.

[Dave301]

Mitch Williams believes the one team other than the Yankees that might make a serious move on Cano is the Nats.

[Mattionals]

Mitch Williams believes the one team other than the Yankees that might make a serious move on Cano is the Nats.

If the Nats really were in on Cano, Rendon better get sent to Detroit for Scherzer.  I'd think Max would like the idea of playing on a team with Harper, Strasburg and Cano.  Cano and Max would be the epitome of an open wallet, but there isn't much else other than those two moves that gives the Nats the best rotation and potentially the best lineup in the game.

[varoadking]

Mitch Williams believes the one team other than the Yankees that might make a serious move on Cano is the Nats.

I would think that a mistake...

[Dave301]

The offense is already lacking as it is. Giving up Rendon for pitching without replacing him with a legit bat is not an improvement. If they do, we would have to pray that LaRoche has a better year, Bryce stays healthy, Span continues hitting, etc, to even have a chance. Great pitching/no offense is not going to get it done.

[PebbleBall]

I get Rendon's value over LaRoche going forward, but why does it seem like their 2013 seasons are remembered so differently?  Because of Rendon's hot streak at his second call-up?  Are fans just inclined to be frustrated by LaRoche?

[varoadking]

Are fans just inclined to be frustrated by LaRoche?

For me, it was his offseason grandstanding even more than his 2013 .237 batting average and 131 strikeouts.

He talked the talk but didn't walk the walk...

[HalfSmokes]

Laroche hit.237/.332/.403 at a premiere offensive position,  Rendon hit .265/.329/.396 as a rookie middle infielder

[Vega]

I get Rendon's value over LaRoche going forward, but why does it seem like their 2013 seasons are remembered so differently?  Because of Rendon's hot streak at his second call-up?  Are fans just inclined to be frustrated by LaRoche?

Rendon is a young developing player with high upside at a position where offense is not a given, whereas LaRoche is a declining veteran at position where offense is very important.

[Canada]

Go big or go home!!

Trades:

-LH David Price, 2B Ryan Roberts and C Jose Molina for LH Ross Detwiller, RH AJ Cole, RP Drew Storen, CF Michael Taylor and 2B Anthony Rendon
-LH Brett Cecil for 2B Danny Espinosa

Sign 2B Robinson Cano
Sign LH Javier Lopez
Sign LH Boone Logan

1- RH- Stephen Strasburg
2- LH- David Price
3- LH- Gio Gonzalez
4- RH- Jordan Zimmerman
5- LH- Brett Cecil

LH- Javier Lopez
LH- Ian Krol
LH- Boone Logan
RH long relief- Ross Ohlendorf
RH- Craig Stammen
RH Setup- Tyler Clippard
Closer- Rafael Soriano

CF- Denard Span
3B- Ryan Zimmerman
2B- Robinson Cano
LF- Bryce Harper
RF- Jayson Werth
SS- Ian Desmond
1B- Adam Laroche
C- Wilson Ramos

OF- Scott Hairston
IF- Steve Lombardozzi
IF- Ryan Roberts
1B- Tyler Moore
C- Jose Molina

There isn't a rotation in the league that can touch that. The bullpen is solid and the lineup might be the best from 1-8 in the league. If this team can't win a Championship then I don't know what would.

[LightningMcQueen]

-LH Brett Cecil for 2B Danny Espinosa

Big Cecil fan. Hope they can lure him from Toronto.

[Vega]

Not keen on making Cecil a starter again. He hasn't been good as one in a while and he is just that good as a reliever. Kinda like Hochevar in KC.

[BH34Natural]

Would like to see Harper signed to an extension before we take on an contract like Cano. We are into year 3

[PowerBoater69]

Would like to see Harper signed to an extension before we take on an contract like Cano. We are into year 3

2012 doesn't count against years under team control because he started in the minors, 2014 doesn't count because it hasn't started yet. So we aren't even into year two. Five years left of team control.

The only question is whether he gets three or four years of arbitration. According to MLB super two rules it's four, according to his contact it's three but Boras says that Harper can opt out. They'll have an arbitration hearing to determine whether he's eligible for the early year of arbitration.

[PowerBoater69]

I get Rendon's value over LaRoche going forward, but why does it seem like their 2013 seasons are remembered so differently?  Because of Rendon's hot streak at his second call-up?  Are fans just inclined to be frustrated by LaRoche?

Low salaried rookies are expected to struggle and then show annual improvement. Highly paid vets are expected to produce.

[deeznatz]

The offense is already lacking as it is. Giving up Rendon for pitching without replacing him with a legit bat is not an improvement. If they do, we would have to pray that LaRoche has a better year, Bryce stays healthy, Span continues hitting, etc, to even have a chance. Great pitching/no offense is not going to get it done.

Yes, you are correct.  If we get Cano, fine.  but keep Rendon.  Put him and Zimm at 1b and 3b, in any order....they both could handle either.  THEN we have an offense that can win it all.  But signing Cano and shipping Rendon for pitching?  Then our offense will be only marginally better.  Laraoche....he will be even worse than last year.  Is Span going to hit 279?  No. 

[deeznatz]

I get Rendon's value over LaRoche going forward, but why does it seem like their 2013 seasons are remembered so differently?  Because of Rendon's hot streak at his second call-up?  Are fans just inclined to be frustrated by LaRoche?

Rendon is going to be a great hitter, can't u see it in his appraoach and swing?  I'm willing to give him an adjustment period....but the tools are there and I knw he'll come through.  laRoche is dead weaight in the lineup....and now I have to sit through an offseason of Nats excuses about ritalin and his body weight and power be sapped.  Will added weight help his 237 avg, too?? hahahha

[CALSGR8]

What the hell? http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/nationals-all-star-bryce-harpers-unique-contract-could-lead-to-a-grievance-hearing/2013/11/15/f3b6de52-4bb7-11e3-ac54-aa84301ced81_story.html

[Canada]

I dont get the Harper contract issues. How long do we have him under control for?

[PowerBoater69]

Five more years, the only question is whether he has one or two years before arbitration.

[Ray D]

Is Span going to hit 279?  No. 

I project .285/.335  for Span.   

He was dreadful first half but reverted to form second half.   I believe his first half failures were in part due to simply adjusting to the National League, and in part trying to fill the (traditional) role of leadoff batter.   He is an aggressive hitter who is not suited to taking  pitches just to live up to the leadoff batter role.   He stopped doing that second half. 

[BH34Natural]

All of this points towards friction with Harper, unless they just sign him to the long term deal Boras is pushing for.