Nationals Rumors

Odds & Ends: Unit, Rhodes, Crisp, Valverde

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 8, 2009 at 10:36pm CDT

Twitter Rumors: Mets, Granderson, Matsui

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 8, 2009 at 7:26pm CDT

More links from Twitter. Be sure to follow MLBTR on Twitter for all your updates.

Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. tells Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he is not interested in Aroldis Chapman.
It doesn't look like the Reds will be spending big on a shortstop like Orlando Cabrera or Miguel Tejada, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
The Nationals see John Smoltz as a starter, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Ken Rosenthal says Smoltz could return to St. Louis.
John Lackey, Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, Jon Garland and Doug Davis all have the Mets' attention, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The D'Backs will look to add a position player and solidify their bullpen now, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
The Red Sox discussed a Curtis Granderson trade with the Tigers, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe. Apparently, the Tigers wanted Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury (Michael Silverman reporting).
The Dodgers were interested in Jackson, but didn't want to meet the Tigers' asking price, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
The Dodgers like Paul Maholm, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Twins and Robb Quinlan may be a fit for one another. The Rockies are interested, too.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Marc Carig of the Star Ledger that he only has interest in Hideki Matsui as a DH.
Bobby Seay, Dusty Ryan and Jeff Larish are all available in trades, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Nationals Sign Jerry Owens

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 8, 2009 at 5:00pm CDT

The Nationals signed Jerry Owens to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The 28-year-old outfielder has a .625 OPS in parts of four MLB seasons. Owens, who stole 32 bases for the White Sox two seasons ago, will compete for a roster spot in Spring Training.

Nationals Interested In Vicente Padilla

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2009 at 4:38pm CDT

The Nationals have interest in free agent pitcher Vicente Padilla, writes Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post. The Dodgers appear to have some interest in re-signing Padilla to a one-year deal, but we haven't heard much otherwise.

Padilla, 32, was released by the Rangers in August. He signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers and pitched well in nine starts (two of which were in the postseason). The Nationals have also been connected to starters Jon Garland and John Smoltz in previous reports.

Nationals May Non-Tender Mike MacDougal

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2009 at 10:17am CDT

ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that he's hearing there's a good chance the Nationals non-tender reliever Mike MacDougal. The Nats acquired Brian Bruney yesterday, and will give him a chance to win the closer job.

Non-tendering MacDougal would be wise. After earning $2.65MM in 2009, his agent can argue for a decent raise on the basis of his 20 saves in 21 opportunities. Since MacDougal walked 38 and struck out 34 in his 54.3 innings, he's not a good bet to repeat his success in 2010.

Nationals To Sign Ivan Rodriguez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 8, 2009 at 9:30am CDT

9:30am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes that this contract "immediately prompted questions within the industry." Scott Boras just has a knack for getting teams to overpay, as you know.

TUESDAY, 12:09am: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse says the deal pays Pudge $2.5-3MM per season.

11:41pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson says it's almost certain that Wil Nieves will be non-tendered now.

11:30pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports (via e-mail) that the deal is done, pending a physical.

MONDAY, 11:20pm: The Nationals agreed to sign Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $6MM, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. The Rangers will obtain a supplementary rounder in next year's draft because Pudge signed elsewhere after they offered arbitration.

This is a coup for Scott Boras: a multi-year deal for a 38-year-old catcher in a market filled with comparable options. Pudge hit .249/.280/.382 for the Rangers and Astros last year.

Multiple Teams In On Putz

By Steve Adams | December 8, 2009 at 1:03am CDT

J.J. Putz is drawing interest from several clubs, according to Jon Paul Morosi. The Cubs, White Sox, D'Backs, Rangers, Nationals, and Tigers have all shown varying levels of interest.

After being acquired by the Mets in a big three-team trade at last year's meetings, Putz was a disappointment in New York, posting a 5.22 ERA before going down for the season on June 4. The former All-Star recently held a throwing session for scouts in Arizona following bone spur removal surgery on his throwing elbow this season.

Odds & Ends: Reed Johnson, Laynce Nix, Counsell

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2009 at 5:30pm CDT

Links for Monday, the first day of the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis…

The Padres have been linked to Reed Johnson, writes Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Reds are trying to re-sign Laynce Nix, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
The Brewers hope to have a decision one way or another on Craig Counsell by week's end, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Also, the Brewers learned that reliever Mark DiFelice needs shoulder surgery, creating a stronger bullpen need (MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reporting).
The Marlins would listen on arbitration-eligible starter Anibal Sanchez, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
Chad Jennings of the LoHud Journal notes that Yanks GM Brian Cashman hitched a ride to Indianapolis with the Levinson brothers, so of course Jason Marquis came up.
Yahoo's Tim Brown has some petty sniping from Scott Boras' camp toward Whitey Herzog for his comments about Matt Holliday.
Victor Martinez's agent Alan Nero talked to WEEI's Alex Speier about the prospect of his client reaching free agency.
The Orioles will meet with the Hendricks brothers about Aroldis Chapman before the Winter Meetings end, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. is hearing Chapman might not get much more than $20MM. Tyler Kepner of the New York Times tweets that the Yankees have interest at $15MM or less.
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun learned that Orioles outfielder Felix Pie is drawing strong trade interest.
Chien-Ming Wang will be ready by May 1st, his agent told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. It'd still be surprising to see Wang tendered a contract on Saturday.
Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post talked to John Smoltz's agent Keith Grunewald about his client's interest in the Nationals.
Nationals manager Jim Riggleman suggested to WEEI's Alex Speier that the team would have to be overwhelmed to move Josh Willingham.
ESPN's Keith Law explains why the Meetings are in Indy and suggests improvements to avoid the cold weather and other issues.
The Cardinals expect Mark DeRosa to decline their arbitration offer today, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. DeRosa's agent will meet with Yankees GM Brian Cashman this week, tweets Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland assured John Tomase of the Boston Herald that his team is not having a fire sale.

Nationals Talking To Jon Garland

By Mike Axisa | December 7, 2009 at 5:11pm CDT

MONDAY, 5:11pm: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo confirmed interest in Garland, saying, "He's one of the 10 names we've been talking about throughout the whole winter." (Chico Harlan of the Washington Post reporting).

SUNDAY, 10:23pm: In search of a couple of starting pitchers this winter, the Nationals are talking to free agent Jon Garland, according to ESPN's Peter Gammons. We've also heard that the Nats were interested in John Smoltz and John Lackey, and I think it would be pretty cool if they ended up with four Jon/John's in their rotation (don't forget John Lannan!).

Only one non-Lannan Nats' starter eclipsed 100 IP last year (Craig Stammen at 105.2 IP), and Garland would certainly help that situation. He's made at least 32 starts and thrown at least 191.2 innings every year since 2002, during which time he has a respectable 4.38 ERA.

MLBTR readers discussed Garland about a month ago.

Nationals Acquire Brian Bruney; Release Saul Rivera

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2009 at 4:11pm CDT

4:11pm: The Yanks will receive the Nationals' Rule 5 pick for Bruney, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

12:51pm: The Nationals confirmed the deal via a press release. They released Saul Rivera to make room for Bruney. Rivera, 32 today, posted a 6.10 ERA in 38.3 innings for the Nats this year. Releasing a man on his birthday…for shame! Saul did receive one gift: he's now on our 2010 free agents list.

11:56am: The Nationals acquired reliever Brian Bruney from the Yankees for a player to be named later, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Bruney, who is arbitration-eligible, is due a small raise on this year's $1.25MM salary. He's under team control through 2011.

The hard-throwing righty, who turns 28 in February, posted a 3.92 ERA in 39 innings this year, striking out 36 but walking 23. Plagued by elbow troubles, Bruney was bumped from the Yankees' set-up role for Phil Hughes in July. He figures to be high in the pecking order of Washington's pen, perhaps even a closer candidate if Mike MacDougal is non-tendered.

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Show all

Headlines

Nationals Rumors

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect