The latest on Nationals slugger Adam Dunn…
- The Giants are involved a number of pursuits, but do not seem serious about Dunn, writes Rosenthal.
- The White Sox are once again saying that they're out of the Dunn sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal (Twitter links). Barring a mystery team, Rosenthal finds it hard to envision a Dunn trade.
- The Nationals told teams that Edwin Jackson was key to obtaining Adam Dunn from them, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Many teams tried to obtain Jackson, the White Sox got him and now the Nationals say they aren't so sure they want the righty. Obviously, teams are frustrated with the Nationals (all Twitter links).
- The Nats are becoming frustrated as they try to obtain equal value for Dunn, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter links). Rival teams say that Washington's asking price is enormous.
- Nats GM Mike Rizzo told MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling that he won't lower his asking price for Dunn (Twitter link).
- Dunn says he'd be comfortable DHing for the rest of the year, according to multiple reporters, including Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (Twitter link). That is music to the ears of White Sox, Rays and Yankees fans.
- The Rays are convinced that the Yankees will acquire Dunn, Peter Gammons told WEEI.com. Gammons suspects that if the Nationals trade Dunn, the Yankees will acquire him. The Rays haven't given up hope, since they have had a special assignment scout watching Dunn all week, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (Twitter link).
- The White Sox remain in talks with the Nationals for Dunn even after the Edwin Jackson trade, write Rosenthal and Morosi. Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets that the Nationals want Jackson in a Dunn trade, but the White Sox hope to keep him out of the deal.
- The White Sox are focused only on Dunn and not Prince Fielder or Lance Berkman, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has heard varying opinions about whether the Yankees are truly out on Dunn.
- Yesterday's Dunn rumors are tough to sort out, rife with conflicting reports. The White Sox, Yankees, Rays, Giants, and Tigers were linked, though the Tigers might be out.
So the Nats get Edwin Jackson for Adam Dunn? Fail.
big fail
rosenthal just sounds dumb for saying that.
It obviously wouldn’t be for just Jackson, the White Sox would need to throw in additional players/prospects.
I don’t understand why the Nationals would prefer Edwin Jackson over Hudson…I don’t know much about Hudson, but wouldn’t he fit into their re-building plans MUCH better?
I wish Cashmoney would pull the trigger on Dunn! We need a bench-bat/DH and maybe play LF once in a while. Come on Cash there is still time to pick him up!
Hahah Dunn in LF. Good one.
You think the Yankees need someone who has averaged 40+ home runs & 100+ RBI’s for the past 6 years (and is on pace to do it again this year) as a pinch hitter?
Seriously, Dunn as a PH is an insult to baseball. I just hope Nats don’t trade him
what are you smoking? dunn is no bench player
Nats seem suddenly motivated to move Dunn. Not surprising, but if all they get is Edwin Jackson, they’re selling low. If the Yanks, ChiSox, Rays & Giants are all after him, then Dunn is the most sought after bat on the trade market – leverage is all with the Nats. Of course, they’re probably still euphoric after getting Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps.
What would the Yankees have to give up for Dunn? I would love having Dunn batting 2nd in our lineup just like Buster Olney reported on SportsCenter last night:
Jeter
Dunn
Tex
Arod
Cano
Posada
Swisher
Granderson
Gardner
Dunn bats 2nd in ur lineup? Wow
Why would you bat dunn second? Move Robby down to 6th and put dunn behind A-rod
the reasoning is because Cano is having a monster year and they wouldnt want to move him further down the lineup. Dunn would be a perfect number 2. high OPB, takes alot of pitches and bats left between jeter and tex. you put him in front of cano and you have back to back lefties.
i agree with Buster on this one
I think Dunn would be a pretty good number 2 hitter, however, his power numbers would suggest he’d be even better in the 5 spot behind A-rod. Cano has been fantastic in the 5 spot this year, not necessarily saying he should be moved to the 6th hole but he has great numbers against lefties this year which provides protection should they bring in a lefty reliever. Therefore, if by some chance (I really do not think it’s going to happen, but hey I could be wrong) the Yankees acquire Dunn, they can put him in either the 2nd or 5th spot with little to no negative side effects in the overall lineup. You put him in the 2nd, move Swish down to 6th or behind Jorge for 7th. Also, once you get later in the game, if Dunn is batting second, he’ll have a chance to knock in Gardner who bats in that “second lead-off spot,” 9th, with a 390+ on base percentage.
