TUESDAY, 7:33pm: Ladson reports (via Twitter) that the team and Benson's agent haven't spoken yet because both sides have been busy working on Brian Bruney's arbitration case. Bruney and Benson share an agent.
SATURDAY, 12:01pm: The Nationals have not confirmed their interest in Benson according to Ladson, however they did attend his "impressive workouts" over the last few weeks.
FRIDAY, 3:18pm: The Nationals have some interest in free agent righty Kris Benson, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. GM Mike Rizzo and Benson's agent Gregg Clifton are hoping to meet early next week after a snow storm got in the way this week (link goes to Twitter).
Benson, 35, is apparently 100% after battling arm injuries for the better part of the last three seasons. In 22.1 innings for the Rangers last season, he allowed 23 runs with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). It was his first big league action since 2006. As long as they don't guarantee him a roster spot, there's nothing wrong with seeing what Benson has to offer in Spring Training.
ehhhhhhh. id rather not. hes not getting any younger. i remember when he played for the O’s. He should tryout for the Bad News Bears.
I guess they want to get their DL started early.
Yeah I agree. Last year he said he was 100% healthy and he ended up giving the Rangers about 20 points added to their team ERA. In terms of money, I would take Looper over Benson.
I remember it like it was yesterday… opening day 2009 at Comerica Park, Miguel Cabrera crushed a grand slam of this joker. You should of seen this pitch. It was nothing. It was right down the middle at what seemed like 70 MPH. It was almost like a lob. Kris Benson has absolutely nothing left in the tank. In no way can he help any team not even the Nationals. I dont care if he is 100%, he is still horrible and will be horrible for the rest of his career
I’m a Phillie fan, but I remember watching that game at the bar. I just happened to be off that day, and took in some golf.
Benson’s performance that day was the worst outing of any major league pitcher I’ve seen since Glavine on the last day of the season in ’07.
Benson made it through the Detroit lineup once, and I think that was only because the Tigers couldn’t believe he was tossing them such meat-ball. Benson had no velocity, couldn’t locate his breaking stuff, and missed high/mid all day. I said it that day, he’s done..
Alright kids remember to long toss because if you can throw 95 MPH, you can latch on to MLB teams forever.
This provides no more thrill than the signing of Shawn Estes, but I think at least that Benson and Estes and Batista are a little more believable than some of the retreads we tried in the last couple of years.
But this time I’m sure he will be in “the best shape of his career!” Just like every other player in ST around MLB… Sign his wife, Anna, for, um, “stress relief.” Leave Kris at home.
Benson’s “impressive workouts”………………………….. He bench-pressed 190 lbs, he managed to jog at a slow trot across the entire length of the diamond…………… He threw the ball for 278 aggregate feet without his arm falling off, etc.
If Kris Benson keeps having “impressive workouts” maybe he should start looking at a career in bodybuilding. Because it’s pretty clear his days being a major league pitcher are done.