Nationals Make Offers To Starters

The Washington rotation currently consists of John Patterson and a lot of question marks.  Actually Patterson is a question mark himself right now.  That's why Jim Bowden has made offers to five starters.

The Nats would like to retain Tony Armas Jr. and/or Ramon Ortiz.  Additionally they're after Steve Trachsel, Jorge Sosa, and Jerome Williams.  Bill Ladson reports that the offers range from a minor league deal (Williams probably) to $3MM.

Nice to see Jerome getting some love - I know he was lousy last year, but he does have the ability to post a 4 ERA in the NL. 

Comments

[Das Cube]

Excellent. The NL East is ours. If the Nats sign some of these peeps, they will have a surplus of pitching which they could trade for young solid players. Seriously, why would a Shawn Hill for Nick Markakis deal not go through? Mike O'Connor for Chris Burke? The Nationals are destined to take over the world. But in all seriousness, we need some of these guys to sign, just to actually have 5 starters. It is a sad sad story.

[Guitar Hero]

Riccardi passed on all these guys. The nationals budget should seriously be like 20 million next year, maybe 26 if 2 of these guys sign.

[gatling]

To me, the Nats signing Ohka and Armas seem like no-brainer type moves. Like Rotoworld said, Bruce Chen would make some sense here also. With Church being the odd man out on the OF depth chart, why not flip him for another starting pitcher? Wouldn't the Marlins rather have Ryan Church in CF than Chad Hermansen or Alex Sanchez? A Nolasco for Church deal would help both sides. If Snelling, Johnson, and Kearns can stay healthy to go with Zimmerman and Lopez, and possibly Kory Casto, the Nats could have a surprisingly solid offense. With Cordero, Rauch, and the returning Luis Ayala the Nats have a solid backend of the bullpen. If they got league average production from there rotation, they could potentially be a .500 team.

[baseballfiles]

It's refreshing to hear a little Nats love--thanks gatling!

[tinathemetsgrl]

Nice to hear news on Trachsel, I think he'd fit well in Washington.

[bravesrule14]

we finnaly have a bonafide last place team in the NL East. in all seriousness the Nats can be a .500 team, but they won't be a .500 team. retaining Ortiz and Armas makes sense and they should trade Church for Nolasco or Mitre. Trachsel would fare well in the large dimensions in RFK, but he will still suck there is no doubt in my mind about that. i like Jerome Williams he has upside to him and could pan out well in RFK. like gatling said Bruce Chen would also make a lot of sense. he is only a year removed from a sub 4 era in the AL East. i would hate to see the Nats make the mistake of signing Jorge Sosa. he is just awful they should deffinatly get Chen instead

[5953]

Hopefully they sign Sosa so the Braves can T off on him next year

[SiddFinch]

Nats a .500 team? Let say we actually find 5 starters without having to call up the California Penal League, Patterson and Ayala put up near full 2005-ish seasons, and Guzman returns to 2004 era form...Nick J's portly, fragile frame will now be stressing a leg full of metal, and I don't see anything replacing those 46 HR's that the Cubbies signed for 7 years.

[firesticks]

I don't like the Nationals future at all. They're big league club will be lucky for 70 wins this year, more like 60. And they're minor league system is pretty bad compared to the rest of the bad teams out there.

They have some good players right now, but unless they can get 2-3 low level FA SP's, they're gonna be living in misery next year.

I will be rooting for them. I go for bad teams. But the Nationals? I really have my doubts.

[russell]

This is a team that lacks in Depth and Talent. There counting on rebound years from Guzman and Logan? If the have an type of good season it will be around a .250 ba. Is anyone afraid of Washington three headed Monster of Zimm/Kearns/Johnson? They need to trade Johnson to Pirates for some youth pitching ( best Chance Malhom) and trade Schneider/Rauch to Angels for Saunders, Mathis , Mcphearson. Luis Ayala for Maroth from the tigers, and so on to finally get some young pitching

[5953]

Nook Logan and Lopez to the Braves for Diaz,Orr,Cormier,a pitching prospect and Escobar(SS)

[5953]

OR
WSH get Kotchman,Cormier,a low level pitching prospect from both clubsand Orr

ATL get Figgins,and Nook Logan

LAA get Prospects and Diaz

[emarbe]

I feel like the only Nats fan on this board sometimes. But yes, their 2007 season looks bleak. In 2005 the Nats had weak hitting, but fairly good pitching, and that flipped flopped in 2006.

Now, in 2007.
Zimmerman (who was robbed of ROTY, imo) will have a great sophmore year, and Johnson if healthy will produce well. They don't have a bad lineup, though its got a lot of holes.

The bullpen won't be bad if they keep Cordero, Ayala stays healthy, and Rauch has a equally good year.

But the rotation? Goddamn. Patterson has the makings of an ace if he can last a whole season, but the rest of the rotation? Bringing back 5.00 era guys won't win anything.

This is a rebuilding year anyway, and in 2008 with the new stadium and money to throw around, I expect good things for the team...just not 2007.

[russell]

Who is there best Prospect???

[5953]

Braves have Pope at 3B eh is good Holt is good as well dont know about Nats prospects

[russell]

How are the Nats building towards the future if they dont have any new young talent coming in? Theres no rebuilding if theres nothing to build with.

[Das Cube]

the nats lineup is plenty solid i think, excluding The Black Hole at SS. the bullpen is solid as well. The rotation could be not absolutely terrible, if some of their younger pitchers turn out to be pleasant surprises. They should def sign some of these people, Trachsel, Williams, and mayyyyybe Armas if the price is right. They can't be much worse than last year SP-wise, but the bullpen and offense should be better. No one forget about Alex Escobar please. If he stays healthy (big if) he will be solid as well. Logan is worthless.