Nationals Rumors

2010 Options: Washington Nationals

By Tim Dierkes | May 18, 2009 at 3:10pm CDT

Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Nationals.

Austin Kearns – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout. Kearns displayed strong defense prior to last year, and he can draw a walk. He's got skills, but they aren't worth the $9MM net commitment. He's a good candidate to be traded this year if the Nationals can find a taker.
Dmitri Young – $6MM option vests with 500 PAs in '09. Young is currently on a leave of absence; he's yet to play this year. He's on the 40-man roster due to a handshake agreement with Jim Bowden.

Odds & Ends: Mets, Cubs, Astros

By Tim Dierkes | May 18, 2009 at 11:16am CDT

Links for Monday…

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Baseball America's Jim Callis that the team's #10 overall draft pick will not be influenced by signability. MLB.com's Bill Ladson's source believes negotiations between Rizzo and Scott Boras for Stephen Strasburg will go well, given their past history.
Regarding Friday's call for MLBTR writers, I still have many applications to review. I will keep you updated here on the site.
McCovey Chronicles discusses The Jonathan Sanchez Paradox.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post names Nick Johnson, Aubrey Huff, and Mark DeRosa as the most probable trade targets for the Mets if Carlos Delgado is out for an extended period of time. Check out MLBTR's discussion of this topic from Saturday. SI.com's Jon Heyman also weighed in today.
Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal has an update on progress made on the sale of the Cubs.
On Sunday, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that Freddy Sanchez's current contract clause will likely cause the Pirates to avoid vesting options in the future.
On June 1st, Alyson Footer will begin a new job working for the Astros. The new MLB.com beat writer will be Brian McTaggart, who covered the team for the Houston Chronicle.

Draft Update: Giants, Mariners, Braves, Nats

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 16, 2009 at 11:05am CDT

ESPN.com's Keith Law has an update on various teams and players as the June draft approaches. Here are some highlights; the original article has more detail.

The Giants are strongly considering taking a high school pitcher with their sixth overall pick.
Expect the Mariners to take Dustin Ackley, North Carolina's first baseman, with their first rounder.
Ackley's teammate, righty Alex White, pitched in front of four GMs Thursday: Brian Sabean (Giants), Neal Huntington (Pirates), Jack Zdurencik (Mariners) and Mike Rizzo (Nationals).
ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill reports that White did not impress. Check out Churchill's article for more analysis of some top amateur players.
The Braves are expected to take Zack Wheeler, a local prep star.
The Nationals don't get a compensation pick if they fail to sign the player they draft with their tenth overall pick because that pick is itself compensation for failure to sign Aaron Crow last year. Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he's going to draft the best available player there, regardless of signability.
Some teams are losing interest in Kentucky lefty James Paxton, who chose Scott Boras as his advisor and pitched poorly afterwards.

Rangers To Sign Mike Hinckley

By | May 15, 2009 at 8:03pm CDT

According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are close to inking left-hander Mike Hinckley to a minor league contract.

The 26-year-old opted for free agency after he was designated for assignment by the Nationals last week. He had a 1.93 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in two seasons with Washington, but displayed major control problems out of the gate this year. The Rangers will add him to their Triple-A Oklahoma City roster.

Nationals Designate Logan Kensing For Assignment

By Tim Dierkes | May 15, 2009 at 2:24pm CDT

According to a press release, the Nationals designated reliever Logan Kensing for assignment. Kensing was given six appearances to show his stuff, and he allowed 12 hits and 10 runs in that time. The Nats acquired Kensing from the Marlins on April 29th for minor league reliever Kyle Gunderson.

Terrell Young Returned To Reds

By | May 14, 2009 at 12:59pm CDT

According to Mark Zuckerman of the Washington Times, the Nationals have returned Rule 5 pick Terrell Young to the Reds' organization.

The 23-year-old right-hander was the first overall pick in December's Rule 5 draft. He injured his shoulder during spring training, however, and did not throw a pitch for the Nats. Washington will be returned $25K of the $50K they originally paid to draft him.

Heyman On Rockies, Wedge, Strasburg

By Tim Dierkes | May 11, 2009 at 10:11am CDT

The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman…

Heyman says Rockies manager Clint Hurdle "appears to be on the firing line" after the team's 12-18 start. GM Dan O'Dowd called the speculation "unfair at this time," talking to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. O'Dowd's job seems safe and he could direct a "July tradeoff." Heyman speculates on Garrett Atkins and Huston Street as candidates. Heyman doesn't mention them, but Brad Hawpe and Jason Marquis seem like other possibilities.
Indians manager Eric Wedge, on the other hand, does not appear likely to be fired.
Heyman says Stephen Strasburg is still expected to aim for $50MM after the Nationals select him first overall in June.

Nationals Release Gary Glover

By Steve Adams | May 10, 2009 at 4:30pm CDT

Bill Ladson of MLB.com tells us that the Nationals have given right-hander Gary Glover his unconditional release following 10 appearances in which Glover totaled a 6.32 ERA with the Nationals Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. Glover became replaceable once the Nationals inked Mike MacDougal to a minor league deal last week. MacDougal will join the major league club after a few weeks.

Ladson also cites acting general manager Mike Rizzo in saying that Jorge Sosa will soon be ready to join the Syracuse club on May 22, as his 50-game suspension wraps up. Sosa was suspended last year after testing positive for an amphetamine.

Nats GM Confirms Plans To Draft Strasburg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 9, 2009 at 3:03pm CDT

3:03pm: According to AOL Fanhouse's Ed Price, Rizzo was actually in attendance for Strasburg's no-no. The love fest has begun.

11:56am: Stephen Strasburg threw a no hitter last night, as MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports. The San Diego State righty struck out 17 along the way, walking two. This just cements what we already knew: Strasburg is the country's amateur player.

Chico Harlan of the Washington Post heard this from acting Nationals GM Mike Rizzo about Strasburg:

"If the draft was today, he'd be our guy. But the draft is a month from now, so a lot of things can happen. Guys can turn up their intensity and their performance, a lot of things can happen in a month. But if it was today, he'd be our guy."

MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports that Rizzo met with Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, earlier in the week. The Nationals have the first overall pick in the draft and are expected to select Strasburg. Rizzo told Boras he planned to scout Strasburg's Friday night start, but they didn't discuss Strasburg in detail or talk about a contract for the pitcher.

The Nationals’ Bullpen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 9, 2009 at 11:19am CDT

According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, "changes are coming" to the Nationals' bullpen if it doesn't improve. The Nats have since DFA'd Mike Hinckley and called up Ron Villone, but they could make more moves:

The Nats could exchange bad contracts with another team. Trading Austin Kearns ($8MM) for Miguel Batista ($9MM) has been discussed.
Harlan adds that the trade market for relievers isn't good because many teams have struggling bullpens.
The Nats' will likely address the bullpen from within the organization. Jason Bergmann and Tyler Clippard are available in the minor leagues.

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