Washington Nationals' Jason Marquis Reportedly Traded To Arizona Diamondbacks.

by Patrick Reddington on Jul 30, 2011 4:54 PM EDT

According to reports from FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi this afternoon, Jason Marquis has been traded from the Nationals to the D-Backs. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

• 5:00 pm: Nats' Skipper Davey Johnson was asked before tonight's game how veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, who was scheduled to start, has dealt with the rumors that he might be dealt before Sunday's deadline. "It's just part of the game," Johnson said, "We're kind of used to it. It gets tougher when your name keeps being mentioned in the papers and it goes down to the wire. It seems like there's more information out there than there ever has been. You can't keep a secret anymore."

Shortly after the Nats' manager spoke these words, reports from Nats Park had Nats' GM Mike Rizzo headed into the clubhouse in Jason Marquis' direction. Several minutes later FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi sent out the following message via Twitter:

"Trade is agreed upon, source says: Jason Marquis to #Dbacks."

No word yet on what the Nationals will receive in return. More info when it's available. Yunesky Maya vs R.A. Dickeyin Nats Park...?

• 5:16 pm: Since news of the deal was announced, reports have said that the Nationals will get 2010 9th Round pick Zach Walters, a 21-year-old switch-hitting infielder who has a combined .302/.360/.465 line with 45 doubles, 10 triples and 13 HR's over 166 games in two seasons at A-ball in the D-Backs' system.

4:40 pm: The latest rumors revolve around the renewed interest in Nats' right-hander Jason Marquis. In the last few minutes, FOXSports.com's Jon Morosi (@JonMorosi) followed up on a report by his bow-tied colleague Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) which said that, "#Diamondbacks working to acquire RHP Marquis from #Nationals," with a Tweet which read, "Jason Marquis close to being traded to #DBacks, source says." Earlier this afternoon Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore noted on Twitter that "sources" he spoke to said, "Yunesky Maya is traveling to Washington, and he'll be on call in case the #Nats trade Jason Marquis." As of 4:40 pm EDT there was no announcement on any deal, but with rumors heating up it will be interesting to see who takes the mound tonight when the Washington Nationals play the second of three in D.C. against the New York Mets.

Tweet Comment 45 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

FROSTY RETURNS!

by G8RB8 on Jul 30, 2011 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

can i get a refund on tonights ticket?

Since I will have to watch Maya ptich in person?

God help me if I don’t at least get my Werth bobblehead

by DC20 on Jul 30, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Bowden says SS Zack Walters is the return on Marquis...

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 Jul 30, 2011 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

appears he's also reporting

That Span is a matter of when, not if.

Bye Storen?

by DC20 on Jul 30, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep…..he says the Storen-Span deal will get done…..it is just a matter of the secondary players involved. Most depressing indeed, even though there are those on here who have no problem with that trade.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Jul 30, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Bowden's reports have been ... not completely reliable, shall we say

More bulletins as information warrants.

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I know…..but probably a tad bit better than Rosenthal

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Jul 30, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Stark is also saying it

I have a bit more faith in him.

"I was a victim of a series of accidents. As are we all."
---Malachi Constant

by The Herndon Kid on Jul 30, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

21yo SS, listed in the "others of note" category by Sickels

Better than a bucket of baseballs, but not much. We’ll see if this firms up.

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Stinko de Maya returns to Nats park

Glad I am only watching on tv

"I was a victim of a series of accidents. As are we all."
---Malachi Constant

by The Herndon Kid on Jul 30, 2011 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

It's MLB.tv's Free game of the day too

by G8RB8 on Jul 30, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Stinko de Maya might be an understatement, I just looked at his AAA numbers. Ewww.

by Andrew Davidson on Jul 30, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Although I guess he got the last laugh tonight :-)

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless Dickey's knuckleball doesn't flutter,

this one could get ugly really quick. Hopefully they don’t plan to let Maya go through the lineup more than twice. They’ll need the extra pitchers tonight.

by mstomper on Jul 30, 2011 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

more than twice could still mean the 3rd inning in Mayaspeak

by G8RB8 on Jul 30, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Darn darn darn...

why did we get a SS?? And Jim Bowden is still talking about Span for Storen.

by rachel216 on Jul 30, 2011 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

According to Bowden.....

The Nats saved nearly 4mil on the Marquis and Hairston contracts…..guess that could be applied to the 126mil dollar man contract!

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Jul 30, 2011 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

rolls eyes You know that cost isn't really the driver there - it's getting something for the future

Because anything is better than nothing, which is what they get if they just let Marquis go. And if Marquis likes it, he can resign here after the season.

Make room for Milone and Peacock.

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I know goober….I was being sarcastic.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Jul 30, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry - missed the sarcasm font :-)

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Provided Rizzo makes him an offer...

Good luck to Marquis on the D-Backs.

Now, Nationals, get a win tonight!

Back to the lab to keep an eye on the Cubs…

"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain

by brook on Jul 30, 2011 5:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah I think its a definite now

That we’ll see either Peacock or Milone this year. Especially after Zim is shut down. Unless they’re just going to hand all those starts over to Maya and Detwiler or something

Whats the frequency, Kenneth?

by ZimforPrez on Jul 30, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess the trade's okay.

I actually was hoping we’d get more for him. A pretty reliable SP for a SS minor leaguer? Eh…

by rachel216 on Jul 30, 2011 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

but something instead of nothing is the point

Marquis isn’t going to be a type B free agent as it stands now, so the Nats had to get something instead of nothing.

by Andrew Davidson on Jul 30, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

So are all of these trades happening now...

because the GMs don’t want to work on Sunday? :)

by Hotpockets on Jul 30, 2011 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

At least Maya won't be in the rotation too long. Strasburg could be ready in a few weeks.

They had to trade Marquis. It’s unlikely that he would be a part of the team’s long-term plans. But, as mentioned above, he can always re-sign in the off-season.

Still hoping that Rizzo DOESN’T trade Storen. The bullpen isn’t that deep. Too many inconsistent arms there.

-------------------------------------------------
"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!

by Potomac Fan on Jul 30, 2011 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

Gorzelanny

Stephen Strasburg will replace Jordan Zimmermann who will be shut down last in Aug based on innings. Maybe Gorzelanny will go back to starting. He pitched out of the ball pen yesterday so can’t start tonight.

by HG_VA on Jul 30, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

don't expect Maya for very long...

Davey said Milone and/or Peacock could get looks soon. people are souring on Gorzy, with good reason.

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com

"Nobody’s got a monopoly on good writing, or the facts. If you can come up with one or the other or (ideally) both, you’re in the club." --Rob Neyer, Feb. 2, 2011

by Dave at District Sports Page on Jul 30, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

cant be too soon for those two

something to get excited for

by TJL on Jul 30, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed...

Storen and Clippard are our only really reliable arms in the BP…take either one of them out of the equation and we’re gonna be hurtin’.

by Dan Shields on Jul 30, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Our best starter for a single A infielder?

if that’s all there is then Rizzo is a chump and we’re all being played for fools. I’m sick of it!

by apostle61 on Jul 30, 2011 6:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He is not our best starter.

He had run support in the beginning of the year, and got by with average play. When his run support went down to the level that all the other SPs were getting, he no longer became very reliable. W-L don’t tell the story on how a pitcher performs; Marquis has been our 5th best pitcher and 3rd best starter.

Skins rule

by Horcasitas4 on Jul 30, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

All the best to both Jason and Hairy - they are professionals, and they played a good season

"On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived.'" - Earl Weaver

by Whupass on Jul 30, 2011 6:52 PM EDT reply actions

Here, here...I agree!

I especially like what Hairston brought to the team. Marquis was pretty reliable this year.

I don’t like the Marquis deal, though. It’s not even something for Marquis. It’s potentially something…and probably will turn out to be mostly nothing. Plus it takes a real veteran out of the lineup for the rest of the season.
Things could get a LOT UGLIER…and that is a terrible thought.
Jury is still out for me on Rizzo’s trading…

by MissB on Jul 30, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Another couple of major leaguers for junk trades.

Hey fellas:

Still a AA ball club inhabiting Nationals Park…Still not buying tickets on this end.

Standing money…Whoever we got in these trades (?)will never amount to a hill of snot in the major leagues and the AA club in town is that much less entertaining.

by OldReddog on Jul 30, 2011 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

You obviously have no idea what "building for the future" means.

Part of Pech's Posse since 2007.

by OleksiyPecherovsHomeboy on Jul 30, 2011 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah ...its what its waht the Learners have been selling here from day

You buy it…I don’t . Its a total crock! Lived here for over 50 years …Heard this story from whoever was supposed to be out home team over the entire period…Be it the Senators…the Orioles and the Nats…Ain’t seen any sign of improvement.

Do you know what they call a team that supplies major league player to contenders?

FARM CLUBS! And that is what the Nats are!

