Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[DPMOmaha]

They may very well sign more than one starter, but I only think one breaks camp. There's a bunch of guys out there that you can bring in for depth. They'll take a big swing at Corbin and go from there. But I think they break camp with Max, Stras, TBD, Roark and Ross.

[DPMOmaha]

Uh ... we need to get rid of Roark and replace him too.

I don't see that happening. He'll get a chance to re-establish himself next year. Maybe I'm wrong on that, but that's what I'm expecting to happen.

[imref]

Re-sign Harper, sign Patrick Corbin.

OD lineup:
1. Eaton or Robles
2. Turner
3. Harper
4. Rendon
5. Soto
6. Zimmerman
7. Difo or a FA 2B that's a place-holder for Kieboom
8. Read or a FA catcher

Rotation: Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin, Ross, and one of Roark/Fedde/Voth/Rodriguez/FA reclamation project.

[Baseball is Life]

Re-sign Harper, sign Patrick Corbin.

OD lineup:
1. Eaton or Robles
2. Turner
3. Harper
4. Rendon
5. Soto
6. Zimmerman
7. Difo or a FA 2B that's a place-holder for Kieboom
8. Read or a FA catcher

Rotation: Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin, Ross, and one of Roark/Fedde/Voth/Rodriguez/FA reclamation project.

I like it. Any one who says they can't re-sign Harper and be competitive next season is off the mark. They need to get lucky with SP, especially Stras needs to stay healthy. He's a key.

Also, I'm just not that impressed with the Braves and Phillies. Warning to Capt. Obvious types...yes, I know I should be impressed because they have a better record than the Nats. But I'm not. Both teams are flawed and I can seem them regressing.

[Natsinpwc]

Re-sign Harper, sign Patrick Corbin.

OD lineup:
1. Eaton or Robles
2. Turner
3. Harper
4. Rendon
5. Soto
6. Zimmerman
7. Difo or a FA 2B that's a place-holder for Kieboom
8. Read or a FA catcher

Rotation: Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin, Ross, and one of Roark/Fedde/Voth/Rodriguez/FA reclamation project.

Some big lineup holes 6 through 9. Zimm always hurt. Difo not that good. And catching still a black hole.

[Baseball is Life]

Some big lineup holes 6 through 9. Zimm always hurt. Difo not that good. And catching still a black hole.

Lots of teams have shaky hitters 6 through 9. But, yeah, they do need to upgrade at catcher assuming Kieboom doesn't keep improving.

[Natsinpwc]

Lots of teams have shaky hitters 6 through 9. But, yeah, they do need to upgrade at catcher assuming Kieboom doesn't keep improving.

The good teams less so.

If they sign Corbin and Harper they can’t afford Grandal or Ramos. The other free agents are not anyone you want.

I doubt they can sign both guys. Wouldn’t mind them signing Matt Harvey. Looks like he has learned how to pitch at reduced velocity.

Has Ross learned a third pitch he actually uses?  If not why does anyone think he can start?

[mitlen]

The good teams less so.

If they sign Corbin and Harper they can’t afford Grandal or Ramos. The other free agents are not anyone you want.

I doubt they can sign both guys. Wouldn’t mind them signing Matt Harvey. Looks like he has learned how to pitch at reduced velocity.

Has Ross learned a third pitch he actually uses?  If not why does anyone think he can start?

I wouldn't go near Ramos as my first line catcher.   

[DPMOmaha]

The good teams less so.

If they sign Corbin and Harper they can’t afford Grandal or Ramos. The other free agents are not anyone you want.

I doubt they can sign both guys. Wouldn’t mind them signing Matt Harvey. Looks like he has learned how to pitch at reduced velocity.

Has Ross learned a third pitch he actually uses?  If not why does anyone think he can start?

If they re-sign Harper, they trade from their OF surplus to fill the C spot.

[Slateman]

Re-sign Harper, sign Patrick Corbin.

OD lineup:
1. Eaton or Robles
2. Turner
3. Harper
4. Rendon
5. Soto
6. Zimmerman
7. Difo or a FA 2B that's a place-holder for Kieboom
8. Read or a FA catcher

Rotation: Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin, Ross, and one of Roark/Fedde/Voth/Rodriguez/FA reclamation project.

That puts the Nats over the luxury tax by a significant amount. I don't see that happening.

I doubt they can sign both guys. Wouldn’t mind them signing Matt Harvey. Looks like he has learned how to pitch at reduced velocity.

No, he hasn't.

[Slateman]

If they re-sign Harper, they trade from their OF surplus to fill the C spot.

