Washington Nationals Close To Deal With Mark DeRosa.

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 21, 2011 11:18 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 12: Mark DeRosa #7 of the San Francisco Giants makes the play and throw to first base off the bunt of Ryan Roberts #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during a MLB baseball game at AT&T Park May 12, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) is reporting tonight that the Washington Nationals are close to signing 36-year-old right-handed hitting and throwing infielder Mark DeRosa. "Source: DeRosa with #Nationals will be a one-year major-league deal," Mr. Rosenthal wrote on Twitter, "He will play super-utility role, serve as RH hitter off bench." The FOXSports.com reporter reported on the Nats' interest in DeRosa a few weeks back, writing in an article entitled, "DeRosa looking for opportunity", that the veteran of 14 major league seasons with the Braves, Rangers, Cubs, Indians, Cardinals and Giants had spoken to Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson and, "... came away encouraged by the conversation." Johnson told reporters at the time that DeRosa, who's missed significant time the last two seasons after injuring and twice undergoing surgery on his left wrist, could fill an important role on the Nats' bench...

MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported that the Nationals remained interested in DeRosa two days ago in an article entitled, "DeRosa still interested in joining Nationals", in which mentioned that the Nats' manager reached out to DeRosa after the Nationals learned about the hamstring injury 23-year-old first baseman Chris Marrero suffered playing winter ball. Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore quoted Davey Johnson in an article from the Winter Meetings entitled, "Adam LaRoche is ‘100 percent,’ but the Nationals want insurance at first base", saying that the Nats needed a right-handed bat off the bench who could back up Adam LaRoche now that Marrero was unable to compete for a spot.

DeRosa's played in just 73 games in the last two seasons, putting up a .253/.313/.279 slash in 201 plate appearances over which he's hit just five doubles and one home run. After returning from a long stint on the DL last August, DeRosa had a .367/.439/.388 line with one double in 57 plate appearances. In his last full season in 2009 with the Indians and Cardinals, DeRosa had a .250/.319/.433 line, down some from his career .272/.341/.416 slash. The Nationals signed Mike Cameron on Monday and were reportedly talking to Greg Dobbs as well as they seek to build the sort of bench Davey Johnson's told the Nats he wants.

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Comments

Popping up for just a moment...

Maybe it’s me, but I could have sworn the bench was one of — if not the — worst components of the team last year — and yet it seems to me that Rizzo is going about assembling the same group of journeymen marginal players (albeit with different names) that he had last year, and the year before, and the year before that. So, is building a moderately productive bench a lot harder than it sounds?

/returnstovacationmode.

Rob

--"Well my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." -- Mal Reynolds

by RobBobS on Dec 22, 2011 10:49 AM EST reply actions

I think so yes

You have to think that if you are a major league player who is willing to take a backup role, you are interested in playing for a contender.

I would be curious as to what names you’d like to see them sign as bench players?

I liked derosa. He is old now and may be past his MLB service abilities. I do know he can play five positions well. 1b 2b 3b, and the corner outfield spots, so obviously he will be a good piece for them during the 162 games if his bat isn’t too slow.

You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!

by Bsullivan on Dec 22, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

I think the difference between leagues really changes things.

It doesn’t make sense to carry a Russell branyan for example. I guess it all depends on the manager.

You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!

by Bsullivan on Dec 22, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

yeah, I am not sure why more NL teams don't carry a DH

Before anyone trys to burn me at the stake, I am not suggesting the NL adopt the DH. But the NL pinch hits way more than the AL, so I think it would make sense to have a DH on the bench. There is no reason that everyone on the bench needs to be able to play a position, if someone is injured you always call up somebody from AAA to struggle as much as the veteran MLB players that are no longer good enough to start.

by chubias on Dec 22, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

That was supposedly Stairs' role in 2011

best laid plans, etc.

Part of the problem is, with many teams going to an 8-man bullpen (and thus a 4-man bench), there just isn’t the luxury of carrying someone who can’t play the field.

Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"

by jbg2772 on Dec 22, 2011 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

I dont think it is the same at all

Cameron can be compared to Stairs, I give you that. DeRosa is a much better PH than Nix or Gomes where. You have to remeber that while Nix and Gomes where okay when they started, they couldnt PH for there life. That is the biggest difference to me

MOAR SEVERINO!

by jeff550 on Dec 22, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

While DeRosa>Gomes

Remember that Gomes wasn’t our OD guy. Hairston>DeRosa>Gomes.

"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane

by Jorgath on Dec 22, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

IF we sign Dobbs

I like out bench this year of

Flores
Bernadina
DeRosa
Dobbs
Cameron

better than

Rodriguez
Hairston
Nix
Cora
Stairs

MOAR SEVERINO!

by jeff550 on Dec 22, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

1 down

I think this is a good signing. Versatile and can hit. Hopefully he is past the injuries. As for Cameron I think he is a back up plan to Corey Brown. The Nats aren’t sure what they have in him but I am going to predict he has a good spring and makes the team.
My surprise rabbit out of a hat is that Rizzo is going to get Felix Hernandez from Seattle for prospects and Desmond. Seattle needs to reload and are not going ot compete soon so it makes the most sense. A Catcher, Desmond, and a couple of ready arms (peacock, Millone or Det)

by habs1000 on Dec 22, 2011 12:07 PM EST reply actions

A nice dream, but there is no chance King Felix comes to Washington

If the Mariners were open to trade, they could get a better haul for Felix than Washington can offer.

by chubias on Dec 22, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't realize that DeRosa came back in August.

That makes the signing sound better to me, even though he only managed one extra base hit. If he’s even semi-healthy he should be plenty better than Cora or Bixler. Who will be the backup at SS, though? Obviously Lombardozzi will be if he makes the team, but that’s not a sure thing. Aaron Miles might work. Since Dobbs and DeRosa both play corner spots, I don’t see signing both and not getting someone who can play short.

by mstomper on Dec 22, 2011 12:19 PM EST reply actions