Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Still Close To Deal With Mark DeRosa? Still Pursuing Prince Fielder? Gio Gonzalez?
by Patrick Reddington on Dec 22, 2011 12:21 PM EST
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• Boswell On The Nats: Reports last night said that the Washington Nationals were close to reaching a one-year major league deal with 36-year-old infielder Mark DeRosa, who's missed significant time the last two seasons with a wrist injury. As of this afternoon, however, no deal was announced. The Nats are reportedly still talking to the A's about Gio Gonzalez though there's been no comment out of 1500 South Capitol St., SE. Are the Nationals really going after Prince Fielder? Who knows? "Run Silent" Rizzo's leakproof front office isn't spilling secrets. The big story last night dealt with Washington's front office and Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell's take on what's happening there. Read that story, RIGHT NOW!!!!
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "The Washington Nationals never really seem to learn. Or, rather, the Lerners don’t. As soon as you think they start to get it, they backslide again." - "Nationals have more cash coming in, but refuse to spend it" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post
• NATS BEAT:
• "Prior to injury, though, DeRosa was a legitimate threat. From 2006-2009, DeRosa averaged a .281 batting average, .356 on-base percentage and .448 slugging percentage." - "Nationals nearing a deal with utility player Mark DeRosa" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "According to baseball sources with knowledge of the negotiations, the Nationals are closing in on a deal with 36-year-old Mark DeRosa..." - "Nationals nearing deal with utility man DeRosa, a favorite of Johnson" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "Two of the players the A's are looking at are right-hander Brad Peacock and catcher Derek Norris." - "Nationals actively pursuing A's ace Gio Gonzalez" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• [Carlos] Rivero, a 23-year-old Venezuelan, had his best season as a professional in 2011..." - "Nationals claim 3B Carlos Rivero on waivers" -Dave Sheinin, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The Nationals envision using DeRosa as something of a 'super-utility' player, giving him at-bats at first base, second base, third base and both corner outfield positions." - "Nats close to signing veteran DeRosa" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "The Nationals announced Wednesday afternoon that they claimed infielder Carlos Rivero off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies." - "Nationals claim infielder Rivero from Phillies" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Long before the hope embodied by Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman was the face of the Nationals..." - "What if ... the Nationals hadn't drafted Ryan Zimmerman?" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "If healthy, DeRosa is a versatile player who has played six different positions in his career..." - "Nationals closing in on signing Mark DeRosa" - Dave Sheinin, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The Yankees seem more interested in free agent Hiroki Kuroda and trade target Jair Jurrjens. And the Twins may lack the resources. That leaves the Marlins, Nationals, Red Sox and Blue Jays as realistic landing spots." - "Seven teams interested in Oswalt for one year" - Corey Seidman, CSNPhilly.com
• "During the Winter Meetings, manager Davey Johnson acknowledged that he called DeRosa after it was learned that first baseman Chris Marrero would not start the 2012 season on time." - "Source: Washington Nationals nearing deal with Mark DeRosa" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Video: Hot Stove talk on CSN" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "I also wrote recently that, in my opinion, it's silly to attach the 'cheap' charge to the Nationals inasmuch as no one really knows how much any team spends on player development." - \"Some follow-ups: Cameron, player development, Rivero" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Wealth should serve humanity, not vice versa."
• NATS MINOR/WINTER LEAGUES:
• Liga Mexicana del Pacifico: Culiacan 6, Mazatlan 5 - Rafael Martin (MAZ) - 0.1 IP, BS, 1 H, 1 BB - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Caracas 8, Caribes 7 - Henry Rodriguez (CAR) - 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Zulia 6, Magallanes 0 - Jesus Flores (MAG) - 1 for 3, (.340 AVG); Carlos Maldonado (ZUL) - 1 for 3, 2 R, 1 BB - Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Gigantes 4, Licey 3 - Atahualpa Severino (LIC) - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K - Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico: Carolina 2, Ponce 0 - Hassan Pena - 1.0 IP, 1 K - Box Score.
• "[Tripp] Keister played minor league baseball for four seasons and had always had the hunger to remain in the game and be close to the game if he couldn't play professionally." - "Tripp Keister thrilled to get shot at managing GCL Nationals" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "10 Things To Make Nationals Spring Training Better For The Fan" - Danger Nat, Nationals Inquisition
• "[Gio] Gonzalez became arbitration eligible this off-season and is due a HUGE raise from last season’s $420,000 contract. He does not become a free agent until 2016..." - "Nationals mull Gio Gonzalez, but at what cost?" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "While you're sitting around wondering what Mike Rizzo will cook up next on his Hot Stove..." - "Gingrich named hitting coach for Washington Nationals AAA affiliate" - Nats Enquirer
• "Hosts Chris Rose and Kevin Millar gave a shout out to the blog Monday as they issued their predictions for the 2012 presidents race on The MLB Network’s 'Intentional Talk.'" - "MLB Network: Presidents race predictions for 2012" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!
