In an interview on the MLB Network, GM Mike Rizzo said that the Nationals are interested in free agent first baseman Mike Jacobs, writes Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Ladson writes that he is unsure as to how Jacobs would fit in with the club, as the team already has Adam Dunn at the position with Mike Morse as the backup.
With the Royals in 2009, Jacobs posted a slash line of .228/.297/.401 with 19 HRs in 478 plate appearances. The 29-year-old avoided arbitration with Kansas City last February, settling for $3.275MM after seeking $3.8MM. After coming off of the worst season of his career, it seems as though Jacobs' will have to settle for less on this go-round.
I really, really hope it’s for nothing more than a bench job…or maybe selling concessions in the stands.
Agreed. Seeing him in the field is just plain hilarious!
Didn’t they try this “too many corner outfielder/1st basement” thing already?
I still can’t believe we gave up Leo Nunez for one year of this bum. That’s Dayton Moore for ya though.
I wonder if the White Sox might look into him as a DH.
Mike Jacobs wouldn’t be a bad bat to bring in for some pop off of the bench, that’s about it
Mike Morse would prob. just go to the minors, Jacobs has more upside with the bat.
Nationals defense is the worst in the majors. Now they want to add Jacobs as a bench player. Not good.
If i’m the Nats, i’d trade Josh Willingham for a capable defensive center fielder, like Willy Taveras, and a pitcher. Then I’d move Nyer Morgan to LF, and my outfield just got a whole lot better. Then I’d sign Orlando Hudson and trade Cristian Guzman for a catching prospect and a pitcher.
Why would the Nationals trade willingham for a capable defensive center fielder like Willy Taveras when they have Roger Bernadina and Justin Maxwell in the system. Both of them have far more upside than Taveras. I agree with bringing in Hudson because there is no starting caliber second baseman. As for trading Guzman, nobody wants him. He cleared waivers last season and it would be hard to trade his $8mil contract, especially for anything of value. Also, why would they want a catching prospect when they have Flores, Nieto, Rooney and Derek Norris in the system as well.
If a trade for Willingham is going to happen, it needs to be for a starting pitcher who can be a compliment to Strasburg, Lannan and hopefully J Zimmermann if he comes back strong from tommy john surgery. Then you can slide in a platoon of Bernadina and Maxwell in left. You could use Desmond at short, Hudson and 2nd and Guzman as a utility infield/pinch hitter. He is a high contact guy and would probably put the ball in play as a PH at least.
If there is interest in Jacobs I hope it is because there is just no left handed pinch hitter on the roster and they are looking for a guy to play the role of Matt Stairs for the Phillies the last couple years.
Agree with pdowdy on the Willingham trade possibilities, although you won’t see JZim this year before Sept. if at all, which is just as well, while most guys can pitch about 12 months after Tommy John (which would mean a mid-season return), it’s usually close to 18 months before they can pitch effectively, so save him for 2011. Olsen should lockdown one spot in the rotation, probably at #4 assuming Rizzo finds one more decent starter either by free agency or trade. That leaves the kids to fight it out for the 5th spot, Detwiler, Stammen, Martin would have to be the favorites heading into camp. If Strasburg pitches effectively in the minors, look for a June or July call-up when someone falters or goes on the DL.
There’s no way Jacobs plays if Dunn is healthy and he stated himself that he doesn’t think he’ll be effective offensively if he’s not in the lineup every day. So I don’t see him as a decent fit for a LH bat off the bench.
Not to pile on because pdowdy pretty much summed it up, but why should the Nationals trade Willingham, who hit .260, had an OBS of .367, and an OPS of .863 for a guy who went .240, .285, .559 in the same categories? Our defense isn’t that atrocious that we need to sacrifice one of our only offensive weapons to improve it.
no thanks. this makes no sense at all. a guy with zero defense who’s a total one-trick-pony at the plate. and not good enough at that trick to make up for all of the other holes in his game at the plate.