The draft is less than a month away and once again, the Nationals appear likely to select the nation's best-known amateur with the first overall pick. Here are the details on the team's draft strategy and a couple other Nats-related notes:
- Former Nationals GM and current FOX Sports analyst Jim Bowden says Washington will take Bryce Harper with the first overall pick (Twitter link). Bowden believes the teenager's makeup is fine, even if he is a little immature. Last month the Nats said nothing was "etched in stone," but the club is monitoring Harper closely, at the very least.
- Nats GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he feels good about the team's options in right field. 'We're going to find out what these players can do," Rizzo said in reference to Willie Harris, Roger Bernadina and Justin Maxwell. That means we shouldn't expect the Nats to sign Jermaine Dye or another free agent right fielder any time soon.
- The Nationals released Mike Daniel, an outfielder chosen in the seventh round of the 2005 draft, according to MASN.com's Ben Goessling (via Twitter).
- The Nationals need starting pitching, president Stan Kasten told MLB.com's Bill Ladson. As Kasten says, every team needs pitching and the Nats are no exception. Kasten chose not to predict when 2009 first rounders Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen will make their MLB debuts.
Here are some good wishes for Mike Daniel. Thanks for your career with us, and I am sorry we didn’t see you at least once in DC.
If baseball players were expected to be mature at 17, then no one would ever tout the value of a veteran influence in the clubhouse.
I believe they’re using mature in the sense that he shouldn’t be so cocky.
Everything I’ve read has pointed to Boras giving him a massive ego, that will only inflate with age.
Then either pro pitching will humble him a little or he’ll be totally right to be that cocky, right?
This is the team that could probably use Darnell MacDonald.
I’m glad the Nats have come to their senses. This posturing about whether they would take Harper or not is just silly. Get it over with already. Pay the man his $15-17m and get him started in a short season in your system.