The Nats want major league ready pitching so I would give them Joba/Nova/Miranda,Adams,Nunez any one of the last three they choose. I have given up on Joba. This Yankees organization can’t and won’t wait for pitchers to develop, they have shown that, they just won’t. We have given Joba a chance and he has failed twice as a starter and many times as a reliever, I’m done and hopefully the Yankees are done with him. The lineup if we got him would look like this:
Jeter
Swisher
Teixeira
A-rod
Cano
Dunn
Posada
Granderson
Gardner
I am keeping my fingers crossed Cashman swoops in and takes him but it’s not looking good, I just hope we get a decent bench bat and maybe a bullpen arm.
(NICE) Line-Up
HAHAHAH Dunn at number 2, maybe you can swap Posada into the number 1 spot as well…ahh Yankee fans, makes me wonder if some of you even watch baseball games.
I dunno. I think Gardner has played well enough to bat leadoff. LF – Gardner (L)SS – Jeter (R)2b – Cano (L)1b – Teixeira (S)DH – Dunn (L)3b – A-Roid (R)RF – Swisher (S)C – Posada (S)CF – Granderson (L)Although, really, Grandy’s been hitting well enough lately that he *could* hit leadoff, it’s just that Gardner walks more.
You just Torre’d ARod?
Oh, I just saw your username, as well as how you spelled ARod. Still hurt from losing the big game huh?
granderson would bat 2nd
i wonder if there’s a link between the Brett Myers & Lance Berkman rumors that makes this work better for the Nats and Sox — perhaps Berkman is going to the Nats with Edwin Jackson and the Sox get Myers and Dunn?
EDIT: that should be “makes this work better for the Nats and EVEN better for the Sox”
Meant to reply, not to “like’ the post. That trade would be good for the TWO teams (Sox and Nats), the only thing you are forgetting is that the ASTROS would need players in return for Brett Myers & Lance Berkman.
Mark my words: Adam Dunn will be a Tiger and people will be shocked at how little they had to give up for him.
How about a source there?
lol why would Dunn bat second in a line-up? There’s just so many problems with that
“the reasoning is because Cano is having a monster year and they wouldnt want to move him further down the lineup. Dunn would be a perfect number 2. high OPB, takes alot of pitches and bats left between jeter and tex. you put him in front of cano and you have back to back lefties.
i agree with Buster on this one ”
you realize he strikes out like 200 times a year, right? that’s not exactly a quality you want in a 2 hitter. (i’m at work, it won’t let me reply to comments, not sure why)
I love how yankee fans still want dunn, but have the best record in majors, unbeleivably selfish
yeah because wanting your team to do better is bad. duh.
unbelievably bad spelling, greg. …and should teams stay complacent because they’re in first?
It’s acknowledged by most Yankee fans that adding Dunn is a luxury, not a necessity. If the Yankees have chance to trade a few prospects to get an established (in this case) power hitter that would help them in the long run this season (playoffs, if they hold out over the rays or get the wildcard spot, and perhaps further than that). The Yankees are notorious for making trades like this, usually not to this caliber, it’s normally just a bench player that is a pretty good hitter like Eric Hinske. And not to throw out the 27 World Series as a point in conversation like a lot of people do, the Yankees clearly have had success in a majority of their seasons. If that’s how they do it then who can really argue if they keep on winning (unless you hate the Yankees or are a Boston fan, which I guess that is a little redundant). However, I know for a fact that if whatever team you like to watch play had a chance for the playoffs (which they very well may have) and they have the prospects and desire to enhance their lineup, they would make a trade for Dunn.
Well said, sir.
yup = )
The rumor mill is all whitesox, all the time right now. I hope they get something good.
someone’s gunna swoop in right at the end..say the Rays or Yanks?
Edwin Jackson reportedly told he’s going to ChiSox.
ESPN reporting Arizona flipping Hudson to Washington for Dunn.
Lies.
