Washington Nationals Sign Chien-Ming Wang...According to Reports.

  “Bunions to Old Guy to Donkey?”

Do you seriously expect this team to go from 100 losses to 100 wins in a single season? Is it possible, yeah, sure, anything is. But would you rather get a string of free agents every year (examples Boston, New York Yankees, Mets) or would you rather have a consistently improving system that self promotes from within while picking up free agents whenever blatantly needed(examples St. Louis, Atlanta, Philadelphia). I don’t know as much about baseball as I do about hockey, but I watched the entire Capitals rebuild, starting in 1999. Once the team had a commitment to a solid franchise strategy to build it, rather than just throw money at players, there were several lean years with empty stadiums. Then the Caps had year after year of successful draft. All of a sudden, three major signings. Then three major trades on the deadline, and wham, playoff team and a division championship.

It’ll be harder for the Nationals, since the NL East is so much stronger than the Southeast, and there’s only two available playoff spots compared to six potential spots in hockey, but I’d rather a team, built, with players I recognize as home-grown prospects over a free agent mash up. I realize in baseball, free agents need to be signed, but I really don’t see, other than Hudson, a player who Rizzo could have acquired over someone the Nationals have actually signed who would have been a major improvement at a reasonable cost.

The moves that have been made this offseason tell me one thing – this rebuilding team is wanting to be more than just a last place doormat. Are they the right moves? Eh, maybe, maybe not. But it beats the piss out of just throwing money and long term deals at players who probably don’t deserve it. Capps is an upgrade. Kennedy is an upgrade. Marquis, Strasburg(later), Wang(later), Bruney are all upgrades.

Short term deals for above average players is a good strategy. Hopefully, with pick ups from draft and minor league signings, you see those guys slowly phased out and replaced by the up and comers, or eventually replaced by a better signing.

Again, I don’t know about baseball, but this model works in other sports, and has worked in this town. I may be setting myself up for years of disappointment, but I’m excited for a change instead of just thinking “By the all star break, I’ll be waiting for Hockey season while watching the Cards.”

Maybe the team should rest on its laurels with a 100 loss season… or grab the 42 year old pitcher that is one pitch away from ending his career.

How would the Nats emulate the braves of the 90s by signing an overpriced, over-hyped veteran who is close to being washed up? Youth anyone?

“Big Trouble in Little NatsTown”