• Earlier this week, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal mentioned Jason Marquis (and Pudge Rodriguez) as a potential trade candidate at this year's Non-Waiver Deadline in a section of article entitled, "Notes: Time is right to trade Reyes", which was subtitlted, "Marquis on Move?", in which he quoted a team official who said, the 32-year-old right-hander who had elbow surgery last year which pretty much washed out his first season in Washington, is back to being the player the Nats wanted when they signed him to a 2-year/$15M dollar deal in 2009:
"'His mojo is back,' the official says. 'He’s got his movement again. He’s throwing strikes. He’s not the same guy as last year.'"
Former Nats' GM Jim Bowden asked Marquis about the possibility that he would be dealt this season during an MLB Radio Network interview earlier this winter. Marquis said that he couldn't even think about that sort of thing, " "...that's so far in advance to even think about what's going to happen in July. I'm just worried about tomorrow. I'm going to go out there and take the ball and do what Jason Marquis is capable of doing. Prepare as best as I [can] and hopefully bring some intensity and fire and fun to the game for the team and for myself." Marquis, however, said that he's enjoyed his time in the nation's capital, "it's definitely a place I can see myself [staying] beyond this year. Obviously it has to be mutual, but we'll see where that goes as the season goes on."
With the rainout yesterday, Marquis is expected to start on Sunday, with Livan Hernandez throwing tonight and John Lannan going in the make-up matchup on Monday.
• ESPN.com's Jayson Stark's sources, as quoted in the latest edition of his "Rumblings and Grumblings" column entitled, "Examining the Dodgers' hazy future", say that Nats fans shouldn't hold their breath waiting for either of the big soon-to-be free agent first baseman on the market, the Brewers' Prince Fielder or the Cards' Albert Pujols, to sign in the nation's capital.
"The Nationals are often mentioned as a potential destination for Fielder or Pujols," Mr. Stark writes, but in spite of the fact that the Nats are thought by rival clubs to have what's described to Mr. Stark as "hefty reserve of money to spend" over the next few years, his source, "who has talked with them extensively thinks they're more likely to spread that cash around than they are to throw it at either Pujols or Fielder." Earlier in the article, Mr. Stark suggests that Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, wants $200 million for eight years (i.e., $25 million a year) for Prince. And that won't be happening in Milwaukee," especially not, most think, after the Brewers extended Ryan Braun this week, giving the 27-year-old a, "...five-year, $105 million extension (on top of the five years and $40.5 million left on his current deal)."
• FWIW: ESPN.com's Mr. Stark threw Stan Kasten's name out there too in a section of his column subtitled, "The Next Walter O'Malley", where he writes that MLB might install at the helm of the flailing LA Dodgers' organization:
"Could be a group fronted by former agent Dennis Gilbert. Could be a group that includes former Braves and Nationals president Stan Kasten. Could be just about anyone."
Walter O'Malley, was, of course, the Dodgers' owner from 1950 to 1979 who oversaw the move out of Brooklyn to LA and is credited with ushering in the westward expansion of the major leagues. Kasten, the Washington Nationals' team President, who stepped down from his position last fall, was also the President of the Atlanta Braves from 1986 through 2003 when he stepped down from that position. Several recent reports have mentioned Kasten as a possibility for the Dodgers, who are in a desperate state at the moment due to the ugly public divorce of the current owners, Frank and Jamie McCourt.
Major League Baseball seized control of the Dodgers' "business and day-to-day operations" last week with Commisioner Bud Selig in an official press release, citing, "...deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball.