The latest Nationals news…
- The Yankees shot down the Nationals' attempts to trade for Brett Gardner, according to Pete Kerzel of MASNSports.com.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told reporters today he doesn't think anything has changed on the Upton front.
- The Angels have no interest in trading Peter Bourjos and the Mets plan to keep Angel Pagan, writes Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com.
- The Nationals and Rays discussed center fielder B.J. Upton recently, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Yesterday we heard the Rays would have to be overwhelmed to move Upton. The Nationals are "fixated" on leaving the Winter Meetings with a new center fielder, a team source told Pete Kerzel of MASNSports.com.
- Nationals manager Davey Johnson has talked to free agent Mark DeRosa about joining the team, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The Nats also have interest in bringing Willie Harris back.
- The Nationals are letting teams know Roger Bernadina is available in trade, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The 27-year-old posted a .243/.301/.362 line in 337 plate appearances this year.
Want a CF…The white sox will give you Alex Rios for a hot dog
Well, I am hungry…DEAL!!!
-Mike Rizzo’s stomach
Mike – Alex Rios is available –
Dont do anything rash Rizzo, PLEASE!
TB would be wise to move BJ Upton…knowing TB’s front office, the will get a kings ransom for just an ok player.
Breaking news: B.J. is more than just OK.
BJ is a great defensive center fielder, and has good power/speed.
he’s only been slightly above avg defensively according to uZR.
UZR is a very flawed statistic. All defensive metrics should really be taken with a grain of salt, we just don’t have enough information to make an extremely accurate one yet.
I wonder if his spotty attitude will cost the Rays if they move him. I think a lot of teams would pay more to get him if he was known as a constant hustle type of guy.
Marlon Byrd still plays a pretty good CF wouldn’t cost you too terribly much, and is a great clubhouse guy…plus opens our outfield up..see win win
Byrd for LaRoche and Gorzelanny?
After Morse’s breakout last year, LaRoche is expendable. Gorzo’s a non-tender candidate who only ever really succeeded in Chicago. Fills the Cubs’ need for a 1B and a lefty SP, and the Nats finally get their CF.
Before I get burned at the stake, I mean “succeeded” compared to the rest of his career.
Wrong…
I’m having flashbacks to July
we already had marlon byrd, we dont want him again. also, make it happen rizzo, upton is what we need for that lineup, plus he’s a hometown guy (sort of)
These talks have been going on for 2 years now. BJ going to the Nationals this offseason. I don’t think the Nats have much to offer that they’re willing to give up.
Most over rated Rays player ever. Over last 3 yrs, he boasts a .235 average, .320 OBP. Underwhelmed most like it.
Atleast he can play some great D and has been SOMEWHAT productive at the plate. Pat Burrell would be the most over rated Ray ever,or Maybe Vinny Castilla, or Greg Vaughn or…..
I hear you. Still managed 10.5 WAR over the three years.
If he can manage 4 WAR a year while batting .230, I think he should be considered underrated
That was sort of my point.
Just reiterating. Sorry if that wasn’t clear
I’d be fine with an Upton-Desmond swap. Maybe the Nats give the Rays a prospect too
Desmond and Jesus Flores?… maybe a low level prospect as well… sounds good to me for Upton…
That is actually a fair trade for both sides as the Rays have had interest in Desmond and Flores has decent upside plus i’m sure a low-level PTBNL could be in play as well but for some reason the Rays have this idea that Upton is worth the world and a half.
I’d Be Ok with this
I prefer to see Fielder, instead of a new CF, Why not Bernadina till Harper is ready and move Werth to center first Bernadina leadoff than Desmond when Harper plays. And I think Reyes was also a good fit as a good batting leadoff and defensive shortstop. And they need a pitcher like CJ, Buerhle or Oswalt.
Because Bernadina is not a CF anymore in the eyes of the Nationals.
Instead of trading their prospects the Nationals should sign Cespedes. This way they can preserve their farm system while adding some potential talent.
I Think Cespedes is way overrated he didn’t play any Major or even minor leauge game….