No one believes you, troll with a Minnesota accent. Doan-cha-know.
Oh come on, have a sense of humor. It’d be absolutely hilarious. The ensuing rioting on the South Side would be better than when you guys let Thome walk over a measley $1.5m.
Thome’s 10th in MLB history with over 1,600 walks. The Sox wanted to profit on just one of them.
Clever line – but you can’t deny there was an uproar on the Sox blogs when Thome signed with MN. I felt genuinely bad for you guys.
There kinda was, but with the emergence of Delmon Young (whcih I’m ok with, I traded for him preseason in my keeper league), Thome’s not helped you as much as he could.
True, but I’ll still take a bench player who hits a dozen HR and gets on base for $1.5M. And more importantly from our perspective; it kept him out of Chicago, and aside from Jones’ annual hot-start, he’d have been a huge help for you.
Tim Kurkijian just went on the radio here in DC and said that he spoke to Nationals Officials, and was told that the Nationals were “absolutely not” going to trade Dunn for Edwin Jackson. The Nats are interested in Jackson, but they are not giving up Dunn for him. exact wording was “No Way. Not for Dunn.”He also says he talked to Dunn. Dunn says he was told by the team that he still might be traded, but it will NOT be to the White Sox. Jim Bowden also tweeted about this. twitter.com/JimBowdenXMFOX/status/19926199164
that’s what you want to believe
I’m just reporting what is being said. If you don’t like it, too bad.
nats need major league pitching, they already have pitching prospects.
dunn and a prospect for jackson and andruw jones
Comments like this are why a “dislike” button is necessary.But while we’re at it, you should trade Vizquel for Sabathia, too.
One thing wrong with that, Andrew Jones is a wash up has been
“Yankees Definitely Out on Dunn”
twitter.com/BobKlap/status/19927661510
so if this is true, then what….Rays or nothing?
inb4 Edwin Jackson has a 4.98 era at end of year and is considered a bust.
Now MLBTradeRumors added that the Sox are trying to get Dunn without includng Jackson in the deal. Maybe Viciedo, Flowers, and/or Morel could get Dunn?
KW is that desperate to empty the farm, huh?
Dunn is only a half year rent-a-player, getting Jackson for that is a pretty damn good deal for Washington. Personally I think the Sox should keep Jackson because he is an improvement over Hudson, and Don Cooper works wonders on pitchers. Then maybe trade Teahen + Flowers/Morel for Dunn, and let Visquel ride out his last year at 3rd base giving everything left in the tank and have Viciedo for next year at 3rd base.
Dunn is only a half year rent-a-player, getting Jackson for that is a pretty damn good deal for Washington. ——————–No it isn’t.
Sure it is. You’re getting a possibly repairable starting pitcher in Jackson for renting out Dunn for 3 months. He could very well sign back with the Nats next season, who knows. You’re already out of the Pennant race anyways, might as well capitalize off it.
You’re better off taking the two first round picks and putting more talent in the system.
Sure it is. You’re getting a possibly repairable starting pitcher in Jackson for renting out Dunn for 3 months. He could very well sign back with the Nats next season, who knows. You’re already out of the Pennant race anyways, might as well capitalize off it.
Since the Rays seem like the best fit for Dunn, I don’t see why a Hellickson for Dunn trade has been mentioned. It seems like a perfect fit for both teams, the Rays have no space for Hellickson in their rotation and seem to really want to add Dunn…and the Nats are looking for young starting pitching, and I think Hellickson is one of the best Starting Pitching Prospects available. Strasburg, Zimmermann, Hellickson could be pretty nasty the next few years in DC….
No way the Rays move Hellickson for Dunn. The Rays have to keep costs controlled and Hellickson is the cheap option to replace one of the other home grown starters as they approach arbitration and free agency.
Clarification – The rumor was Dunn for Jackson straight up. That is not going to happen, according to Kurkjian. It’s going to have to be significant package.
according to Bob Nightengale’s twitter, The White Sox are putting a package together with Jackson in it to offer to the nationals.
I don’t care who else they offer Jackson has negative trade value to the Nats. White Sox he upgrades their rotation as they pursue the Postseason, Nationals he eats up money on a last place team.
