According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nationals assistant GM Mike Rizzo will take on "principal responsibilities when it comes to the Major League, Minor League, and scouting operations." The Nats apparently don’t want to stick an interim GM tag on Rizzo, saying that president Stan Kasten remains in charge. Ladson adds that the position vacated since former GM Jim Bowden resigned "will remain vacant for the foreseeable future."
Nationals Rumors
Kasten Meets With Zimmerman’s Agent
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nationals president (and acting GM) Stan Kasten met with Ryan Zimmerman’s agent Brodie Van Wagenen today to discuss a contract extension. They’ll continue to talk with the goal of a deal before Opening Day.
Zimmerman will be paid $3.325MM for 2009, his first arbitration year. The 24 year-old third baseman is under team control through 2011.
Nationals GM Candidates
We’ve heard names like Mike Rizzo, Tony LaCava, and Deric Ladnier as candidates for the GM job in Washington. In talking with rival scouts and executives, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal adds several more possibilities. Rosenthal’s speculation includes Bob Boone, John Hart, Chuck LaMar, and John Schuerholz. He also notes previous GM interviewees such as Kim Ng, Tony Bernazard, Al Avila, and Peter Woodfork. Ben Goessling of the Washington Times says Schuerholz called Nationals president Stan Kasten to recommend Hart as well as Gerry Hunsicker.
For now, Kasten is the interim GM. Rosenthal describes this as "a decision perceived by some in the industry as a blow to Nationals assistant GM Mike Rizzo, who appeared the most logical choice to take over on an interim basis." Kasten said not to read into that decision.
Stan Kasten Performing GM Duties For Now
11:43am: Harlan says Nationals president Stan Kasten is performing the GM duties for the moment, at least as far as trades. Kasten didn’t offer much else regarding the search for Bowden’s replacement.
8:55am: The Washington Post has all kinds of reading material in the wake of Jim Bowden’s resignation.
- Thomas Boswell says Bowden shouldn’t blame the media. Bowden’s #1 job was to build a farm system, but the Nationals are in the bottom third of baseball in that regard.
- Barry Svrluga looks at Bowden’s significant moves as Nationals GM. Svrluga and Chico Harlan gathered quotes from many who worked with Bowden.
- Joshua Robinson and Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times note that baseball investigators have examined 6-8 teams’ dealings in the Dominican Republic – not just the Nationals.
- Harlan figures Mike Rizzo and Tony LaCava are candidates to replace Bowden.
Jim Bowden Resigns
7:52pm: According to Ladson, the Nationals were shocked by Bowden’s resignation. Manager Manny Acta and several players made complimentary remarks Sunday evening.
"The news caught me by surprise," Acta said. "It takes a lot of courage for him to do that. As a manager, I appreciate what he did if he felt that he was being a distraction here. I will always be grateful and have a soft spot for Jim."
9:48am: The Washington Post has provided a link to Bowden’s official statement.
9:04am: According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, Nationals GM Jim Bowden has resigned.
ESPN.com has more, including quotes from Bowden. Most notably, Bowden says, "I’ve become a distraction," and, "my ability to properly represent the Washington Nationals has been compromised."
Finally, Bill Ladson of MLB.com captures a classic quote from the GM: "I have become a distraction. Unless you are Manny Ramirez, there is no place for distraction in baseball."
Odds And Ends: Orioles, Bowden, Nathan
A few links for Sunday afternoon…
- According to MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin the Orioles used "number crunching and statistical analysis" to compare Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to similar past and present players before locking them up to deals worth $40MM and $66MM, respectively.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that Joe Nathan’s happy to see Jonathan Papelbon making lots of money this year ($6.25MM) because it’s good for closers in general.
- Jayson Stark of ESPN.com points out the absurdity of the Manny Ramirez negotiations and suggests the structure of a deal that could work for both sides. It’s been nearly four months since the Dodgers made their initial offer of two years and $45MM.
- Pete McElroy of MASN Sports reports that Dmitri Young’s "shocked" to see Jim Bowden resign. Young, who first dealt with Bowden on the Reds, spoke glowingly of his former GM.
