Nationals Drawing Interest In Willingham

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 14, 2009 5:34 PM EST

By Zach Links [November 14

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/rosenthal-and-morosi-on-willingham-hardy-wedge.html

Washington is drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham, but may not be willing to part with him, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Willingham turned in a slash line of .260/.367/.496 with 24 HRs in 502 plate appearances in 2009.

The post identifies the Braves as a team that likes the 30-year-old, but says that they have concerns about his back and are less than enamored with his defensive play. Willingham, they suggest, might be a better fit in the American League where he can be a DH. Earlier this month, Tim took a look at Willingham and other left fielders that could be dealt.

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The original story.........

Latest buzz from the MLB offseason by Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, FOXSports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10357594

Nats drawing interest in Willingham — 2:56 p.m.

The Nationals again are drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham. Whether they are willing to move him is another question.

Willingham, 30, produced a career-high .863 OPS last season, hitting 24 home runs in 427 at-bats. His offense would be difficult for the Nats to replace.

The Braves, looking for a right-handed power hitter, like Willingham but harbor concerns about his defense and past back troubles. Willingham might be a better fit in the American League, where he could be used as a DH.

The Nats control Willingham for two more seasons. He earned $2.95 million last season, and his salary likely will rise to the $4.5 million to $5 million range in his second year of arbitration.

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 14, 2009 6:02 PM EST reply actions

Don't trade him

He might not be the greatest defensive player but the Nats can really use his bat. If he’s gone, then the team will have to find a replacement. I don’t think any of the young guys (Bernadina, Maxwell) are ready to take over in LF, assuming Nyjer Morgan stays in CF. I doubt the Braves would give up one of their top starting pitchers for the Hammer. That would be the only reason to trade him, to pick up a true no. 1, no. 2 or no. 3 starter.

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The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!

by Potomac Fan on Nov 14, 2009 10:27 PM EST reply actions

For Javy Vasquez, I pull the trigger....

The July Hammer would be hard to replace……. the August-Sept. Slumpingham was kearnsian without the glove…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 14, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

Don't even tease with Vazquez talk...it's cruel to Montrealers...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Nov 15, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

Um, that's just you and me, right?

They want Hammer……..they want to trade Lowe or Vasquez……… the Nats want a veteran starting pitcher…….. hmmm….. The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side. ……carry the one….

Vasquez!!!

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 15, 2009 12:36 AM EST up reply actions

STOP.....Hammer Time!!!

by RoscoeNats on Nov 15, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

Trading Willingham would be a mistake.

He is the most underrated Nat. He is clearly a below average defender but he is roughly 25-30 runs per season better than Dunn (he will make roughly 25-30 RUNS worth of plays in LF or firstbase that Dunn would miss in 150 games) and his OPS is almost as good. Only Zimmermann and Morgan were a better all round players last season on the NATS and morgan just slightly (I took Willingham’s WAR over the last 3 years and divided it by his at bats over the last 3 years then multiplied it by Morgans at bats last season… he would be worth over 3 WAR Dunn is worth 1.65 WAR doing the same). On a per at bat basis Willingham is twice as valuable than Dunn on offense and defense combined over the last three seasons.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Nov 15, 2009 11:58 PM EST reply actions

If you can get an above average pitcher like vasquez

make this deal with your eyes closed…

Adam Dunn Career OPS:. 904

Josh Willingham: .840

not very close.

by martins on Nov 16, 2009 9:45 PM EST reply actions

in 2009

Willingham OPS was .863
Dunn .923
so your right
but you can’t really compare career OPS because Dunn played in Cincy and Willingham FLA which are completely different places to hit.
Probably wOBA makes my point better (a more comprehensive offense skill stat)
in 2009
Willingham was .373
Dunn .394
It is my understanding that is not a huge difference (Hanly Ramirez – Derek Jeter = .2 wOBA in 2009).
.21 wOBA over an entire season. someone correct me if I am wrong, but roughly 7-8 runs a season.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Nov 17, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

yes the 09 numbers for WOBA are close (not that close)

but thats only becaus Willingham played out of his mind for about a month and a half… judging by the rest of his career, i dont expect him to come anywhere close to that agaiin…

yea cincy is a hitters ballpark, but as you noted, Dunn Opsed .923 this year playing in a mansion… pretty sure the ballpark has nothing to do with his numbers.

by martins on Nov 17, 2009 7:32 PM EST up reply actions