• "In this week's Nats Talk On The Go podcast, The Nats Blog's Joe Drugan and Capitol Baseball's Craig MacHenry talk about the Washington Nationals." - "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 4" - The Nats Blog
• "DeRosa, over just 73 games in 2010-11, hit .235/.313/.279 with just six extra base hits with the Giants. His latest wrist injury came in May and sidelined DeRosa until August..." - "Nationals close to deal with INF Mark DeRosa" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "It's not that doing nothing in the offseason of 2012 is in itself terrible. But in context it feels pretty bad." - "Even Boz is into it" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Phillies: "The Phils’ payroll for 2011, as calculated by Major League Baseball for tax purposes, was between $177 million and $178 million, third highest in the majors behind the Yankees and Red Sox." - "Phillies avoid luxury tax in 2011" - Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com
• Mets: "According to the New York Times, if you become a minority partner of the New York Mets, you get among other things, quality time with the team mascot Mr. Met, a business card that states 'owner'..." - "Top 5 Sports Stories" - Len Berman, Huffington Post
• Braves: "The Atlanta Braves' Christmas Video Is Ho-Ho-Terrible" - "VIDEO: The Atlanta Braves' Christmas Video Is Ho-Ho-Terrible - Jon Bois, SBNation.com
• Marlins: "The next candidate up for review is Anibal Sanchez, who in two seasons has transformed himself from an unreliable, oft-injured starter to the Marlins' most dependable option at starting pitcher." - "2011 Marlins Season Review: Anibal Sanchez, the Workhorse" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes
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maybe Boz was sipping too much egg nog
this article seems so off the wall in its tone. I think it is too early to call this off season a dud or the Lerners cheap. There are still big free agents out there, as well as trade options. A little more patience for all.
The quiet nature of the Rizzo office is getting to Boz
Boz is just trying to get Rizzo to comment because he doesn’t see what patience can do for a team. Rizzo is too smart for Boz, he won’t even comment on the inadvertent insult to the Lerners and stating they are cheap owners. I’m still waiting for this whole thing to blow up and the writers won’t have enough time to catch up with the moves. Quite frankly though, I’m not sure if I’m a fan of making a trade of our prospects right now. I would be happy to stand as we are now and go into the season without much change. Health is all the team needs to win at this point
O
"player development" should not be gladiator games. by cat daddy3000 on Aug 6, 2011
by MissB on Dec 22, 2011 3:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I've said it before and will undoubtedly say it many more times...
Boz is a SNIPING WEASEL!
He misses all the insidery info he got from Kasten. Rizzo has cut him out…and Boz is pouting. Next he’ll be lobbing that someone is not living up to their Pythagorean expectation (one of his favorite…and extra tired taunts).
He seems to relish his turn as the Grinch.
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. I wouldn’t touch you with a twenty-seven and a half foot pole! "
Switches and cinders for Boz.
"player development" should not be gladiator games. by cat daddy3000 on Aug 6, 2011
by MissB on Dec 22, 2011 4:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I hope....
I sure hope they do all of the above…I will be buying season tickets if they do!! because they will truly compete with the top teams..I think the Nats signing of derosa soon as a bench player has to mean they have prince signing In the making? any news, on the Gio trade..he is a ace and would do great with the Nats
by Sportzxpert on Dec 22, 2011 12:38 PM EST via Android app reply actions
It’s become apparent to me that the nats plan on trading desi and playing a 3 man infield of zim, espi and laroche so that they can shift 4 corner outfielders at the same time. only logical explanation
Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion man
by TJL on Dec 22, 2011 12:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
My response to Boz:
The Nats haven’t spent anything because there hasn’t been anything worth spending on. Stop being bitter about Buerhle; he’s good, but we made a very nice offer, more than he’s worth, and we still got outbid.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Boz is also reverting to form
“Sign someone! Why haven’t you signed someone! Sign anyone!!!”, and ignoring the facts that don’t please him. The Nats bid on Buehrle but wouldn’t go to 4 years. They (and 28 other clubs) refused to bid $51 million for the right to potentially sign Yu Darvish to a $75 million contract. They refused to offer a three-year contract to an aging and medically questionable Oswalt, but are rumored to be interested now that he’s open to a one-year deal. They’re rumored (and isn’t that all anyone has to go on?) to be in trade talks with Oakland and in the Fielder sweepstakes.
