Lane Train Departs Nats

[Senatorswin]

He makes $5.5 million and will get even more next year in arbitration.  Keibert is the only hitter making more and he's got an untradeable contract.

I'm just going by Baseball Reference who says he makes 2.2M this year. Either way he's not the type of player they shouldn't be able to keep if they wanted to.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ramirez was #22 prospect for Cleveland

[varoadking]

Hate to see him go but need to make room for crews.

Lane Thomas v2.0...but at MLB minimum, so had to happen...

[Count Walewski]

Ramirez was #22 prospect for Cleveland

When? Presumably before he completely failed to hit at A-ball this year.

[imref]

Ramirez was #22 prospect for Cleveland

seems like a good deal now but we won’t know anything for a few years.

[DCsOwn]

7 WAR and three prospects for 2 months of Jon Lester. Mike Rizzo master class

100%

He doesn’t do everything at the highest level, but the man can trade.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

When? Presumably before he completely failed to hit at A-ball this year.

what they flashed on MLB network so I assume MLB pipeline

edit - confirmed: https://www.mlb.com/prospects/guardians

[DCsOwn]

https://x.com/baseballvalues/status/1818063969879474417?s=46&t=Q_qc3R_qyMHAAFvlywNqzQ

“Today the #Guardians reportedly acquired OF Lane Thomas ($5.7M surplus trade value) from the #Nationals in exchange for LHP Alex Clemmey ($10.6M) and IFs Rafael Ramirez Jr. ($3.3M) and José Tena ($1.7M).

The deal is rejected by our model as an overpay by Cleveland”

—

“Clemmey, Cleveland's second-round pick in 2023, is a very good pitching prospect whose stock is rising. Tena and Ramirez are real prospects as well. This is a very strong return for Washington.“

[Smithian]

This trade makes sense.

The Lester-Thomas trade wasn’t quite Guzman-Roark but remains perfect proof why you always move useless guys. Never know what bag of peanuts has a prize.

[Slateman]

When? Presumably before he completely failed to hit at A-ball this year.

He's 19

[imref]

Baseballvalues:
Today the #Guardians reportedly acquired OF Lane Thomas ($5.7M surplus trade value) from the #Nationals in exchange for LHP Alex Clemmey ($10.6M) and IFs Rafael Ramirez Jr. ($3.3M) and José Tena ($1.7M).

The deal is rejected by our model as an overpay by Cleveland.

[DCsOwn]

https://x.com/jjcoop36/status/1818062947291172970?s=46&t=Q_qc3R_qyMHAAFvlywNqzQ

“Three top 30 prospects for Lane Thomas? Including an uber-high ceiling young lefty?

Love this trade for the Nats.”

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cleveland-guardian-top-42-prospects-2024/

For another view on the prospects, back in April, FG/ Longenhagen had these three as ##13, 15, & 17 in Cleveland's system, all 40+.

Given the market for outfielders, this looks like a haul. Either Cleveland has great self-scouting and knows these guys are less than the hype, or they really think Lane is a full-time OF under dirt cheap team control.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Tena is only 23 and rather small (5' 9", 159), but he's been hitting. I guess when you have Jose Ramirez ahead of you, you are expendable.

[DCsOwn]

Last post on the subject since I’m kinda spamming a bit:

“Asked a scout about Alex Clemney, one of the prospects the Nationals got in return, and this is what he said:

“Clemmey will be a stud!! Really like what he does. Great pickup for Lane!

Ultra competitive on the mound. Projectable still. Good pitch mix. Pitches with intent.”

https://x.com/andrewcgolden/status/1818068225936220413?s=46&t=Q_qc3R_qyMHAAFvlywNqzQ

[OfftheBat]

Yeah this one stings a bit, see you later Lane

[imref]

Paulson says Tena is being added to the 40-man. He could be heading right to the majors.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FG write up on Ramirez:

Ramirez came to 2024 camp looking significantly stronger than he did last year and is flashing much more pull-side power than he showed last season, when he slashed .250/.453/.426 and had 13 extra-base hits in 41 games. There is still substantial swing-and-miss risk here, and the fact that he struck out at a 28% clip on the complex is a ruby red flag for future hit tool projection, but viable shortstops with burgeoning left-handed power like Ramirez’s don’t exactly grow on trees. I have him graded on par with a second round high schooler. He’s pretty similar to 2024 draft prospect Bryce Rainer.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cleveland-guardian-top-42-prospects-2024/

Has a very weak hit tool (20/30) per same source, but big power (25/50 game power, 45/60 raw power) and average D and speed (50s).

As for the Rainier comp, that was before this season. Count W's comment may be onto something. They have to teach this kid contact better than they did with Eric Green.

[Slateman]

https://x.com/hotstoveintel/status/1818070311537164587?s=46&t=iyqV8-alWiB3L81NHZZM0g

Nationals got a better package for 1.5 yrs of control on Lane Thomas than White Sox did for 1.5 yrs of control on Erick Fedde / Michael Kopech plus rental Tommy Pham.

White Sox package was awful.

[welch]

Pressure now on Crews to replace .250-275 plus 25 homers plus 25 stolen bases a year.

[Scrapple]

If ownership doesn’t want to sign fan favorites long term such as Lane Thomas or a “five tool player” like Trea Turner, who the FLUCK WILL THEY SIGN??!!? Our ownership is a bunch of money grubbing azzholes!!!
I can’t imagine Mike Rizzo wanting to allow Trea Turner to leave here. It’s Official, our ownership is garbage! F-THEM!!!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If ownership doesn’t want to sign fan favorites long term such as Lane Thomas or a “five tool player” like Trea Turner, who the FLUCK WILL THEY SIGN??!!? Our ownership is a bunch of money grubbing azzholes!!!
I can’t imagine Mike Rizzo wanting to allow Trea Turner to leave here. It’s Official, our ownership is garbage! F-THEM!!!

TBH, I don't mind them dealing a fan favorite if the package is good enough. Thomas was a DH for this team going forward.

[nobleisthyname]

Sounds like a really good haul. I was expecting Thomas to stay given what the market was looking like for marginal outfielders. Shows what I know about what MLB front offices value.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Sounds like a really good haul. I was expecting Thomas to stay given what the market was looking like for marginal outfielders. Shows what I know about what MLB front offices value.

I do hope Cleveland gets great play out of him. It would vindicate Rizzo's "he's an every day outfielder" line and make it easier to deal in the future, plus I will always pull for Thomas unless it harms the Nats or Red Sox.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

from the same Longehagen article, this time on Tena:

Tena doesn’t necessarily have the defensive skill set to be projected as a utility man. His exchange is incredibly quick, but the other aspects of his defense (especially his range) are not a comfortable shortstop fit, and while he’s played all over the infield, he fits best at second base and might be landlocked there. Right now I have Tena evaluated as an above-replacement second base option rather than an on-roster role player. As his options run out while other middle infielders ascend through the org, rival teams looking to be active on their roster margins should be sensitive to Tena’s presence on Cleveland’s 40-man bubble and consider how their dev group might help to get his swing on time such that he pulls the ball more often. He’d be an interesting target if they think they can.

What are the odds the Nats will help this guy pull?