4:12pm: Winn tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson (Twitter link) that he hasn't heard anything about the Nationals' interest.
3:13pm: Randy Winn has a new suitor, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (via Twitter). The Nationals are interested in the 35-year-old outfielder. Winn hit .262/.318/.353 last year, but has appeal because of his glove (He added more defensive value than all but three outfielders in 2009, despite his age).
The Nationals have Josh Willingham, Nyjer Morgan and Elijah Dukes in the outfield, so adding Winn would probably mean dealing Willingham or reducing Dukes' role. Winn wants to get at bats, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, so it doesn't sound like he'll take a bench role unless he has to.
The Royals were connected to Winn, but their interest has presumably waned, now that they're on the cusp of adding Scott Podsednik. Winn could make sense for the Padres, and we've heard him connected to the D'Backs for a while now.
Willingham maybe to the Yanks?
Why cant the yankess develop a top ten farm system. Instead of trying to buy every postion player with allstar potential to buy another championship.
Just traded 6 good prospects from the farm to other teams to get young players like Granderson, etc. Arod came from trading soriano, a lot of people forget that some of the Ynakees good players came from trading young talent. Swisher last year from Chicago for Betemit and a double A pitcher the White Sox liked. Gardner, cabrera, wang came from the system.. marte and nady came from the pirates for some quality minor leaguers. To me the key to a good minor league system is can you bring in the real good players? This kid Montero may be the real deal, I hear people say he is too big, 230 lbs, but Mauer weighs more than that. He is developing fast and has just pounded the ball at every level. We will see what he does in Triple A this year, could be a real good one or maybe just an ave catcher?
if the D’backs land Winn, I’d imagine (hope, maybe?) that would end the Eric Byrnes era.
Willingham would be a nice pickup for the Giants
If i can recall during the trade deadline giants were interested in him but the nats were asking too much. Sabes need to make a move on a bat now forget laroche . I remember josh hit two grand slam against the brewers.
LaRoche would be nice because we wouldn’t have to give up anything. Willingham would cost us a bit.
This is why the Nats should wait Wynn out, and offer him more money, and tell him he’ll be the forth outfielder. No way he should start.
670 OPS UGH….. but would be a great platoon mate for Jose Bautista! 850+ OPS!
That would not bother me one bit.
Booo, the Cubs need Winn more then them!
This may be extremely unlikely, but if the M’s could swing a deal for Dunn to DH (with Willingham moving to 1B) they could be a instant favorate to make the playoffs more than they already are. I know that the Nats don’t want to move him but I think he is a perfect fit on that team and in that stadium.
The Nats then could play Dukes/Morgan/Winn from left to right and have a vastly improved defense over what they started with last year and still have a nice 1-5 of the order if they sign Hudson to play 2B with Morgan-Hudson-Zimmerman-Willingham-Guzman.
Just can you imagine the RBI totals Dunn would have in this lineup?
1. Figgins 3B
2. Ichiro RF
3. Bradley LF
4. Dunn DH
5. Lopez 2B
6. Gutierrez CF
7. Kotchman 1B
8. Wilson SS
9. Johnson/FA C
(with Griffey doing alot of PH and LF work)
That would still be a sick defensive team AND would score in bunches with Dunn driving in the speedsters and OBP guys.
I heard last week Cashman had interest in Dukes
Winn still gets on base (~.350) vs RHP and has speed left in those legs. He just got BABIP murdered last year against LHP which may not repeat itself and he’ll go bact to his amazing D, baserunning, contact, and OBP self. Just dont expect ANY power.
I heard last week the yankees had interest in Dukes
I’m neither here nor there on this one.
of course, that is contingent on Rizzo’s ability to turn Josh Willingham or a package with Eljah Dukes in it into a decent quality Starting Pitcher.
otherwise, pass on Winn. we really don’t need to spend FA money on a 4th Outfielder. we’ve got bigger holes to fill.
it would seem a strange marriage- a light hitting OF for a corner spot. If they want him for the bench, that’s fine, but I don’t see him outhitting Willingham or Dukes, unless the Nats want to get rid of Dukes. I doubt either Dukes or Willingham fetches a particularly good package, anyway!
At 4th OF, Bernadina > Winn (considering age and $). Nats don’t trade Willingham unless they get significant pitching in return.
Randy Winn is hands down the best player in the major leagues today.
John R. Carlisle
Winn only makes sense for the Nats if they are making another move.
Having said that, I like Randy Winn, I think he still has something to offer a team, and I’m sure he’ll get a contract from someone.
If the Yankees want Dukes, I am sure Rizzo will listen. Beyond that, I am intrigued with this rumor just because it really would have to be part of greater movement. I would be disappointed to see ewillingham go, but only Zimmerman and Strasburg are currently untouchable.
I don’t know, maybe bcus they suck at it, what do you suggest they do mr hater? If you haven’t notice the Yanks haven’t sign anyone this offseason, they have done it with their own minor league prospects. Stop the crying and hating.
I don’t know maybe bcus they suck at it, what do you suggest they do Mr. Yankee hater? Everything they done this year has been with their minors league players. Stop the crying please, I’m bored already with you attacks
That is something to consider-not to mention, the Nats played a whole lot better after Nyjer brought his glove and great attitude to town. They have an awful lot of youth, and an awful lot of incomplete players, and Winn could be a nice piece of the puzzle. He’d probably be willing to sign a short term deal as well-which won’t kill the Nats in the long run.