I agree and I’d rather keep Dunn and re-sign him.
I’m just reporting what I see.
I certainly agree. My feeling is that Hudson would have had more value to the Nats. Then again, I’m not Mike Rizzo. I trust Rizzo to make the right call, and while he claims to like Jackson, I don’t think he’s going to make the mistake of acquiring him here.
Giants trade J. Sanchez and Thomas Neal to Nats for Dunn with a lineup of
Torres
F. Sanchez
Posey
Dunn
Huff
Sandoval
Burrell
Uribe
That lineup from top to bottom can contend with anybody in the league…Throw in the best pitching staff in the bigs and you have a recipe for big things!
worst defensive outfield i have ever seen.
agree. trade wheeler and neal instead. cant afford to lose sanchez this year.
agree. trade wheeler and neal instead. cant afford to lose sanchez this year.
worst defensive outfield i have ever seen.
I want Bumgarner and Sanchez for Dunn.
I want Jessica Alba…
i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff292/dyoungprodigy/12…
If the Yanks acquire Dunn, just give them the WS.
If the Yanks acquire Dunn, just give them the WS.
Typical smoke screen buy the Yankees. If not Dunn, their will be a big name in pinstripes by tomorrow at 4p.m.
Typical smoke screen buy the Yankees. If not Dunn, their will be a big name in pinstripes by tomorrow at 4p.m.
I hope some other team sneaks in a gets Dunn, Yanks don’t need him
Berkman is a better fit for the Yankees than Dunn. He is a veteran, switch hitter, who has been on winning teams, can better handle the pressure of New York than Dunn and is a friend of Andy Pettite (and Pettite WANTS Berkman on the team).
Who is Andy willing to give?? Joba and Granderson opens a spot for Crawford next year…
I hope some other team sneaks in a gets Dunn, Yanks don’t need him
Heard Dunn doesn’t want to DH but I guess it’s not up to him until November.
Heard Dunn doesn’t want to DH but I guess it’s not up to him until November.
Dunn: No more defense…. sign me up – Imagine it now, sitting on the bench, chewing gum, taking a leek anytime you want too, Batting when your turn is called and then pigging out on the postgame buffet. Sounds like living to me
Dunn: No more defense…. sign me up – Imagine it now, sitting on the bench, chewing gum, taking a leek anytime you want too, Batting when your turn is called and then pigging out on the postgame buffet. Sounds like living to me
Hmm So the Rays think the Yanks are getting Dunn.
Hmm So the Rays think the Yanks are getting Dunn.
Adam Dunn would look weird Batting #2 with that power>_> Why not just bat him 6th if you don’t want to move Cano 6th….Nvm back to back Lefties. Eh I guess he’d end up batting 2nd then.
Adam Dunn would look weird Batting #2 with that power>_> Why not just bat him 6th if you don’t want to move Cano 6th….Nvm back to back Lefties. Eh I guess he’d end up batting 2nd then.
I hate the Yankees
its time to ante up, Nats are in a good position.
If Yankees get Dunn the Rays should look to the Brewers for Prince because they have a surplus of pitching which Milwaukee needs.
Yanks do not need a big bat like Dunn. They already have Arod, Tex, Cano, etc. On top, you want another 40 homer hitter. I bet all those Rangers moves are making Yanks uncomfortable.
Rays
Plan A – Dunn
Plan B – Fielder
C’Mon Friedman, start workin’ those phones. Yanks get Berkman, Rays get Dunn. Who would get the better bargain.
What in the world do the Nats think equal value is for two months of Dunn and compensatory picks. Sure, they deserve a good prospect or two and maybe some filler, but if they’re shooting for the moon with a rental like Dunn, of course they’ll end up frustrated.
The White Sox’s trade of Hudson for Jackson was not good. Trading Jackson for Dunn would be even worse. The Sox don’t need a bat THAT badly, because getting rid of Jackson would leave a gaping hole in the Sox’s rotation, and there’s no telling if Lucas Harrell or Carlos Torres can fill it. Unless there’s a Jake Westbrook or Brett Myers coming tomorrow, I don’t like this.
