Washington Nationals Non-Tender Mike MacDougal.

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 12, 2009 8:00 PM EST

It's not that the Washington Nationals don't want Mike MacDougal, at least according to what they've said in the press, it's just that they don't want to pay him what he'd be due to earn should it go to arbitration. Whether or not they're serious when they say that they'd like MacDougal back, or when they said they'd consider bringing back Scott Olsen, who was also non-tendered earlier today, who knows...? DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats tender Olsen, MacDougal", that, "...you never know. They'll be free to discuss with all 29 other clubs, but suffice to say I'd be very comfortable if they're wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season."

(cont.)...

No word yet on whether or not the rest of the arbitration-eligible players, (Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Josh Willingham, Sean Burnett and Brian Bruney) have been tendered contracts, though the Nationals have until midnight tonight to make decisions on each...Jason Bergmann played for $439,000 last year, on his fifth-straight one-year deal. Nieves signed for $400,000 as a free agent in '08, and resigned in '09 for $445,000, his fifth one-year deal...Jesus Flores earned $411,500 in his third year in the majors...Sean Burnett, in his 5th-year with the Pirates last season, earned $485,000....Bruney avoided arbitration by signing a 1-year/$1.25M dollar deal with the Yankees in January of '09....Mike MacDougal was in the last of a three-year deal with the White Sox when they bought him out for $3M, ($2.65M salary + $350,000 buyout), making him available for the Nationals, who signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander to a minor league contract...Olsen, avoided arbitration after being dealt to DC and signed for one year and $2.8 million...

While Olsen's labrum surgery is well-documented, less has been said about the hip surgery Mike MacDougal had in mid-October. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling wrote in a Chatter post entitled, "MacDougal has hip surgery" that the 32-year-old right hander underwent, "...arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in Vail, Colo., on Tuesday, repairing an injury that hampered the right-hander during the last week of the Nationals’ season." Mr. Goessling wrote at the time that MacDougal should be ready for Spring Training...will he be brought back to DC? They obviously brought Bruney in in case he's not...and there is that Storen kid...?

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Padres have signed Kevin Correia to a one-year deal worth "$3.6MM or so",

Someone (maybe at Fangraphs?) predicted Correia to the Nats…..

SPs ranks thinning,…. thinning…..

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 12, 2009 8:33 PM EST reply actions

Seattle has non-tendered outfielder Ryan Langerhans.........

Stay away from the phone, Rizzo…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 12, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions

Are these guys

really going to sign with the Nats after getting dumped? It’s all fine and dandy to hear “we want them back”, but how does a player feel when “but not at that cost” is tacked on at the end of that sentence?

I guess the more important question is, will anyone else even care to try and sign these guys? MacDougal was the most reliable arm in the pen last season, converting 20 of 21 saves. Doesn’t he deserve better than this?

Alex Smith may have been the #1 overall pick but he still can’t tell why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

by Andrew Davidson on Dec 12, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions

Ladson has their reactions; one for, one against.......... I guess it depends if they get offers.....

Yeah, I know how I’d react if I were told I wasn’t worth it. And if that was my only option, I’d work real hard to get out and be good for someone else…

http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/nats_will_not_tender_contracts.html

Rizzo said. “These are business decisions. We have to do what is best for the franchise.”

Olsen… said he was not surprised that he was non-tendered. He said the shoulder is 100 percent and hopes to return to the Nationals because he feels the team is going in the right direction under Rizzo and manager Jim Riggleman. “I don’t have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington is a great place to play. I would love to go back there.”

MacDougal expressed disappointment that he was non-tendered, in part, because of his hip injury. He said that the hip is 100 percent and he will start working out at the end of this month. “I’m disappointed,” MacDougal said. "I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it’s a little disappointing. What can you do? I’m a free agent and go from there."

MacDougal’s agent, Rex Gary, said that Rizzo never told him that the hip played a role in MacDougal getting non-tendered. “Michael was at the doctor and had a great report and everything is fantastic,” Gary said. “The hip was never brought up as an issue and it really isn’t an issue.”

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 12, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry for mentioning the hip, MacDoodle. Hope you come back to set up for Sto...I mean Bruney...

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 Dec 13, 2009 1:09 AM EST up reply actions

Played hurt, put up with the nonsense....bought the Riggler hype and didn't give up

Sorry Mike, the Lerner Empire needs that $mil or two to pay somebody else…. I’m sure you understand…. we’re protecting the franchise….
But, come to ST and compete against Daniel Joel Bruney for a spot….

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 13, 2009 1:32 AM EST up reply actions

maybe im the only one...

But id prefer it if we brought guys who were better than these guys who may…if healthy…turn out to be average…

"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.

by Mezza on Dec 13, 2009 3:09 AM EST up reply actions

Nah, but six months or a year ago they were selling us these guys as great players...

And now because they get a raise, they’re not worth a non-guaranteed contract to see if they’re 100%.
Sure, different salesmen now, but they want us to test drive the same used car with a different paint job in Bruney…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 13, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

I dont think anyone sold McDoodle

He was a patch job on Bowden’s bullpen. But I take ur point aboot Olsen. I myself had much higher hopes.

"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.

by Mezza on Dec 13, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

Well, just saw the final list posted and no one jumps right out and says to me to go sign that guy...

Wait, the D-Backs non-tendered 1B Josh Whitesell……. Sign him up for Syracuse…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 13, 2009 12:41 AM EST reply actions

Whitesell? Hows aboot Larry Broadway...you know to back up Dunn...

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 Dec 13, 2009 1:09 AM EST up reply actions

Larry available?.......... Aw, that was Lance that was cut by the Mets......along with Redding...

Redding?………..is he our innings eater?

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 13, 2009 1:27 AM EST up reply actions

If Redding comes back Don Sutton has to as well, so he can explain to fans why he's better than you think...

He convinced the Mets…Sutton that is…not Redding…

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 Dec 13, 2009 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

Then no to Tim...........Can't abide Sutton, even if only in the highlights...plus that tatooed guy has the gig, right?

Well, back to staring at FA lists……….and waiting while the other teams get first shot at that buffet table….with so little dinnerware, we’ll be eating with our hands…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
— without making a deal," Rizzo said."

by cat daddy3000 on Dec 13, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions