Poll Closing...
Out of 321 votes cast in a recently closed poll asking federalbaseball.com readers which player the Washington Nationals should turn to after their prime free agent target "the Yankees' new first baseman" had turned down their 8-year offer, 87 voters or 27% of total votes cast were in favor of Washington signing 1B/LF Adam Dunn, with Manny Ramirez finishing second with 79 votes (or 27%) and Ben Sheets, the only other free agent with significant backing from the DC Faithful, receiving 70 votes, (or 21% of the vote)...(ed. note - "Interestingly, only 33 voters or 10% of total votes cast were for DC signing Orlando Hudson.")
But it might not matter...Washington Post writer Chico Harlan wrote earlier this evening, in a post entitled, "Nats Draw Line With Dunn, Hudson", that the Nationals' pursuit of Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson, "...had not been called off," but earlier Thursday afternoon MLB.com's Bill Ladson was quoting anonymous "baseball sources" in his article entitled, "Nats unlikely to sign top free agents", who were telling Mr. Ladson that instead of signing any free agents, Washington, "...will concentrate on their Minor League system and try to make trades for young players...(after)...Dunn and Hudson overpriced themselves out of Washington."
After a few weeks of wondering if Washington would be able to battle with New York, Boston and the other major players in the free agent market for the services of "the Yankees' new first baseman", or any of the other players available, the Nationals are waving the free agent white flag and again looking to make some moves on the trade front with mlbtraderumors.com's Tim Dierkes pointing to a San Francisco Chronicle article by Susan Slusser entitled, "Giambi press conference scheduled, what's next?" which once again brings up the Nationals' interest in 22-year-old, A's first baseman Daric Barton.
Susan Slusser writes that the Nationals are, "...among the most likely to propose a deal for the second-year player," which would make sense if you remember articles from earlier this offseason like FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal's, "Sources: Furcal meets with A's officials in Oakland", in which Mr. Rosenthal wrote that, "...the A's long have coveted (Nick Johnson's) on-base skills, and could pursue him as an alternative to Daric Barton at first base," or Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "The Latest On Nick Johnson", which referenced Mr. Rosenthal's article and then reasoned that Barton would, "...certainly be a logical fit with the Nats."
But back in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, "Nats unlikely to sign top free agents", Mr. Ladson writes that, "With the Nationals out of the Dunn and Hudson sweepstakes, it means that Nick Johnson will continue to be the everyday first baseman," so, if Washington isn't going to trade Johnson now, what other Nationals might interest the A's?
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE...Playoff Update...
The Tigres del Licey lost to the Gigantes del Cibao 4-3 Wednesday night with the Washington Nationals' and Tigres' second baseman Anderson Hernandez going 0-for-3 with 1 RBI on a sac fly, while Ronnie Belliard, who started at third for Licey, went 1 for 4 for a .143 AVG in the DWL Postseason.
Thursday, back home in Estadio Quisqueya, the Tigres del Licey made Aguilas Cibaenas pay for Wednesday's loss by putting a 16-2 beating on the visiting team. DC and Licey right-hander Daniel Cabrera started and threw 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Anderson Hernandez was 1 for 5 with his 4th Postseason double, and he finishes the night with a .325 AVG. Ronnie Belliard's 1 for 3 with his 3rd RBI, and he's hitting .167 after the win, and as MLB.com's Thursday's Caribbean Leagues roundup entitled, "Perez cycles as Tigres crush Aguilas" reports, "Former Major Leaguer Timo Perez hit for the cycle as the Tigres improved to 6-4 in Round Robin play."
The New York Mets Look To Add Another Former National...
According to Barry M. Bloom's article entitled, "Mets extend offer to Redding", the New York Mets have made an offer to Tim Redding, the Washington Nationals' winningest pitcher last season, who was (10-11) with a 4.95 ERA in 33 starts and 182.0 IP. Cut loose by DC back on December 13th, Redding told Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman, as quoted in an article entitled, "Nats agree with Harris, opt to let Redding go", that the Nationals could, "...pay all five guys in the rotation for as much as they'd have to pay me." The Mets' offer to Redding was not disclosed...I wonder if the Mets are going to sign Chad Cordero too?