I wonder how they are feeling frustrated when Rizzo really does not want to trade Dunn. tho on the Nationals website a Strasburg picture has replaced Dunn behind Zimmeman at the bottom of the screen
Nice work noticing that. It has to be because they are planning on him being traded. Its been Dunn and Zim all season and they change it the day before the deadline. I hope they trade him to the Rays for the best they can get and then resign him in the offseason. Along with Crawford.
thats kind of what I hope happens as well ! but he is great for our clubhouse so id love to see him return
thats kind of what I hope happens as well ! but he is great for our clubhouse so id love to see him return
I’d like to see’em re-sign Pena, Soriano, & Dunn (should they acquire him).
Nice work noticing that. It has to be because they are planning on him being traded. Its been Dunn and Zim all season and they change it the day before the deadline. I hope they trade him to the Rays for the best they can get and then resign him in the offseason. Along with Crawford.
“The Nationals told teams that Edwin Jackson was key to obtaining Adam Dunn from them, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Many teams tried to obtain Jackson, the White Sox got him and now the Nationals say they aren’t so sure they want the righty. Obviously, teams are frustrated with the Nationals (all Twitter links).”
~ I am reaaaaallllly getting tired of this game. Here’s to hoping for another 20 100 loss seasons in a row. You want him, you don’t, you want him, you don’t. Dunn is prepared to move. You are getting extremely frustrated because people don’t want to give you their top prospects for a rental. Giving up Jackson for Hudson actually improves us short term….. giving up Jackson for Dunn would do more harm than good considering Lucas Harrell is deathly allergic to the strike zone tonight in his ML debut.
As a Nats fan I have no idea why the Nats would want Jackson for Dunn. I know for some reason they wanted to trade for Jackson, but I find it highly unlikely that the Nationals would tell teams the key to getting Dunn was Edwin Jackson. I will be pissed if the Nats trade Dunn to the Wsox for Jackson, I’m still hoping they trade him to the Rays for some young prospects.
I have a feeling right now that the Nasty Nats are looking at Jackson/Viciedo/maybe Stefan Gartrell? for Dunn. They don’t have to trade Dunn… but if you can get a decent haul in return… wouldn’t you do it? With Hudson gone and Sale being unavailable, Viciedo moves into our best MLB ready player. With you guys acquiring Ramos, there’s no need to require Flowers in any deal.
I want and think Dunn will be traded, I just don’t want Jackson. I don’t think Jackson isn’t very good, he only has 1 year left before FA, and he’ll be over paid next year due to arbitration. I would have rather had Hudson plus another prospect. I agree that since we got Ramos we don’t need Flowers either.
I’d really like for the Nats to trade Dunn for the best offer on the table and then try and resign him in the offseason. I have really enjoyed him on the Nats the past couple of years but when your a young team trying to build you have to make these type of moves.
The simple fact of the matter is that the majority of the fanbase seems to think that the plan is to work towards 2012. Rizzo’s moves in the past 24 hours have indicated that the plan is to work towards 2012. Why would he take his biggest trade chip and make the top priority in the return a guy who is probably paid at pretty fair value (I’d put the $8.5 mill around that of a #3 starter, which is what Jackson is when at the top of his game) for 2011 and a free agent after that…. particularly considering he’s a Boras client.
Unless Boras gave him some weird ultimatum like, “Acquire Edwin Jackson now. I guarantee he’ll sign long-term at market value with you if you do, since I don’t expect to get market value after his contract expires after 2011. If you do this, I’ll also drop the asking price on Bryce Harper to make it worth your while.”
As always, bluelineswinger brings the heat. I am part of that fanbase, say it’s operation 2012, and much of Rizzo’s goodwill would be undone with me if he traded Dunn for a BB machine who isn’t under contract after 2011.
Nats fan. Not a clue what Rizzo is thinking with regards to Jackson. I know that he likes him, though I doubt that he’s as obsessive about him as the media makes it out to be. Truth be told, from my viewpoint, Hudson could be a better pitcher pretty quickly and even if he just ends up being pretty close, his surplus value (6 years of club control…. not due $8.5 million next year…. etc.) so far outweighs the benefits of acquiring Edwin Jackson that he’s going backwards if he were to take a package of Jackson and the Morel/Danks/Flowers (with Ramos’ acquisition, he’d make even less sense)/Viciedo.
