Washington Nationals Sign Shawn Estes To Minor League Deal.
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 6, 2010 5:49 AM EST
36 comments
• A year and a half after his last major league start, former San Francisco Giants' 1991 1st Round pick Shawn Estes, a left-hander out of Nevada who pitched for the Mets, Reds, Cubs, Rockies, D-Backs and Padres during his 13-year career, signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals after "retiring" last season when he failed to make the Los Angeles Dodgers' roster. After being cut by the Dodgers in March, Estes accepted an assignment to LA's Triple-A affiliate with the intention of reinventing himself as a late-inning lefty, but three months later it was reported everywhere that Estes was done, though the pitcher later told reporters that he'd only retired from pitching in the Minors, and was available for anyone with room on their Major League roster.
(101-93) overall with a career 4.71 ERA in 281 starts and 2 relief appearances, Estes averaged 6.5 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 over 1,678.1 IP in his 11 MLB seasons. MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez cites an AP report in his article entitled, "Nationals sign veteran lefty Estes", that says the 38-year-old left-hander signed for $600,000 with, "... a possible $400,000 in performance bonuses if he's added to the club's 40-man roster."
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The size of the contract indicates he will pitch for Syracuse, at least
I suppose someone must have given him an extensive workout, becuase apossible $1M to return to what was never better than mediocrity seems strange. This kind of dumpster diving usually gives the player the chance to get the major league minimum if he makes the team. I suppose the $3-4M they saved by signing Kennedy instead of Hudson was burning a hole in their pockets.
by Positively Half St. on Feb 6, 2010 7:14 AM EST reply actions
Rizzo promised another veteran starter.......he didn't say he'd be any good...
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
This please can't be that...
I can’t believe they’d pass off Estes as a potential major league starter at this point, but I really don’t like anyone else on the market at this point, and one more time I’ll say, please not Looper…I want to be able to enjoy rooting for my team…
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 Feb 6, 2010 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
I don't expect him to make it past the deadline to cut him and pay the pro-rated part of the $600K...
But, why bother to begin with…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Riggler:......
“But if we make a determination that Ian will be on the club with Guzman playing shortstop, we’d also want him to be able to run around in the outfield some too. That way we could get him on the field some, pinch-running for an outfielder, double-switches.”
Aw jeez…..
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
Please someone sit the Riggler down and making him stop this madness...
NO MORE DESMOND IN THE OUTFIELD!! AND NO WIRE HANGERS!!!
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 Feb 6, 2010 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
Sometimes I think Mr. Riggles just blathers stuff ...
to hear himself talk or to see if anyone is paying attention.
Shades of Anderson Hernandez in LF.......
Now I see whose idea that was, as well….
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
Don't get too freaked out about what Riggs says ...
He really really likes Desmond now which means he wants to keep him with the big club any way he can.
From what I read, it was Desmond’s idea to play the outfield, so you can blame him for giving Riggs the idea.
Also, when Riggs says nice things about awful players (Guzman in particular) it is an attempt to talk them “up” as it were. He doesn’t believe in trashing anyone in public unless the player has done something horrible. He likes to talk in glowing terms about players that can’t be moved easily in an attempt to get other clubs interested in them. He did that a lot in Chicago. Trust me, he had a lot of players he wanted to move! LOL
Riggs isn’t a bad guy although he often says silly things.
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on Feb 6, 2010 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Perhaps, and actions speak louder than words, but it sure does make me suspicious of one leading to the other...
I suppose we’ll just have to see how he runs ST…..
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
using Desmond as a utility guy will kill his career
i hate this team sometimes.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Feb 6, 2010 1:34 PM EST reply actions
Manny Riggleman......just glue on a dewlap....
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
If you keep adding up all the $$ committed to these "has beens and never were's"
You could have had enough $$ to outbid the Twins for the O-dog……
Dave from the nats news network
made a blog post a couple of months ago with the entitled of ’just because the nats have 20 million dollars this offseason does that mean they should spend it"? (or something close to that)
the answer was no….
thanks
i do believe the Nats have proven my point this off-season.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at Nats News Network on Feb 6, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
i mean, if you want to be realistic
The Nats brought in 2 compitent relievers this offseason. Literally everyone else has been a player that I would never want on a baseball team (at least, not in 2010)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I thought I would never have to hear that name again. Estes is horrifying, absolutely horrifying!!!!
Remember, I am a long-suffering Cubs fan … I’ve seen plenty of horrible stuff in my time.
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
Hence, my worries that the Nats are following in the Cubs' footsteps...
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe Estes will be a veteran presence in the minors...
for the youngsters. Hahahahahahaha.
I hope crafty Rizzo has some reasonable reason for doing this, but…..
I just hope we don’t see Estes here in Washington for any reason.
Hey, CD3K…how are those baby raccoons? Are they kind of chittering about the upcoming season ..or just as bummed as I am about not landing Hudson?
Miss B, Ha ha is right, Estes is veteran presence for whiners ...
He is a very BIG negative. I wouldn’t want him around my minor leaguers or my veterans.
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on Feb 6, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
The hoping the braintrust "knows something" despite all evidence to the contrary is wearing a little thin...
The baby raccoons are getting a little suspicious that Rizzo and his buddies are only in it for the VIP deli tray…. #3 has always thought the RZO looks a bit too well fed and does not share…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
That's a very scary thought.
Estes was actually on a very good Cubs team, the one that went to the playoffs in ‘03. He was woefully ineffective. It would have been truly horrifying if he had been on the ’04 team which is one of the worst Cubs teams in recent memory. (That’s saying something, believe me.) Kent Mercker was part of that team and he and Estes always seemed like the same guy to me. Mercker was responsible for both Chip Caray and Steve Stone leaving the Cubs’ broadcast booth (Caray was no loss, LOL) and Dusty Baker wouldn’t shut the guy up. He actually complained about the things Steve Stone would say about him. Don’t know if Estes did that, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. LOL
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on Feb 6, 2010 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
When Steve Stone left the booth, I stopped watching the Cubs...
I have a vague memory of Estes not being a great clubhouse guy, as well as not being so good after leaving the Giants… I thought we went through retread veterans just last year…oh, and the year before that…
No likey…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 6, 2010 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
I remember Estes in '03 too...
he did pull himself together at the end of the season for the last game he started and pitched the Cubs to a win much to my relief. He gets some credit for doing that, but still, I can’t say I’m pleased to see him returning to baseball for a team I care about. Now, if he wanted to unretire for the Mets, I’d say more power to him.
Al least Antoinio Alfonseca isn’t joining the Nats. He’s not, is he? Noooo…
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
Alfonseca? LOL Oh My God, No!
As long as we are taking a walk down scary Cubs’ pitchers’ lane, should I even mention the name, Mel Rojas? I hear he was a decent pitcher for the Montreal Expos once. Can’t say the same for when he wore Cubbie blue.
Now there’s a name that would upset Mr. Riggleman.
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on Feb 7, 2010 2:43 AM EST up reply actions
Who could forget old six-finger Alfonseca!!!
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 Feb 8, 2010 11:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
What's an April in Gnatstown without the not ready for Prime Time starters like........
a Tony Armas Jr
a Ramon Ortiz
a Mike Bacsik
a Odalis Perez
a Daniel Cabrera ….
a Shawn Estes- Scott Olsen
I miss Odalis Perez
..and my buddy The Hip Librarian kind of looks like Mike Bacsik.
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
"Sometimes I just throw it over the dugout... happens a couple of times a year..."
How’s his rehab going?
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Estes can still get lefthanders out better than most.
2008 lefties batted .195 with .605 OPS. He would fit as a solid LOOGY on a team. He has been around awhile, so he has a veteran prescence.
"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James
interesting theory with Estes as a reliever, I guess. They probably feel that with the JD Martin and McDougal hits that this is a viable way for them to get more balls in the hit a veteran goldmine hopper. this move doesn’t move me one way or the other. get a viable pitcher people!
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
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