Discussion Rumors

After shocking the world by signing Jayson Werth, the Nats have been looking to make a second, albeit smaller, splash to fill their first base vacancy.  The club has talked extensively with Adam LaRoche but the two sides seem to have hit a wall as the SFX client seeks $21MM over three years.  They've also been linked to 35-year-old Derrek Lee who is willing to take a one-year deal.  Lee hit just .260/.347/.428 with 19 HRs in 2010 but finished out the year in solid fashion with the Braves.  Like LaRoche, Lee is also being looked at by the Orioles.

It seems likely that Washington will end up with either Lee or LaRoche at first base but they do have other options.  It has been said that the Nationals could look into signing Casey Kotchman as a Plan B.  The M's let the 27-year-old hit free agency back in November after he turned in a .217/.280/.336 slash line in 2010.  Kotchman made a shade over $3.5MM last season and can probably be had for less in '11.  His bat may be suspect but his career 8.8 UZR/150 at first base helps to offset his recent offensive shortcomings.

Kotchman might not be a real upgrade over Mike Morse at first base but he could be a nice complement to the burly slugger.  While Kotchman has always performed better against right-handed pitching, Morse has shown that he has a knack for hitting against lefties.  While he only made 99 plate appearances against southpaws in 2010, the 28-year-old impressed by hitting .295/.374/.625 with eight homers.

ESPN's Jason A. Churchhill suggests a different platoon option: ex-National Nick Johnson.  The oft-injured 32-year-old missed the bulk of 2010 with a wrist injury and predictably had his '11 option declined.  It's hard to say what kind of contract Nicky J will fetch on the open market but it's safe to say it'll be for less than the $5.5MM he made last season.  There isn't a great disparity in how Johnson hits against lefties and righties but he tends to hit for a little more power against right-handers. 

There's obviously a significant drop-off in talent after LaRoche and Lee in what remains of this year's free agent class but the Nats could fill their gap at first cheaply while addressing other needs.

The Phillies appeared to have their bullpen all squared away for 2011 when they agreed to a one-year, $1.1MM deal with 33-year-old Dennys Reyes.  However, the deal fell apart roughly a week later for unknown reasons.  While Ruben Amaro has already landed the biggest item on his Christmas wish list, a reunion with Cliff Lee, he is still looking to add a reasonably-priced left-handed reliever.

On Monday, J.C. Romero made it known that he would like to return to Philadelphia.  The left-hander would likely have to take a pay cut however, as he earned $4.5MM in 2010.  Hideki Okajima is another attractive available relief option but with strong interest from the Mets and other clubs, he could be too pricey for the Phillies. 

Recently, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer identified four relievers who would sign for a deal similar to the one Reyes and the Phillies (initially) agreed upon.  Joe Beimel, Randy Flores, Ron Mahay, and Will Ohman would all fall into that price range.  With those options available, Gelb argues that the Phillies would be better off rounding out their bullpen from within.  If you were in Ruben Amaro's position, what would you do?

At the start of this month, the Orioles began their pursuit of Adam LaRoche in earnest.  The two sides have been talking frequently but earlier this week it was said that talks had reached an impasse. The 31-year-old has been looking for a three-year deal and despite reports to the contrary, skipper Buck Showalter says that he club has not put a three-year, $21MM offer on the table.

As they hit a wall with LaRoche's representation, the O's rekindled talks with free agent Derrek Lee.  While Lee's offensive production was flat during the early portion of the 2010 campaign, he started to rebound in July for the Cubs and Braves.  Lee is also just one year removed from a brilliant 2009 season in which he hit .306/.393/.579 and 35 homers.  Perhaps the most important "pro" in the Orioles' t-chart is the fact that Lee seems willing to sign a one-year deal for $8MM, while LaRoche continues to seek a multi-year agreement.

However, the Orioles are not confined to these two options.  On Wednesday, ESPN's Buster Olney suggested that the club could put together a platoon at first base.  For example, Jason Giambi or Russell Branyan could hit from the left side of the plate while someone like Troy Glaus could provide a right-handed bat.  While those names aren't necessarily glamorous, they would allow the O's to patch up their hole at first without breaking the bank.  How do you envision Baltimore rounding out their revamped infield?