We’ll see what happens, and I think it’ll make for some great theater. If I were Kenny Williams and I were truly led to believe that getting Jackson was more attractive to the Nats and then Rizzo goes elsewhere, I’d obviously be pretty annoyed (well… maybe a stronger word than that).
Before the whole White Sox seeming obsession with acquiring Dunn that has covered most of the past month, I felt the Rays were the best fit. They have a definite need for Dunn’s services in the DH role, and they have incredible depth at the Nats’ weak(est… there are many weaknesses, but pitching’s the worst) area in the system. Furthermore, they have a similar situation to Ramos (blocked by Mauer), where they have an incredible young big league ready starter that’s biding his time in Durham because they have an incredible (and club controlled… Garza’s the closest to FA if I’m not mistaken) young pitching staff already in the majors.
I feel that Hellickson and Davis are too much for Rizzo to ask for, and I know that Price isn’t going anywhere. As they’ve already locked Shields up for a few years beyond his arbitration years, I don’t think they’d consider dealing him either. I could see them moving Garza, though I don’t think they will. Niemann…. ehhh… maybe
The likelihood is still that the Nats get multiple guys from a little further down below. Maybe a Jake McGee, though he might be too risky. Maybe a Matt Moore or Alexander Colome? Maybe a Torres or Barnese? (My feeling is that if the Nats go further away from the big leagues with the prospects they’re getting, then they’re getting two of them).
I do think that Rizzo holds fast with his need for some big league ready (cheap) talent in the deal and maybe tries to pick off either Reid Brignac, Sean Rodriguez, or (hopefully not) Jason Bartlett as part of the deal. Maybe he ships over an Adam Kennedy to replace the utility MI in the short-term, as a utility MI could be a must for the Rays to make a WS run. The Rays would prefer to move Bartlett obviously, but I don’t think that’s how it works out.
The parts are replaceable in the short-term on the Rays side, and if Friedman truly feels as strong about his system is (and feels a strong enough need for Dunn), he’d have to consider it. With Pena and Crawford hitting free agency, the Rays have to go for it now… that’s my thought.
My thought is that the Nats will also pick up the bulk of the salary remaining on Dunn’s contract to maximize his return.
And yes… that’s all pure speculation. The White Sox never really seemed like a great fit to me
The problem with the Sox is (obviously) our farm system or lack thereof. We have 1 maybe 2 studs (Beckham/Sale) and the rest are just good players. Obviously it was known that Beckham wasn’t going anywhere and Sale is unproven and untradeable as of right now. What does that leave? 3 good prospects in return. I think this Dunn deal would be “Dunn” if the White Sox would have included Beckham in any offer and that just isn’t smart on so many levels.
As for the Rays…. I always said Jermaine Dye was the right fit for TB but he seemingly fell off the face of the planet. If Dunn signed an extension with WASH already or agreed too with his new team I think those clubs would be more than willing to part ways with a top prospect.
I certainly agree that teams would be more willing to move a top prospect for Dunn if he weren’t a rental. At this stage in the game, though, it’s kind of hard to leave a window for an extension.
For sure…. For all we know Dunn doesn’t get traded at all and signs a Nats extension Aug. 1st. I am just wondering what KW is up to right now…. he had it all worked out it seemed. Trade Jackson/Viciedo to WSH. Trade Morel/other to Houston for Myers. I just have the strangest feeling that the Sox are about to make a move at Prince or Bautista (with the former being EXTREMELY unlikely.)
Viciedo was just pulled from Sox game in the top of 7th. Vizquel was put in for defense at 3rd base. Viciedo was 3 for 3. While I don’t doubt it was just for D; it could be possible that KW is wheeling and dealing? *Disclaimer I realize Vizquel is always put in for defense*
Was thinking the same thing earlier. Twitter blew up when Dunn got pulled from the game in the top of the eighth with an 8-1 lead (Gonzalez to second base, Kennedy moved over to first). Thought to myself, Dunn always gets pulled for Kennedy late in the game with the lead.
