Links and Links and...

--How about an insult to start the week, DC fans? I found this linked on mlbtraderumors.com in an article entitled, "Mark Teixeira Rumors: Sunday", by Nat Boyle, which points to another article by Orange County Register writer Randy Youngman entitled, "Angels likely not on Teixeira's wish list", where Mr. Youngman offers his best guess as to where the free agent first baseman will sign, writing:

"I don't think it will be with the Angels...Teixeira would be ridiculed if he signed with perpetual losers such as the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals, so my guess is he'll sign with the Boston Red Sox."

--MLB.com writer Alden Gonzalez quoted a Boston Globe article on Sunday in a post at MLB.com's Hot Stove Blog entitled, "Nationals shopping for hitters", in which Mr. Gonzalez noted that DC GM Jim Bowden had been making some phone calls to inquire about other team's best bats. The Boston Globe report Mr. Gonzalez references is entitled, "On the Coast, it's very clear", by Nick Carfado, and the actual quote from the article:

"...GM Jim Bowden has been very aggressive, acquiring Olsen and Willingham, and making a push for Teixeira - and if that doesn't work out, Adam Dunn. A major league source indicated that Bowden has called numerous teams asking about the availability of their best hitters."

San Diego, with Adrian Gonzalez, Milwaukee for Prince Fielder...who is DC GM Jim Bowden calling? (ed. note - "Ahh...just buy yourself a Washington/Dunn jersey already, DC fans, you know that's what it will come to...")

Winter League Action...

Anderson Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a double on Sunday in a 5-0 Tigres del Licey loss to Dukes-hating pitcher Nelson Figueroa and the Aguilas Cibaenas. Hernandez's two hits lifted his Dominican Winter League average to .402 after 31 games in which the Nationals' second baseman has collected 13 doubles, 6 triples, 1 HR, 20 RBI's and 5 steals. 

Jesus Flores was 0 for 4 Saturday night in a Navagentes del Magallanes' loss, dropping his Venezuelan Winter League batting average to .220 after 13 games and 50 AB's. Flores is just 2 for his last 17 stretching back to November 14th. 

Nationals' outfield prospect Garrett Guzman, a Rule 5 pick from the Minnesota Twins' organization who hit .274 with 19 doubles, 9 HR's and 54 RBI's for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators in '08, (struggling in a jump to Triple-A), is currently playing for the Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico, and after 11 games, the left-handed hitting left fielder has 4 doubles, 1 HR and 6 RBI's with a .333 AVG. The Criollos de Caguas roster also includes DC outfielder Justin Maxwell, who's hitting just .175 after 11 games and 37 AB's. 

More news to follow...