Long Term Deal for Cordero?
The Nationals and Chad Cordero are discussing a multi-year deal to avoid their upcoming arbitration hearing. The two sides aren’t that far apart, but since they have a consistent, young pitcher on their hands, I’m sure the Nats would like to work something out.
Cordero wasn’t as good last year as he was in his eye-popping 2005, but he did manage a 3.19 ERA and a K:BB of better than 3:1. He may not have been the best closer in the NL named Cordero, but he still remains one of the best relievers in the league. It’s tough to see the Nats going more than three years (with an option for a fourth) for a young reliever, but such a deal would not only work nicely for Washington, but would make Chad an even more valuable trade commodity in the 07-08 offseason.
By Jeff Sackmann
www.BrewCrewBall.com
Nats Demand Red Sox Pitchers For Chad Cordero
According to the Boston Herald, the Red Sox remain interested in Nationals closer Chad Cordero. The info may be in contrast to an article in the Boston Globe yesterday, which indicated that the price was too high on "name" closers.
The Nats are fond of pitchers Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden, but favor 22 year-old righty Clay Buchholz. Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein ranks Buchholz a touch above Bowden, mentioning "three plus pitches at times." Buchholz finished 2006 in High Class A. All three pitchers are quality arms with a lot of upside.
Cordero turns 25 in March. He’s got three full seasons under his belt. He features fine command and has been unhittable throughout his career. He was bitten by the longball in 2006, but it looks like a fluke to me.
Red Sox Targeting Closer?
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has a J.D. Drew update for us. It may be that Boras does not want to revise Drew’s contract given that Boras’s surgeon gave Drew’s shoulder the thumbs up.
More intriguing is a line at the end of the post – the Red Sox are targeting a trade for a closer and are targeting one of Chad Cordero, Brad Lidge, and Mike Gonzalez.