That's really the only option. Or to bolster the MI. Problem is, you'd be getting the equivalent of that player at C.

[DPMOmaha]

That's really the only option. Or to bolster the MI. Problem is, you'd be getting the equivalent of that player at C.

If you trade someone like Robles (not saying I want to, but let's say they did), they could probably fill both of those spots pretty well in one fell swoop. I think they'd trade Eaton, though. Which is what I'd prefer them to do if they trade one of those three.

[varoadking]

Just let Royce walk and reap the benefits...

[Slateman]

If you trade someone like Robles (not saying I want to, but let's say they did), they could probably fill both of those spots pretty well in one fell swoop. I think they'd trade Eaton, though. Which is what I'd prefer them to do if they trade one of those three.

For who?

Look, Robles isn't as valuable as a lot of people on this board want to believe. He's not enough to get you a top line rotation starter unless that pitcher has one year left before FA.

[spidernat]

I wouldn't go near Ramos as my first line catcher.   

Yeah I don't want Ramos taking up more space on the DL.

[UMDNats]

with ramos in the fold we can win the banner for most money spent on the DL

[imref]

Yeah I don't want Ramos taking up more space on the DL.

I'd sign him in a heartbeat to a 1 year deal.

[Baseball is Life]

I'd sign him in a heartbeat to a 1 year deal.

Yep, with the understanding that you need a very good backup. But the Nats have practice with that concept with Zimmerman.

[imref]

That puts the Nats over the luxury tax by a significant amount. I don't see that happening.
No, he hasn't.

don't we have something like $90 million coming off the books after this year?  That's plenty to sign Harper and Corbin.

[varoadking]

don't we have something like $90 million coming off the books after this year?  That's plenty to sign Harper and Corbin.

A lot of players have raises coming...believe it or not...

[imref]

A lot of players have raises coming...believe it or not...

This http://www.talknats.com/2017/12/30/the-washington-nationals-salary-projections-and-bryce-harper/ notes we had about $50 million in luxury tax cushion, that's before trading Kinzler ($5 million) and DFA'ng Enny Romero ($2 million).   So figure $57 million. Assume Solis gets released and now you are up to $59 million.  $27 to Harper, $20 to Corbin, and still some money to spare, especially if they back-load contracts.  Trading either Taylor ($6 million) or Eaton ($8 million) for a pre-arb eligible bullpen arm would help too.

[PowerBoater69]

This http://www.talknats.com/2017/12/30/the-washington-nationals-salary-projections-and-bryce-harper/ notes we had about $50 million in luxury tax cushion, that's before trading Kinzler ($5 million) and DFA'ng Enny Romero ($2 million).   So figure $57 million. Assume Solis gets released and now you are up to $59 million.  $27 to Harper, $20 to Corbin, and still some money to spare, especially if they back-load contracts.  Trading either Taylor ($6 million) or Eaton ($8 million) for a pre-arb eligible bullpen arm would help too.

Back loading contracts doesn't help much with the AAV used for the tax calculation.

[Slateman]

don't we have something like $90 million coming off the books after this year?  That's plenty to sign Harper and Corbin.

yes, but we have a pretty massive pay increases for Stras, Zim, and Scherzer. All told, this team has about 60 million to spend before they hit the luxury tax threshold.  Harper is gonna be 30+, Corbin is going to cost 20, Grandal is over 10 million. And that's before addressing the pen.

[Slateman]

This http://www.talknats.com/2017/12/30/the-washington-nationals-salary-projections-and-bryce-harper/ notes we had about $50 million in luxury tax cushion, that's before trading Kinzler ($5 million) and DFA'ng Enny Romero ($2 million).   So figure $57 million. Assume Solis gets released and now you are up to $59 million.  $27 to Harper, $20 to Corbin, and still some money to spare, especially if they back-load contracts.  Trading either Taylor ($6 million) or Eaton ($8 million) for a pre-arb eligible bullpen arm would help too.

You aren't getting a pre-arb bullpen arm worth a crap for Taylor

[Baseball is Life]

This http://www.talknats.com/2017/12/30/the-washington-nationals-salary-projections-and-bryce-harper/ notes we had about $50 million in luxury tax cushion, that's before trading Kinzler ($5 million) and DFA'ng Enny Romero ($2 million).   So figure $57 million. Assume Solis gets released and now you are up to $59 million.  $27 to Harper, $20 to Corbin, and still some money to spare, especially if they back-load contracts.  Trading either Taylor ($6 million) or Eaton ($8 million) for a pre-arb eligible bullpen arm would help too.

This is the kind of research that DCfan and I come to expect from the real brains on this board. Well done.