Mike Rizzo is creating a reputation among GM’s that the probably will regret down the road.
Rizzo’s creating a reputation among Kenny Williams that he will probably regret down the road. The Capps/Ramos and Guzman/low level prospect deals seem tough but fair for teams in a win-now mentality. Nats should play this as long as they can with the ChiSox. It’s not our fault that the ChiSox don’t have enough depth in their farm (Rays) or franchise players blocking prospects (Twins) to have drawn a quality deal to this point. Rizzo may be negotiating with Dunn last minute as we speak and can say, “Uh, sorry. Dunn’s decided that he’ll sign at my price now.” now that he has the leverage with the agent of knowing that there’s an EJackson trade or other move waiting if they don’t agree on what to do.
What a surprise-people from DC respect sandbagging and half truths…
I don’t respect sandbagging and half truths. Rizzo dealt with the Twins. Mum’s the word until the final deal. Rizzo dealt with the Rangers. Mum’s the word until the final deal. Kenny Williams is a big wheeler dealer and I think he leaks stuff and Rizzo is not very tactful in keeping quiet and that creates tensions. He’s a first year GM walking a delicate tightrope. I wish the “painful” comments would stop and he would just make his calls behind the scenes and do what he thinks his best. What I’m trying to do is creatively speculate and make his seeming contradictions make some sense. I’d rather he contradict himself off the rumor mill. May be an element of playing to the fan base that likes Dunn so much. Some Nats fans overvalue Dunn. I wanted Dunn for Hudson and I’d have thought Rizzo would wanted that as well over Jackson.
Hard to say whether the comments about Rizzo saying that flipping Edwin Jackson in a three team type of swap ever really happened or was media driven (most likely leaked by an interested GM if that’s the case). Supposedly Rizzo has made the fact that he likes Edwin Jackson known, and all indications are that he tried to acquire him in some way, shape, or form. Did anyone notice that the story that he was interested happened to break after the Diamondbacks traded Dan Haren away?
It’s possible that he saw what the Angels gave up for Haren, had the same viewpoint as most in the media have had (that it was an awful deal for the Diamondbacks… in fact, that they probably got more for Edwin Jackson now that they’ve moved him), and tried to take advantage because he figured that the Diamondbacks were in such a salary dump mode that they’d deal him for a couple of the AAAA guys (Luis Atilano, Craig Stammen, J.D. Martin, Shairon Martis, etc…. I could go on, but believe me, you don’t want me to).
That would, of course, lead to a “Rizzo is really interested in Edwin Jackson” comment leaking out there. A GM interested in Dunn could leak something to improve his bargaining position (or reputation amongst his fan base at least… make himself look like a wronged party). It’s entirely possible that someone (Williams?) could be trying to negotiate through the media.
I will never understand Mike Rizzos’ obsession in trading for Edwin Jackson. He is 26, almost 27, years old. He will make 8.35 million dollars next season. He has played for 5, now 6, teams. His overall win percentage is 47.3. And a career ERA of 4.74. I don’t know, maybe he does have an upside.
I’m with you all the way. Personally, from the White Sox, I’d have taken a deal centered around Hudson and Viciedo. I wouldn’t take one centered around Jackson and Viciedo. The key to this deal from the Nats standpoint should be quality young big league ready talent that’s cost controlled for a few seasons. Pick up some kids who are going to contribute (preferably at least one for the rotation) quickly, better than what the AAAA starters they have in the middle of the rotation, and use the surplus money to try and take a serious run at a Crawford or Werth in the offseason.
Please no Werth. We’d be the laughingstock of the NL East if he craters once he’s no longer the lone righty in a sea of lefty pain in a bandbox. Crawford, though. That’s the man I’d want if the price is right. But that will be very, very expensive. How the Nats address RF until Prospect X is ready and 2B are interesting questions. Tune in tomorrow for more Rizzo drama. Certainly, won more of my respect with today’s deal and hopefully EJacks is a smokescreen for something potentially more consistent with the other moves he’s made.
Crawford would definitely be the preference, though they’re going to have to outbid the Yankees (among others) for his services. Great all-around bat. Great on the basepaths. Outstanding glove. Looking at the Capps move, that’s the thing. They’re going to save somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 million there…. they didn’t just get a guy generally viewed as a really good prospect having a pretty bad year.