- According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck Jim Leyland confirmed that the Tigers had some offseason discussions about Juan Cruz.
- The draft’s still three months away, but Keith Law of ESPN.com is already putting together scouting reports about some top amateur players.
- MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer dreams up a deal that sends Adrian Gonzalez and Jake Peavy to the Angels for 10 players.
Odds And Ends: Alvarez, Cameron, Nats
A few links for Thusrday night…
- Pedro Alvarez, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2005, remembers thinking about signing with Boston in an article by Alex Speier on WEEI.com.
- Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal heard from Theo Epstein and Terry Francona about building a winning team. Epstein said the Sox have a history of making room for young talent, but Francona added that there’s never room for all the youngsters.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Mike Cameron was preparing himself to be traded this offseason and considers it "a blessing" to be in Milwaukee.
- Ironically, Mark DeRosa, who was actually traded, didn’t see it coming at all according to this article by Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- ESPN.com’s Buster Olney spoke with a number of baseball people who say "baseball’s internal code of conduct is strengthening." Players who act out aren’t getting away with it as often.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post reports that Nationals president Stan Kasten didn’t comment directly on whether we should expect any more dismissals within the organization soon.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News heard from Giants president Larry Baer that the team doesn’t consider the Edgar Renteria and Jeremy Affeldt signings mistakes.
- And bad news out of Colorado: The Rocky Mountain News will publish its final edition Friday.
Odds and Ends: Mahon, Rijo, Bowden
A few bits of information from around the baseball world. More to come…
- The Diamondbacks made their first roster move of the spring Wednesday, when they demoted right-hander Reid Mahon to minor league camp. He was having major command issues during bullpen sessions.
- According to ESPN’s Jorge Arangure Jr., the Nationals have decided to fire special assistant Jose Rijo in the wake of the Esmailyn Gonzalez age-changing scandal. Rob Neyer wonders if GM Jim Bowden is next?
- Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has compiled a list of the top 2010 free agents. John Lackey is his numero uno. You can also check out MLBTR’s constantly-updated list of the entire 2010 class right here.
- If you haven’t already joined the fun, add MLB Trade Rumors to your Twitter following. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, why not add your good friend Drew Silva?
Nationals Considering GM Change
According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus:
The Nationals, according to multiple industry sources, are strongly considering firing general manager Jim Bowden and replacing him with Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava.
This rumor first surfaced on Ed Chigliak’s Federal Baseball blog yesterday. Fire Jim Bowden rounded up a bunch of info on LaCava. I’ve heard the Nationals may also consider in-house candidates such as Deric Ladnier and Mike Rizzo.
Jim Bowden Under Investigation
9:02pm: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post report that some officials within the Nationals’ ownership, including Managing Principal Owner Ted Lerner, are "eager to cut ties with the general manager." They write:
"The Nationals, one source said, are encouraging the investigation to return an answer on Bowden so the parties can ’go on their merry way.’"
Team President Stan Kasten has stated that he supports every member of the Washington Nationals, regardless of circumstance.
Lerner and his son, Mark, both declined comment, stating that Kasten’s response will stand as the Nationals’ statement on the issue.
The article also mentions José Rijo, who worked with Bowden in both Cincinnati and Washington. Rijo runs a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic and was responsible for brokering the deal for Carlos Daniel Alvarez Lugo, then thought to be a 16-year-old by the name of Esmailyn Gonzalez. Lugo was also four years older than he was believed to be when the contract was signed.
Rijo, a special assistant to Bowden, took a leave of absence and returned to the Dominican Republic this Saturday, but has not been fired. According to Kasten, no team officials have been punished.
MONDAY, 3:21pm: Bowden’s comment: "I’m innocent of any wrongdoing."
SUNDAY, 9:52am: According to SI.com’s Melissa Segura:
A federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to baseball prospects from Latin America is looking at Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden as far back as 1994, when he was GM of the Cincinnati Reds, according to a baseball executive familiar with the investigation.
The Bowden investigation is linked to the David Wilder scandal by way of a scout named Jorge Oquendo. The Chicago Tribune just posted new details on Wilder this evening. Segura doesn’t suggest it, but you have to think Bowden’s job is in jeopardy.