Just shut up, Boz. Go canoodle with Kasten.
Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"
Boz makes one very good point
The Nats revenues are set to increase significantly and most other teams in a similar situation increase payroll. The best free agent pitchers next year (Hamels & Cain) may never actually become free agents, so to add pitching it would’ve required them to overpay for Buerhle this year or overpay for Jonathan Sanchez or Francisco Liriano next year. Right now, the Nats have missed out on the two best available FA pitchers, the best international pitcher available, and the two best pitchers available via trade after having the same needs and missing out last year. I normally don’t agree with Boz, but this time I fear he may be right, especially when you consider the Nats just signed an old man who can’t pull the ball or type.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
True that most teams increase payroll
But…increase payroll by signing whom, exactly? The only one that has been signed that made sense for us to put a realistic bid on was Buehrle. Buehrle received a very good offer from us and a ridiculously good offer from the Fish, so he went to the Fish.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
CJ Wilson made sense
So did Cliff Lee and Yu Darvish, also dealing for Mat Latos, Matt Garza or Trevor Cahill would have made sense too. Secondly, players rarely get what they’re actually worth on the open market, most of the time, due to supply and demand, they get more. Buerhle made sense for the Nationals, but he also made sense for a lot of other teams too. Winning in free agency is about being the high bidder or close to it at least and the Nats weren’t even close.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
No.
CJ Wilson made sense at 80% of what he got.
Yu Darvish would have made sense if not for the posting fee.
The Latos trade that occurred was terrible for the Reds.
Garza and Cahill are still more or less available.
Cliff Lee was LAST year, and we DID bid big — it was another Buehrle-like thing.
None of these were good.
And what do you mean the Nats weren’t even close on Buehrle? We missed by 1 year, at more or less the same per year! We CAME IN SECOND for him, out of the probably 12 teams that bid on him.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Oh, and also, never forget:
You can’t force a player to sign.
Cliff Lee illustrates that — rumor had it that we actually outbid the Phillies and he Texeira’d us.
CJ Wilson may be a similar case.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Not the rumors I saw
The rumors I saw said that Nats never made a formal offer for Lee, possibly because he wasn’t interested, but they never bid on him, the same holds true for CJ Wilson.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
And the rumors I saw said that the Nats made an almost-formal offer:
“If we were to make you an offer, this is what it would look like. Interested?”
Furthermore, the rumors I saw on Lee included the after-the-fact rumor that Werth was surprised because Lee had suggested that they would play together in DC this year.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Mr. Lerner is that you?
With that type of logic you can talk yourself out of signing or trading for just about anyone. You are overvaluing prospects, especially pitching prospects (TINSTAAPP) and a lot of your “facts” are wrong: Cahill is not available, 12 teams did not bid on Buerhle he received two actual offers, the Latos trade was not terrible for the Reds because they traded things they had in surplus or rather things they couldn’t use to get something they didn’t have and coming in second for free agents is no different than coming in 15th or 29th.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
All right, my info on Cahill was wrong.
And I agree that if you take my logic too far, it’s a bad thing.
But your facts are wrong on Buehrle. I exaggerated the # of offers, but there were at least five, and he eliminated all but the last two: us and the Fish.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on the Reds’ benefit from Latos, but even if you’re right I think they hamstrung themselves long-term. More importantly, I don’t think we could have made that trade; we have a surplus, but not nearly as much of one as they did in those areas.
Still, there’s only two FAs out there who have signed elsewhere that I really wanted to sign: Buehrle and (you’ll laugh) Endy Chavez. There’s trade targets aplenty, but both parties have to agree, and I don’t want to get robbed, so I’d move cautiously there.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Offers are different from rumors
I’d like to see a link to any rumor stating that Buerhle received more than two offers. All of that being said, if it were up to me, I would have signed Oswalt to a three year deal right off the bat.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
Here you go.
Especially focus on the last bullet point.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Exactly
“5 suitors” does not mean he got five offers, that means five teams called his agent to see what he was looking for. He only received two offers, one from the Nats and one from the Fish
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
Fine. Two posts more recently in the Buehrle category was one that he had at least three offers.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
NVM, that one said three suitors, too.
I think we’re quibbling over the definition of “offer.” You’re using “formal offer of a contract, to sign or reject.” I’m using “verbal proposal of the contents of a potential contract.”
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
A verbal offer would suffice
But a suitor and a verbal offer are two different things, suitors are simply gauging interest from the other individual.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
All right.
Then there were cases where the rumor gave me the impression “verbal offer” and gave you the impression “suitor.” Fair?
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Oh, and BTW
MLBTR just said that a Gio deal is close with one of two teams. Team 1 is Nats. Team 2 is either Fish or Red Sox (or Mystery Team).
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
That scares me
Gonzales has Oliver Perez-esque stats, which scare me. I would have preferred Cahill.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
Having a surplus of hitting prospects decrease the value of them for that team.
However, the Reds still got less value for those prospects. The trade may work out for them. Now is certainly a good time to be the Reds or the Pirates, given the free agency losses dealt to the Cardinals and the Brewers, and the general state of the Cubs and Astros. I think that the Reds should have insisted that Grandal and Alonso could not go in the same deal unless it was Felix Hernandez coming back, or Latos and Rizzo.
While the Reds are certainly motivated sellers, there were four teams looking to deal top flight pitchers for prospects; the Padres, the A’s, Cubs, and the Rays. The Reds picked what they thought was the best option and dealt for it, without looking deep into thier farm system, I am not sure, but I would better that they could have held out to get a better deal overall.
Finally, “winning” in free agency doesn’t always mean signing the player. People often point to the several teams that lose by overpaying for players that don’t live up to expectations, but often this isn’t the bad offseason move in and of itself. Perhaps Rizzo knew that Dunn was going to have a down year, but I doubt it. The truly bad moves are the ones where you significantly overpay the players’ expected value like the Marlins did on Buerhle.
Rizzo coming back causes the same problem as Alonso
He only plays 1B, and is blocked by Votto. I think SD won that deal, but it’s a lot closer than people say. I do agree this puts the Reds right in the hunt for the NL Central crown — they improved their rotation significantly without giving up anyone from their 2011 25-man roster.
Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"
1ST first major league deal of the season!!!
a journeyman!!!
"...I don't want to go watch American League baseball." Lance Berkman......LBIMH...
by cat daddy3000 on Dec 22, 2011 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
But is he hairy-chested?
Pardon me if I don’t check …
Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"
I wish Davey would keep certain thoughts to himself...
but, DeRosa was just an ice-breaker, a warm-up act, a bone to calm our fears while the really big deals finally come to fruition….
"...I don't want to go watch American League baseball." Lance Berkman......LBIMH...
by cat daddy3000 on Dec 22, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
Prior to injuries DeRosa was still a threat
Wow, with that kind of thinking why not sign Mark Prior too? Prior to injuries, he was pretty good too. I hate to say it, but I think Boswell may be right, ownership, just doesn’t want to spend money even though the team is very close. Hopefully they’ll pull the trigger on Gonzales though, because right now it’s about the only thing that could salvage this off-season outside of signing Fielder.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
Because injuries tend to impact pitchers far more than hitters.
Trend I observe, might be off base.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Certain injuries impact pitchers far more than hitters
Like shoulder and arm injuries, but wrist and back injuries impact hitters far more. After watching DeRosa aka “Flappy” for the last two years, the Nats would have been better off taking the money, putting it in the middle of the room and lighting it on fire because he is completely devoid of value.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
We'll see.
De Rosa’s not quite as bad as you think he is, IMHO.
Not saying he’s good, but if he were good, he wouldn’t be a bench guy.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
He's not bad, he's broken
Take a look at how many balls he hit to left field last year, keep in mind this is all of his PA’s.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
Fail
Here’s the link instead, point was that he didn’t hit a single ball to LF all season. For a right-handed "power-ishttp://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/player/mark-derosa/hitchart/85450?q=mark-derosah" hitter that’s a pretty ominous sign.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
That IS a problem.
He’s still an upgrade on Matt Stairs.
Which is not exactly a glowing recommendation, I know, but like I said, there’s only so good you can be and still be a bench guy.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
True
But bench guys who are back-up first basemen should have power, Flappy doesn’t have power. At least Stairs could hit a hanging breaking ball out of the park instead of slapping it to RF. The only good thing about this deal is possible cut-aways in-game to Mrs. DeRosa.
Ross Detwiler will have a breakout year...Believe It!...and I'm serious this time!
On Stairs - not last year, he couldn't.
He could hit it off the wall.
I agree with that, but since I see De Rosa as insurance until Marrero heals anyways, I don’t really care.
Yes, it’s a major league deal, but that doesn’t keep us from DFAing him as soon as Marerro is back to form.
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
Random comment on MLBTR made me laugh.
breaking news: the phillies have named wilson valdez their number one starter, citing that his career ERA is much lower than hallday, lee, or hamels. thus continuing the saga of the 4 aces
"I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."
-Leslie Nielsen, Airplane
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