Nationals Looking For Cleanup Hitter

Really, really bad idea for the Nats. They have so many other needs.

With or without Dunn they are a cellar dwelling team.

Nats need to be building their farm system, not trading prospects for anything.

Jim Bowden needs to be fired ASAP.

Agreed, Bowden's a virus for this team. They need a brilliant baseball mind in there. It's hard to even take this team seriously as they are right now.

They need to hire a great GM, scouts with great knowledge of players in leagues worldwide (Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Korea), and then we can talk.

This offseason I think they should go for Gregg, Colon, Mulder and maybe make a cheap deal for Adam Kennedy.

This sounds ridiculous and would no way ever happen, but Varitek would be great for this team. No one would care about the numbers he'd put up and he'd be a great asset to a lot of the young guys on that team.

No to everyone but Mulder could be a steal if he comes back and if he doesn't it wouldn't cost too much. Why spend the money/prospects for Gregg the nats didn't have the worst record in baseball b/c they lacked an effective closer. Hanrahann can do a decent enough job. Colon I don't think has it in him anymore not to mention the history plenty of Nats fans wish we could have had Siezmore, Lee and Phillips instead of the 3 months of Colon with the Expos. Adam Kennedy wouldn't be an upgrade over what the Nats have in the MI Bonifacio has speed and is still young give him a shot. I respect Varitek plenty but the game has passed him by he's not a great defensive catcher and is horrible offensivly. As for his 'game calling' it must be pretty easy to call a great game when you have Beckett, Dice-K, and Lester throwing to you. Flores could be a solid catcher in the majors so they should stick with him.

b/c the money and pick could be better spent. Dunn is too much of a 1 dimensional player. Why commit $12-15 million a year for him? The nats won't be good the next two years so that would be $24-30 million wasted as well as giving up the first pick in the 2nd round. Your best hitter shouldn't be riding the bench against your oppenents ace but how can anyone justify playing Dunn against guys like Santana and Hamels. They should spend that money on a pitcher (Penny or Garland) and the draft.

ADropOfvenom ...

Here's my thinking.

When you are a bottom dwelling team with no prospect of improving immediately, you should avoid the following activities:

-- Sign expensive FA's - these players typically won't impact the standings or increase your revenue enough to off-set the investment. You give up a draft pick and potentially block young players who, in a few years, are ready to play but can't because they are blocked by an expensive FA signing.

-- Trade minor league talent for one or two year rentals. Another common mistake that hardly ever works out. The team makes marginal improvements but ultimately enjoys watching their former prospects become young, cheap players in some other organization.

IMO, 90% of clubs cannot spend their way out of being terrible. They would be much better off using their resources on better drafts and player developments. Sprinkle in smart FA signings and gamble on some rule 5 players. Then bide your time until you have the right pieces coming up. It isn't a quick fix but it will work.

As a nats fan in order for them to get more than 10,000 a game we need to bring in a slugger to complement zimmerman and dukes.

"b/c the money and pick could be better spent."

While I would agree that pitcher is probably their largest need, they could do worse then turning their Offense into a serious threat by pursuing someone like Adam Dunn. Their Offense is a need too, you know. A lineup including Dunn, Dukes, Zimmerman, Milledge, Flores, and maybe Nick Johnson has the potential to be above-average.

"Dunn is too much of a 1 dimensional player. Why commit $12-15 million a year for him? The nats won't be good the next two years so that would be $24-30 million wasted as well as giving up the first pick in the 2nd round."

How many .900 OPS bats do the Nationals have in their lineup currently? That's right, zero. Yes, he has some flaws, but that's the reason he's a feasible option to a team like the Nationals. They have a chance to get a .900 OPS bat for a reasonable price, you take the good with the bad.

Here's one thing we do know, the Nationals won't be contenders next year as currently written. They might, MIGHT, be able to make some noise if they make a couple smart moves. Adam Dunn could be one of them.

As for the Draft Pick, the 1st Pick of the 2nd Round is usually about 45th Overall. They might be able to sign someone there that would help them, but odds are Dunn would contribute more to help them win then that pick would.

AdropOF Venom,

"How many .900 OPS bats do the Nationals have in their lineup currently?"

But there is the rub, Dunn is NOT a .900 OPS player when he is playing AWAY FROM GREAT AMERICAN SMALL PARK!

GASP opened in 2003. In 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, Dunn's OPS was LOWER than .900 away from GASP all of those years. So, to get to .900 for the season, he was GREATLY helped by GASP.

If you don't think this is true look what happened once he was traded to Arizona. In 2008 with the Reds, he was averaging a Home Run once every 11.09 At Bats. Once he was traded to the D-backs that dropped to one HR in every 18 At Bats. For a full season of 525 At Bats, it means his HR production dropped from a pace 47 to 29.

Money needs to be spent elsewhere?

Money isnt thrown out enough for this team. A big bat is what they need most along with bullpen.

Any of these players will fit in the clean up spot and will compliment the likes of Zimmerman, Dukes, Milledge and Flores.. Even Johnson depending who we get/sign.