Nationals lose out on Loaiza

11/28/2005
Right-hander Esteban Loaiza said on Monday afternoon that he wanted to stay with the Nationals, but they wouldn't budge from their two-year, $8 million offer. Instead, he signed a three-year contract worth over $21 million with the A's. The team also included a club option for a fourth year.
Loaiza said the A's approached him on Friday and they were able to get a deal done by Monday.
The righty, who made $2.9 million in 2005, went 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 34 games in his only season in Washington.
"They were only offering a two-year deal and it was the same thing they were offering before the season ended," Loaiza said. "They couldn't do anything more. I was looking for a three-year deal. I enjoyed my time in Washington. There were a lot of young guys and good guys. We got along very well. It's too bad things didn't work out, but I have nothing but positive things to say. We just have to move on."
Loaiza is considered a Type-A free agent, which means that Washington will get Oakland's first-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. The Nationals also have their own pick in the first round, 15th overall.
"We chose not to pay over $21 million for three years," said Nationals general manager Jim Bowden. "We'll take their first-round pick, which will be the 22nd pick in the first round. The best way to build an organization is to stockpile as many first-round picks as you can. We hope to continue to build the farm system. This is an opportunity for us to do that.
"Esteban did a great job for us and he made over $21 million for three years because of the year he had."
Losing Loaiza also means that the Nationals will have to look for at least two starting pitchers. They have already had discussions with right-hander A.J. Burnett. According to Bowden, Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, conveyed that the Nationals will be somewhere near the top of Burnett's list.
There's also free agent Hector Carrasco, who had the best year of his career with the Nationals in 2005. The right-hander has said that he wants to be a starter if he stays in Washington.
But Bowden said the lucrative deals signed by relievers B.J. Ryan, Scott Eyre and Bobby Howry may make it difficult to re-sign Carrasco.
"We continue to have dialog [with Carrasco]. I spoke to his agent, Adam Katz, a couple of days ago. We'll see," Bowden said. "Certainly, every signing has an effect on the marketplace. We have a very thin market and a lot of teams with money. History shows that those dollars will climb and that's what we are seeing."

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/