Here’s the latest from the D.C. camp…
- Ian Desmond’s former Nationals teammates are flabbergasted by the fact that the shortstop has yet to sign with a team, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. “I don’t think there is a draft pick out there who is better than Ian Desmond,” Bryce Harper said. “I don’t there is a draft pick out there who is a better guy or person in the clubhouse than him.” Harper and Max Scherzer both feel that the qualifying offer is largely behind Desmond’s lingering presence on the market, with Harper opining that the QO system is “something baseball definitely needs to change.” Scherzer thinks the qualifying offer “literally has to be” the biggest and maybe only factor why Desmond is still available. “There’s no other reason why a team would not want to sign a shortstop like that. ….You could see the power. You could see the speed. You just don’t find that out of a shortstop,” Scherzer said.
- Oliver Perez’s previous stint with the Nationals consisted of 16 Double-A games in 2011, but the southpaw tells MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman that this stint helped revive his career. Minor league pitching coordinator Spin Williams encouraged Perez to become a full-time reliever in order to pave a quicker road back to the majors, and Perez has taken that advice to the bank. In four seasons since shifting to the bullpen, Perez has become a quality lefty specialist and is now back in Washington on a much more lucrative contract.
- Ryan Zimmerman spoke to reporters (including Zuckerman) for the first time since his name was cited in the controversial Al Jazeera documentary that alleged Zimmerman, Ryan Howard, Peyton Manning and several other notable athletes were using PEDs. Zimmerman firmly denied any allegations made in the documentary and noted that he and Howard were so eager to clear their names that they filed a defamation lawsuit against Al Jazeera, despite the fact that such a suit could lead to more public scrutiny. “It’s one of those things where privacy is really not privacy anymore for me,” Zimmerman said. “It’s unfortunate that I have to do that, but that’s the steps I’m willing to take to show people that I have nothing to hide.”
Why not ask his teammates why he turned down the extension that was more than fair? Maybe some teams just don’t want to deal with him period.
You mean they don’t want to have all those extra errors on their team? Probably right. I wouldn’t pay him much for what he does in the field. His bat doesn’t make up for what he does on defense so therefore, he’s not worth much at all. Teams would rather give a rookie a shot then overpay for probably similar results.
I agree. I have zero sympathy for him. Turned down a $107 million offer, supposedly, two years ago. He made his bed, now he can sleep in it.
They’d probably tell you that it’s because a contract that was effectively a five-year, $89MM extension with deferrals isn’t “more than fair” in today’s market for a 28-year-old shortstop coming off the two-year platform that Desmond had in 2012-13.
The anger toward him for rejecting that deal is so, so bizarre. He essentially had $22.5M in the bank already in terms of previous career earnings and the $17.5M he was guaranteed and was coming off a pair of outstanding seasons midway through his prime. Virtually any agent would’ve advised him to reject that offer, and he looked wise to have done so through the 2014 season.
To imply that some teams “just don’t want to deal with him” at all ignores everything that has ever been said about Desmond, this season or otherwise. He’s lauded for his character, leadership, work ethic. Players turn down extensions all the time, whether the information is reported or not. No team is going to hold the fact that he bet on himself against him. What a strange statement to make.
Great points… Personally knowing Desmond I can say that those who praise him for his character and work ethic are spot on. Teammates constantly talk about what a great clubhouse presence he is. Those are some things that don’t show up in the stat sheet that can make a guy invaluable to a team.
Draft pick compensation isn’t the only reason Desmond isn’t signed. His production was shaky last year and he is probably asking more than what teams want to pay.
In fact most teams would give up a draft pick if they felt they were getting value out of his signing.
I don’t think the QO is working as intended either but this is really the worst possible case to use against it, he turns down 100 million and 16 million respectively and we are supposed to feel sorry for him now. I’d seriously question his heart being all in the game on any contract he signs now, he may feel jaded even though the mistakes were his own.