Future THAT!

by OldReddog on Jul 31, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Interesting,

I don’t really like the Marquis deal at all unless the savings are utilized to make a full court press effort to sign Purke. Otherwise, whats the point of the savings? If they’re reinvested into scoutings/signings, that’s one thing, if they’re just used to line the pockets of the lerners while minimizing prospect return I’ve got a problem. There’s a serious issue when all you can get back for Marquis is less than Hairston Jr. Basically a guy whose ceiling is MLB utility infielder. Quite disappointing. Still, we weren’t going to get much back, asking for all that money, and getting organizational depth in positional players that appear to have MLB futures is a good thing. Keep building that farm, while improving in DC. No point in holding onto either of these guys. Did like the value we got back from Hairston, I have no idea how we got that much for him.

by stoneghost28 on Jul 30, 2011 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

Nats: 2 Trade Deadline: 1

Gomes trade is still a loss

by jeff550 on Jul 30, 2011 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed, mostly for Manno

Although according to Sickels his stuff was really not overwhelming, so there’s no guarantee that his numbers translate to a higher level. Still, having a lefty who gets outs is not to be sneezed at.

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Is this Denard Span for Storen deal happening?

If so can someone explain it to me it sounds like the most retarded thing i;ve e ver heard of

by terp121 on Jul 30, 2011 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

It's not happening straight up

Because the Twins would have to be crazy to do a 1-for-1 deal. It depends on what else would be involved in the trade, though.

by d_c_guy on Jul 30, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

They'd be absolutely insane to deal Span straight up for a reliever

Not that I’d be complaining (regardless of which one it would be)…..

I do think that if Bernadina is involved, Clip should be as high as they jump. Not because of the “closer” tag on Storen, since I think most of us realize that Clippard would be working the ninth for quite a few teams around the league. Storen has an extra year (or is it two?) of club control.

by bluelineswinger on Jul 31, 2011 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Loved both deals

I liked what Hairston brought to the club this season, but he’s a 35-year-old utility man who was gone at the end of the year. Getting anything for him would be solid. Komatsu looks kind of fringy. While Milwaukee’s system is pretty barren, Komatsu was their minor league player of the year last year (.321/.411/.440 at High A) and he’s having a pretty nice season at AA this season (.294/.393/.416). He’s supposedly very advanced in terms of patience. The ISO (119 last year, 122 this year) doesn’t blow me away, and I question if he’ll ever develop much of anything in the way of power. He reportedly has good speed, but most question whether he can handle CF regularly. I’d say he looks like a fourth outfielder down the road, which is actually a pretty good haul for two months of Jerry Hairston.

Rough guess…. Chances of making it as a regular: 30%
Chances of making it as a fourth outfielder who can contribute a bit: 80%

You haven’t heard as much of my “Jason Marquis is garbage” this season in part because I haven’t been around as much. I’ll concede that he’s been far better this season. He’s basically been a league average starter (yeah… the league averages for pitchers are that much better this season!). His 1.6 WAR ranks 56th out of 101 qualifiers for the ERA title. His 3.95 ERA ranks 54th. His 1.42 WHIP ranks 86th. OK… Maybe he’s still a bit below league average. Trading anything of value for him for the Diamondbacks didn’t make sense. It’s not like we were going to get Paul Goldschmidt, Jarrod Parker, or Collin Cowgill or anything.

Walters was solid if unspectacular in his pro debut last year (.301/.337/.438), but he’s actually shown quite a bit of improvement this season as he’s moved up the ladder a bit. A .302/.377/.485 line for a 21-year-old SS in A ball is nothing to sneeze at, particularly when you consider that the Midwest League has always been a little pitcher-friendly. Toss in a little speed (don’t think I’d see the benefit of him running much unless he improves his success rate… 12 for 22 SB this season) and you’ve gotta love a kid showing improved patience, an ability to hit for average, and a 183 ISO. He needs to cut down on the strikeouts a bit as he moves up, and there’s a chance he never develops. He was listed as an “Others of Note” on Sickels’ list this year, as was brought up higher in the thread. I’d say that the improvements he’s shown may have him bordering on C+/B- status for next season.

Again, Marquis was gone at the end of the season anyway, and his primary purpose in the organization at this point was to block some of the young guys who seem ready to contribute. Had they added a little money, maybe they could have gotten a little more. It’s possible that Walters was the guy that Rizzo really wanted, though.

by bluelineswinger on Jul 31, 2011 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

As someone else noted too, the Nats saw Walters when they were scouting Sammy Solis at the University of ...

So Rizzo must have know what they were getting.

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 Jul 31, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions