Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nationals Rumors

Stephen Strasburg Roundup

By | at

Rounding up some thoughts on Stephen Strasburg with about seven hours to go before the Nats are expected to select him…

  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says it might be unrealistic to ask Strasburg to pitch in the majors this year if he doesn't sign until the August 15th deadline.
  • Newsday's Ken Davidoff reminds us that the Nationals don't have to concern themselves about Strasburg's place in history. After six years in the majors they won't have the rights to him so they should worry about the pitcher he will be in Washington, not what he'll become 15 or 20 years from now.
  • Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post says Scott Boras and Nats president Stan Kasten already have a professional relationship.
  • Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reports that Strasburg will not discuss the draft at the offices of the Scott Boras corporation, as originally expected. Instead, Strasburg and Boras will speak via conference call tomorrow morning.
  • John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that the Mariners missed out on a chance at Strasburg when they swept the A's to end last season. If they'd lost two of three, they'd be picking first today.
  • For all the hype surrounding Strasburg, the Nats have two first rounders to select. As Chico Harlan of the Washington Post reports, the tenth pick is pivotal, too.  

Odds & Ends: Draft, Cardinals, Mets

By | at

A dosage of mostly vague, speculative links to calm the nerves before tomorrow's draft:

Strasburg: A Sure Thing, Or Not?

By | at

ESPN.com's Rob Neyer agrees with the argument Alan Schwarz makes in New York Times: Stephen Strasburg is a phenomenal prospect, but we've seen other "can't miss" pitching prospects falter in the major leagues or fail to reach them. Until Strasburg proves himself in the majors, Neyer suggests that we stop preparing to etch Strasburg's name onto a Hall of Fame plaque.

Keith Law argues there's a difference between Strasburg and past pitchers like Ben McDonald and Mark Prior. Law compares Strasburg's career to six pitchers who were also labeled "best college pitcher ever" and finds that Strasburg has the best ERA, struck out the highest percentage of batters and walked the lowest percentage of batters.

And while pitchers drafted first overall haven't overwhelmed as a group, Law concludes that Strasburg "clearly is the right choice, his performance backs it up and the history of the draft doesn't give sufficient ammunition to send Washington in another direction."

Heyman On Strasburg, D’Backs, Penny

By | at

Jon Heyman of SI.com anticipates some memorable negotiations between the Nationals, Scott Boras and Stephen Strasburg. Here's what Heyman heard about Strasburg along with the rest of his rumors:

  • Boras is still expected to demand $50MM for Strasburg.
  • Think that's a lot? Some think Strasburg would command $100MM as a free agent. 
  • Executives generally guess he'll end up signing for more than $20MM, but not by much.
  • One NL exec said he expects the deal to reach $30MM.
  • Strasburg could always pitch in Japan or for an independent team if he doesn't sign, but Heyman imagines he'd much rather join a major league franchise immediately.  
  • The Pirates could draft catcher Tony Sanchez with the fourth pick.  
  • The D'Backs could deal Chad Qualls and Tony Pena at the deadline.  
  • Boston seems "in a hurry" to deal Brad Penny.  
  • One Red Sox person was not impressed by what he saw from Jeff Francoeur.  
  • It's probably too early for the Rangers to release Vicente Padilla.  

Olney On Economy, Penny, Strasburg

By | at

Buster Olney said on ESPN Radio that the struggling economy could limit the number of trades we see this summer as fewer clubs are willing to take on contracts. Here are the details:

  • Since a limited number of teams can add salary, Olney suspects "very cheap players" could be the ones to move.
  • Teams are willing to give up less impressive prospects for expensive players, so the A's could be limited if they decide to deal Matt Holliday. However, they don't have to deal, so they can stand pat and collect picks after the season.
  • Olney says there's a good chance Brad Penny's moved within the next couple weeks. It won't be this week unless Penny gives his permission, since he can't be dealt before June 15th.  
  • The Indians are starting to ask themselves who they'll be dealing with if they decide to shop Mark DeRosa and others.   
  • Olney wonders if the Nats will offer Stephen Strasburg a record deal- say $18-20MM- immediately and stick with that offer until the August 15th signing deadline.  

Olney fleshes his ideas out in today's column, saying that teams like the Mariners and Padres may see less impressive bids for Erik Bedard and Jake Peavy as the perceived value of cheap, young players continues rising. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox want to keep their young talent, so they don't drive up the prices for players who could be moved. The Padres could simply keep Peavy instead of accepting a second-rate return for him.

Draft Updates: Strasburg, Nats, Crow

By | at

With tomorrow's draft approaching fast let's take a look at some recent rumors and analysis…

  • MLB.com's Lisa Winston reports that former super prospect Ben McDonald is impressed by Stephen Strasburg's stuff and poise.
  • David Price told Danny Knobler of CBS Sports that Strasburg's stuff is better than his. Like Joe Maddon, Price believes the minors can be helpful and doesn't advocate rushing Strasburg into a big league rotation.
  • Chico Harlan of the Washington Post interviewed acting GM Mike Rizzo about the draft and heard that signability won't be a factor for the Nats with their 10th pick, even though they get nothing if they fail to sign the player they choose. After saying for weeks that Strasburg is his choice with the first pick in the draft, Rizzo doesn't confirm it this time.
  • Pete McElroy of MASN.com hears that the Nats will take Chad Jenkins, a big college righty, with their 10th pick if he's available.
  • Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates could use the $1.3MM they saved by trading Nate McLouth to sign the player they draft fourth overall. Aaron Crow, who's looking for $4MM, could be an option for Pittsburgh.
  • Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Crow's looking forward to tomorrow's draft after waiting a year.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan says prospects can be over-hyped to the point that we encounter "an uncomfortable reality" when they struggle. 
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that Kyle Gibson and Tanner Scheppers could fall lower than originally expected because of injury concerns. Other players, like Jacob Turner, could fall because they're expected to demand large bonuses.
  • Follow the draft on Twitter as it unfolds: @mlbtraderumors and @MLBDraft.

Odds & Ends: Hart, Bedard, Hanson, Draft

By | at

Some bullet points from around the internet:

  • Via Twitter, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (@haudricourt) wrote, "Talked to a baseball official who said the Brewers have indicated RF Corey Hart is not available, so forget any trade rumors involving him."
  • In response to his name swirling around the rumor mills, Erik Bedard is speaking in clichés, saying in a piece by MLB.com's Jim Street,  "I don't really pay much attention to it" and "I love Seattle. You can't complain with this city, the fans, the stadium, the new coaches we've got, the players … it's a lot of fun. I love it here, so if it [contract extension] does happen, I'd be happy."
  • Tommy Hanson has been called up to make his Major League debut today against Milwaukee, says the Miami Herald. Casey Kotchman was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right calf to make space for Hanson.
  • The Washington Post reports Nats GM Mike Rizzo says the team is "not drafting on signability whatsoever." Instead, the Nats will take, according to the Post, "the highest-remaining player on their board. That simple."
  • According to Keith Law, high schooler and lefty "Matt Purke is looking for 'Rick Porcello's deal' in the upcoming draft, according to industry sources." Law notes Porcello received $7.285MM in guranteed money, including a $3.58MM signing bonus, a record for a high school pitcher previously held by Josh Beckett.
  • Law also ranks the best tools in the '09 draft.

Are Mets Too Injured To Deal?

By | at

It is a given that with the news today that J.J. Putz will miss upwards of the next three months, Jose Reyes out an undetermined length of time, and Carlos Delgado still far from resuming baseball activity, that the Mets will be at the center of any number of rumors. But what is unclear at this point is just how New York can make deals, with the depth an organization would trade now missing from the Mets.

After all, it was assumed that any deal the Mets would make for either Nick Johnson of the Nationals or Aubrey Huff of the Orioles would include hard-throwing Bobby Parnell. That's right, the same Bobby Parnell who is taking over the eighth inning for Putz. He's no longer an extra arm.

The same is true of minor-league shortstop Ruben Tejeda, batting .281/.381/.377 as a 19-year-old at Double-A. The Mets can't afford to deal him, with Reyes, Ramon Martinez and Argenis Reyes all on the shelf. He's next in line to play shortstop.

So who would go? Jonathon Niese and his 8.05 Triple-A ERA? Nick Evans, hitting .200 at Double-A Binghamton after an .093 start at Triple-A Buffalo got him demoted? The Mets have holes, but they may have an even harder time cobbling together a package to fix those holes.

Odds And Ends: Nats, Astros, Putz, Brewers

By | at

More links for Friday afternoon…

Draft Update: O’s, Strasburg, Tate

By | at

An update on the draft, which is now just four days away…

  • Steve Melewski of MASN.com spoke with Orioles president Andy MacPhail and heard that the O's don't expect to shy away from players who figure to demand large bonuses. MacPhail repeats a line we've heard him say before: "You can buy the bats, but you have to grow the arms."
  • There's been lots of commentary on Stephen Strasburg's blazing fastball. But as ESPN.com's Keith Law reports, Strasburg complements his heater with an out-pitch curve and a major league average fastball. Law says Strasburg's repertoire would allow him to compete in the majors now. For $15MM, $20MM or even more, the Nationals can have him in their rotation next spring.
  • Players who have a legitimate shot at playing more than one sport have increased power in negotiations because they have more options. Law says Donovan Tate, a top high school player whose father Lars played in the NFL, had dropped football before realizing it would give him more leverage in the draft.
  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo points to some draft-eligible pitchers whose arms have been overused. Mike Minor, who could be a top-three pick, threw 134 pitches in a game a week ago. That's more than any major leaguer's thrown in a game this year.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top