RUMOR MILL...

MLB.com writer Bill Ladson reported earlier this week that the Washington Nationals were not interested in signing veteran left fielder Manny Ramirez in an article entitled, "Nationals not interested in Manny", and Mr. Ladson's MLB Hot Stove blog post today, entitled, "Reports: Giants have interest in Manny Ramirez", reports on a story out of San Francisco claiming that the Giants have extended a 4-year offer to Mr. Ramirez, which would seem to put to rest any lingering thoughts of Washington's interest in the 36-year-old slugger. Finally...

SI.com's Jon Heyman mentions the Nationals as a team of interest in the pursuit of Adam Dunn, and Mr. Heyman also takes a shot at the franchise when he ranks Tim Redding as the 20th of 20 available free agents in his article entitled, "Resetting the Market: The Top 20 remaining free agents", writing that Redding was able to win,"...10 games for the Nats, which if you think about it, isn't such a small accomplishment." As for DC and Dunn, in Mr. Heyman's opinion, it's the Nationals as a "prime possibility", and then the Dodgers next in line to sign the 29-year-old LF/1B, and that's if the Dodgers don't bring Manny back to LA.

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects List is Coming...On January 7th.

Three players, Collin Balester (1), Kory Casto (4), and Matt Chico (8) who were included on Baseball America writer Aaron Fitt's (1/12/07) list of Nationals' prospects entitled, "Top 10 Prospects: Washington Nationals", have seen significant time with DC in the two seasons since the list was published. In his (11/7/07) rankings, Aaron Fitt added Jordan Zimmermann, (7), Josh Smoker (6), Jack McGeary (5), Michael Burgess (4), and Ross Detwiler (2), all '07 picks, to the updated version of his list, with Zimmermann, a 6'2'', 22-year-old right-hander, the only player being seriously mentioned as having a chance of making the Nationals' roster from the start of the '09 season, after posting a combined (10-3) record with a 1.65 ERA in 5 games at Class-A Potomac, and a 3.21 ERA in 20 starts and 106.2 IP with Double-AA Harrisburg. 

Which players selected in this season's draft do you think will appear on the first 2009 Baseball America list of the Nationals' prospects? We know one who won't...Will Zech Zinicola, who was on the list in January '07 and off in November of that year make a return after impressing in the Arizona Fall League? Will Chris Marrero and Ross Detwiler remain atop the list of Nationals' Prospects? We know Glenn Gibson (8th on the 11/07 list)  won't be back since he was traded to Tampa for Elijah Dukes. If SS Esmailyn "Smiley' Gonzalez (5th on the 11/07 list), was ranked that high last season, where will the 18-year-old infielder be after hitting .343 with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR's, 33 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, a .431 OBP, .475 SLG, and .906 OPS in 51 games with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals in '08? 

The New Baseball America Washington Nationals' Top 10 Prospects list is set to be released on January 7th...