Neither did Ichiro. he worked out ok.
True but i think the japenese baseball leauge is maby the best after the MLB (and maby AAA)…
When assessing talent, I’ve heard evaluators say Japanese baseball is somewhere slightly above AAA in quality, but still quite short of MLB in quality. The Cuban leagues, however, are compared to A ball, so it’s substantially lower.
People confuse the success of the Cuban National Team in international competition with the overall quality of the baseball in Cuba. The Cuban National team is their best talent who play together for long stretches and are geared toward the rules of international play.
Cespedes is talented, but a total question mark. A lot less known about him than Ichiro.
I just hope the Nats dont trade any pieces we have on the ML team.
I wish Bernadina had 600 at bats last year because this guy has so much upside and I would love to see what he can do.
The Houston Astros would love to have someone patrolling center field like Peter Bourjos. Definitely not a match. The Astros will miss having such capable hands the likes of Michael Bourn in such a spacious outfield come opening day 2012.
A nice commodity to have and something Houston will be lacking until Austin/Springer/a long shot Wates makes it to the big leagues.
Teams tend to undervalue defense, which is hard to understand sometimes.
Why would we bring Willie Harris back? The team should be moving forward, not backward. Everyone on the bench last year (with the exception of Matt Stairs) was a HUGE upgrade over Harris. I think this ‘rumor’ is more like wishful thinking of Bill Ladson.
I don’t want Upton.. Nationals need a lead off hitter and BJ hasn’t put up a respectable OBP since 2008
Sign Cespedes, please.
Go Blockbuster!!! Give AJ Cole, JZimm, PTBL Rendon, and Ramos/Norris to the Bucs for ACutch. Or trade them Cole and Ramos/Norris for Starling Marte.
Clearly a Pirates fan.
What, in your mind, would have been proper value there?
well with the players you listed the only fair return would be the entire pirates 40 man roster…
Nationals are still in progress to build a respectable farm system and you are suggesting that we give up two starting players and couple of prospects for one starter. Who will replace Ramos? and JZ? Besides Rendon has not shown his worth yet. I think Andrew is out of our reach. We should aim for a one-year rental like Upton or Pagan and then go after Bourn when he is a free agent.
Well, at least we found Omar Minaya’s handle.
Strasburg & Harper especially Harper…(Hes A Yankee Fan)…will be Yankees…Boras always takes his top guys too free agency…can’t wait
Sadly, I don’t think you’re wrong about Harper. Strasburg might surprise us. A lot of things could change by the time they reach FA.
I, a Nats fan, wouldn’t blame Harper. He has been a Yankees fan since childhood. I am pretty sure playing for them must be one of his childhood dreams. Nothing wrong with someone getting there.
Harper is also a Cowboys fan and Lakers fan. Kind of shows they type of person he is.
What an argument! You must be right at whatever you were implying.
Jered Weaver says hi.
Why would you need to be overwhelmed to move a guy with a .240/.322/.408 line the past three seasons?
because
4 WAR in each of the last 2 years?
Upton IS good. Batting average and attitude can never sum up a guys value.
Will Venable could be a candidate to be traded to Washington.
Just go get Coco Crisp already….
Glad Cashman said no, when Gardner swipes 60 bags and hits .290 next season with an OBP in the upper 300’s, Cash will look like a genius.
I love Gardner as much as the next Yankee fan but hold up on that .290 prediction. Gardner is a pretty poor contact hitter, the last time he hit .290+ was his second year in AAA. He’s not likely to do it at the major league level. I could see 60 bags and a .360+ OBP, but he isn’t much more than a .260-.275 average guy.
There is no one on that list better than Rick Ankiel who the fans grew to appreciate last season when he was given a chance to play and injury free. Over a 150+ games he will do fine until Harper is ready then he can be there for 4th outfielder spot or an injury. We missed a chance at Reyes, that’s where we should have put our money…on Reyes and either CJ or Mark B. Ankiel would be cheap, 2-4 million a year or a 2 year 6 mil deal…good guy for harper to see carry himself. Just my thoughts…