So wait, they guy that finishes near the top in errors made at a very key position should make all this money because why? He’s never shined at the plate, his defense is mediocre at best yet he wants money like he’s some sort of super star? LAWLS!!!!!!
‘He’s never shined at the plate’ – unless you are only referring to last season, you are out of your mind. Between 2012-2014 he averaged .275 / 23HR / 22SB. Not calling him a superstar but that is well beyond replacement level. He is also willing to move off of SS to that is not necessarily the problem.
“never shined at the plate”… The guy has 3 silver slugger awards under his belt. If that’s not shining at the plate I don’t know what is
You people are drunk. You’re saying somebody with that good of a track record, would have another bad year? Move him to 2B. He will do better defensively
I dont understand why players are saying that something needs to change with the QO…. Its the risk you take. Would these players prefer that it be like football with the franchise tag where you’re forced to go back? Desmond should’ve accepted the extension long ago but since he didnt, he should’ve accepted the QO, gone back and had a monster season and then wouldn’t have to worry about another QO holding him back.
Some players want more security rather than more money per year. If he signs the QO, he’s in the same situation next year.
It has everything to do with the QO. It has already been reported the Rays wanted to sign Desmond but didn’t want to lose their 13th overall pick. Simple as that.
The QO offer not only is hurting the players but it is actually hamstringing teams.
Desmond turning down an extension offer has nothing to do with the QO system being broken.
Desmond wanting to get paid isn’t about greed either, it’s about the one or two shots a player has at free agency. They wait 7 years to for this moment after giving huge surplus value to their team. Sure, he might not get an offer like the previous extension, but there is no reason he shouldn’t have a job considering the contracts other players have received this offseason. The only factor is that QO.
Most of the above takes are ludicrous. Desmond is a really solid player who had a terrible year and still produced 1.7 fWAR. People pay attention to errors and ignore that he gets to more balls and has a stronger arm than many others to get more guys out. Now, the QO argument is fair and should suppress his value. The Rays pick is worth at least $10M in surplus value, but what’s preventing the Angels with a lesser pick, a team need, and money to spend from getting a good player on a bargain 3-4 year deal?
Greed plus management knows that QO is a death penalty to free Agent because everyone wants that young Diamond rather a old peace of stock- if it ain’t changed next contract then the way to beat it is sign a few of those QO to stop the crap. They don’t want to pay it.
It’s amazing to see how people view players after one bad season. Once you have one poor season you should hang it up it seems, when in reality Desmond still can be an all star player, guy has the ability to hit around .280, double 30 times, hit 25-30 home runs, he drives in runs, he has speed to work with, and maybe he’s not a solid defended at short stop but if he moves to second I’m sure he would adjust fine, worst case scenario have him take reps at first this spring if he signs anywhere. Not to mention the fact that like the comment above mine, he posted a pretty decent war for the atrocious year he had. He shouldn’t still be available and at this point would be a steal for anyone
I know this may seem like a wild idea, but I could still see the Padres or the Athletics swinging in with an offer for Desmond if his price drops enough, Seems both those teams could use some power and would like the idea of being able to use him in the OF or around the infield. Both of them have that protected first round pick as well.
I was just talking about that yesterday! A’s and Pads are perfect landing spots for Desmond.
I don’t know if they are perfect (Semien had better numbers than Desmond across the board last year and Padres don’t want to lose the draft pick they got for Upton). Think more likely Desmond is now probably just going to wait it out until some team abruptly loses a shortstop for a serious injury in Spring Training. But it is a bit troubling that you have to get creative to find a team for him.
With Fowler going to the Cubs instead of the Orioles, I definitely see Desmond taking a one-year deal there to play LF and backup JJ Hardy at SS and Schoop at 2b, who have been far from sure things in recent seasons.
Also, no way Orioles want to only sacrifice their first round pick for just Gallardo. Short move for Desmond and his family.