Nationals Sign Belliard To Extension
More on this in a bit, but the Nationals have surprisingly locked in Ron Belliard through 2009. He'll get $3.5MM over the two seasons, so you can't really complain about it. Belliard hits for decent average, shows a little pop, and plays multiple positions.
Belliard will make $1.6MM in 2008 and $1.9MM in 2009. Nice security for a guy nobody wanted last winter.
If nothing else, Belliard is a solid bench player that provides veteran leadership. Good for the Nats.
Posted by: FiNch | July 23, 2007 at 06:46 PM
Ronnie's the kind of guy who can plug a hole when there is an injury and there is not a big drop off...there aren't many of those guys...Bowden is pretty good at picking guys of the scrap heap and making them useful
Posted by: Beau Phillips | July 23, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Is it possible that he going to turnaround and trade Juan Castro? Maybe to the white Sox? Ronnie isnat a bad starter and guzman healthy is a preety decent.
Posted by: russell | July 23, 2007 at 11:54 PM
Eh I don't really like this move. He was a nice surprise this year, but he had some trade value. Now that a team would have to commit to him for the next 2 years, I don't see any interest in him.
Posted by: JerseyMetFan | July 24, 2007 at 08:07 AM
I thought the reason "nobody wanted" Belliard was because he was too caught up in the legal issues surrounding an extortion case to properly sell himself.
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | July 24, 2007 at 08:51 AM
This is a good move, making less than 2 mil for his production is solid. And like Tim said, its good to see the guy get a little security. He had a good run with STL and then no one wanted him....so I'm happy for the guy.
However, what trade value did he have? Who was going to give up ANYTHING of value for him?
Posted by: Aduncaroo | July 24, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Beats me. Just reiterating what I heard from one of the guys... Rosenthal, Olney, Gammons... I don't really remember. His name came up with Dmitri Young.
Posted by: JerseyMetFan | July 24, 2007 at 09:27 AM