Offseason moves?

[Fallopian Desmond]

I refuse to give a crap about Harper's contract status until it becomes immediately relevant.

[amanuel]

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

Why the hell would boras or bryce push to get a long term contract now when Bryce really hasnt done anything and we have control over him for the next 4+ seasons?

[Terpfan76]

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

the only friction you care about is the friction between your hand and cock when you're strokin it to Harper's Fat Head.

[UMDNats]

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

[Slateman]

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.

You've drank a lot of maple syrup tonight, haven't you

[Terpfan76]

You've drank a lot of maple syrup tonight, haven't you

The "brown drank"?

[BigMeech]

Sign Cano.
Move Rendon to third.
Move Zimmerman to first.
Throw LaRoche overboard.

Championship, brothers.

[Slateman]

Sign Cano.
Move Rendon to third.
Move Zimmerman to first.
Throw LaRoche overboard.

Championship, brothers.

But defense is important

[RL04]

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?

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

This.  QFT.

[RL04]

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

I dont get the Harper contract issues

I'll admit, I don't understand the details either but ...

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

Correct.  All this saber rattling by Boras worries me.   Something is up.
My gut feeling:  Harper's (knee) injury is worse than first thought.
Therefore Boras wants his big money now.

[Terpfan76]

I'll admit, I don't understand the details either but ...

Correct.  All this saber rattling by Boras worries me.   Something is up.
My gut feeling:  Harper's (knee) injury is worse than first thought.
Therefore Boras wants his big money now.

Once you agree with something espoused by Harper's stalker, any credibility you may or may not have had goes right out the window. Everything  you say from here on out is null and void...

[LightningMcQueen]

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.

not really interested in him being a starter either, but would be a good bullpen piece, IMO

[PebbleBall]

This.  QFT.

But it only pointed out the obvious.  PowerBoater was the only one that understood the question.

[Ray D]

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

Unless I am misreading the article, Harper could be  a free agent after next season?

[HalfSmokes]

Unless I am misreading the article, Harper could be  a free agent after next season?

you misread- the dispute is over whether he gets to file for arbitration or whether he has to accept the salary in his contract

[Ray D]

you misread- the dispute is over whether he gets to file for arbitration or whether he has to accept the salary in his contract

Ok thanks.

[PowerBoater69]

you misread- the dispute is over whether he gets to file for arbitration or whether he has to accept the salary in his contract

The Post blog piece got the facts right but somehow caused a lot of confusion about the impact of the quirk in Harper's contact. From a fan's point of view its pretty much a non issue. For the Lerners, Rizzo, Harper, and Boras its a matter of about ten million dollars over four years. Enough to get their interest but not a budget buster.

[Smithian]

I refuse to give a crap about Harper's contract status until it becomes immediately relevant.

I agree.

[RL04]

Once you agree with something espoused by Harper's stalker, any credibility you may or may not have had goes right out the window.

Though it certainly pained me to agree with 'BH34' even a dead watch has the correct time twice a day.   

[madj55]

Man, I wish there was someone we could replace LaRoche with

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Napoli costs us a pick, but I think you could make a high AAV, short term deal, that gets him off the payrolll when Werth, RZ, and Desi / Stras /JZ get expensive.  you really only need him around to see what you have with Skole.  You also have Moore to step in.  Granted, Boston is also probably going to offer short, high AAV, and incentives, but they are still closer to the tax threshold.  You lose a little left / right balance.

If you really wanted to be viscious, why not McCann as a first baseman and part time catcher?  he'd be able to make sure the unwrittten rules are followed.

[Bloo]

Chris Young is back! That means a Championship!!!!!!1111111!!!!!!

[PC]

Chris Young is back! That means a Championship!!!!!!1111111!!!!!!

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/nationals-sign-chris-young.html

What's the point of this?  Is our depth still that bad?

[sportsfan882]

That makes no sense at all. He was absolutely horrible in AAA last season for Syracuse and was injured a ton as well.

[Mr Clean]

Chris Young is last line of defense minor league backup.