Dealing Guzman was addition by subtraction in a sense. He wasn’t adding anything to the team. He wasn’t going to re-sign. Basically, the Nats saved part of his salary and picked up a couple of organizational filler types who could maybe overachieve (Tatusko certainly has a bit to this point).
FYI, I don’t think they saved much salary. Rumor has it that the Nats are kicking 2Mil toward his salary in the deal.
They didn’t save much salary. They paid $2 million in the deal… He should be due somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.7 million. With Capps, they saved a ton of money for next season, and basically just signed an asset for a little less than he was worth (without giving anything up) in the offseason to flip him for a bigger long-term asset. Even if Ramos only develops into a strong defensive backup catcher (not what I hope for), he’s still bringing more surplus value.
The addition by subtraction comment was generally meant to say that not having Guzman on the roster improves the team in a sense. It will give the Nats a better opportunity to evaluate Alberto Gonzalez, as there will be more at bats for him. It should also give them a better shot to evaluate whether or not the $2 million option (said this in the other thread, but that’s pretty cheap even for a guy starting 60% of the time) that they have on Adam Kennedy is worth picking up. Guz wasn’t really adding anything at this point.
He wasn’t going to be re-signed. Though he has a shot at being a Type B free agent, he wouldn’t have been offered arbitration anyway (making $8 million this season…. 80% of his previous year’s salary must be offered if he accepts arbitration, which would be $6.4 million. That’s more than he’ll make on the open market).
The addition by subtraction meant that by kicking most of his salary in, they were able to get a couple of guys that look like they’re probably just organizational depth/filler (whichever term you prefer) back for him. It doesn’t happen often, but they could get lucky with one of them and get a couple of overachieving years. Not great assets in return for Guzman, but better than what they would have had without trading him.
Had little to do with the money. They did save a little ($700,000), but it won’t be an amount that really makes a difference.
Enjoy Mark Prior 2.0.
Wow, you are a class act. I bet you’d love to see Strasburg never pitch another inning in the big leagues. Besides what did Souldrummer’s comment have to do with Stras? At least I assume you are talking about Strasburg because he has shoulder fatigue/imflammation/whatever and Prior had shoulder issues. He never mentioned Stephen. But regardless, I hope the Nats get value for Dunn but Rizzo blew his best chance with a top offer from the best farm system involved in Tampa. The bidding war could have gotten the Nats anything short of Hellickson in the Rays system and maybe even Hellickson with a throw in or two. Rizzo now looks like a massive (explict term here), but Kenny Williams looks even dumber for “assuming” that the Nats were chomping at the bit for Jackson and were ready to hand him over so to speak. Rizzo was the ultimate troll Friday, gotta give him props for that as well as for the Guzman and Capps deals for getting max value.
Im not excited that the Sox traded Hudson for Jackson but its a done deal and for the short term its probably best.
That said, I would hate trading Jackson and Viciedo ….or jackson and Flowers for a couple months of Dunn. Would Dunn improve the Sox??…sure…but with no real #5 starter I doubt that Dunns contribution would have overcome that gaping hole in the rotation. Torres isnt the way to go and I dont think that Sale is ready.
Looking back, Id rather undo the Jackson deal and tell Washington to go piss up a rope.
Why didn’t Olney just put up an article on ESPN instead of writing 3 tweets to explain things? I hate how Twitter is being used by reporters.
Finally, here’s a thought. Think Rizzo’s asking price is just way out of line? Hang up the phone
Wow what a Sh*&&y move by the Nats, tell everyone the EJax has to be in any deal for Dunn, and then decide after the interested team has acquired him that they no longer what him. WTF.
it is shitty, but that’s the reason there are 3-team trades. the white sox have only themselves to blame…
So teams are getting out of race for Dunn. Hart is still injured I think and even then he is off the market, Dejesus is injured.
There has to be number of teams interested in Bautista since no big hitter other than Dunn is on the market.
could rizzo have fumbled this situation any more?
Willinghams still out there, Guillens still out there, Bautistas still available. Don’t give up Rays. You still have plenty of time.