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/

Mailbag: Nationals making moves?

11/28/2005
With the Nationals ending their first season in Washington with an 81-81 record, many baseball fans want to know about the team and the offseason ahead.
Here are some answers to your questions. Keep those e-mails coming. Thanks a bunch.
Now that Florida is having a fire sale, are there any Marlins that might be in a Nationals uniform next year? -- Lou A., Fairfax Station, Va.
According to a baseball source, the Nationals are trying to acquire some Marlins players in a trade, but the Nationals don't have the prospects the Marlins want. Keep in mind that the Nationals' farm system is dry, and the team doesn't want to trade the few prospects they have, such as Ian Desmond and Justin Maxwell.
Since the Nationals have such a plethora of outfielders, do you think they would make some sort of a trade that includes Marlon Byrd or Ryan Church? -- Joseph H., Pleasantville, N.Y.
Don't forget that they have a plethora of backup infielders, too, so I wouldn't put anything past general manager Jim Bowden as far as making a deal. It's no secret they need a leadoff hitter, two sluggers and more pitching. The big question is, do opposing teams want these players on the Nationals? We'll see.
I disagree with the notion that Cristian Guzman should be the starting shortstop. His fielding is good, but he is an offensive liability. Nomar Garciaparra could fill the void at shortstop. Rich Aurilia is no Cal Ripken, but he can play the infield and hit. What do you think? -- Collin D., Andover, Mass.
I think it's too soon to give up on Guzman after one year. Besides, which teams would be interested in taking on his contract? Not many. So many times I've seen players get off to slow starts with their new teams and then flourish for years to come.
Tommie Agee and Von Hayes are two guys that come to mind. In his first year with the Mets in 1968, Agee hit .217 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 103 strikeouts. Today, Agee is a legend in New York because he helped the Mets win the 1969 World Series. Hayes wasn't a factor in Phillies' pennant winning season in 1983, but he went on to become a solid run producer.
I think we should give Guzman a pass on 2005. If he falters in '06, then the Nationals are going to have to find a way to replace him.
Regarding Garciaparra -- his price will be will be too high and there's a strong belief that he is past his prime as a shortstop. Aurilia is past his prime, period, and I think Guzman is a better player.
Is the Nationals' lack of a left-hander in the rotation and bullpen enough of a concern to justify going out and trying to snag one in free agency or in a trade? -- Darren C., Washington, D.C.
It would help to have a left-hander in the bullpen or the rotation -- though it's not the end of the world as long as you have right-handers that can get hitters out -- but it's going to be hard for the Nationals to find one. The free-agent market has skyrocketed for relievers and I don't see the Nationals paying that kind of money for a southpaw in the 'pen. Starter Kenny Rogers is free agent, but I don't think the Nationals are willing to pay a lot of money for a 41-year old left-hander.
Will Terrmel Sledge be ready for Spring Training and will he be playing for the Nationals next year? -- Dylan P., Shiloh, Ohio
Sledge is expected to be fully recovered from his hamstring and shoulder injuries, but it remains to be seen if he will be a member of the Nationals. The team was looking to trade him during the 2005 season before he tore his hamstring.
Did the Nationals sign Marlon Anderson in anticipation of not bringing Jamey Carroll or Carlos Baerga back? -- John M., Arlington, Va.
The answer is yes. Anderson is expected to be the man off the bench, while the Nationals are looking to trade Carroll. Baerga is a free agent and will not return to the team.
Does Desmond have a shot at making the team in 2006? -- Ron C, De Soto, Mo.
Desmond is a longshot for making the Major League team next season. While he is Major League-ready with the glove, he is a long way from being a Major League hitter. Desmond hit .250 seven home runs and 38 RBIs in the Minors last season
Was trading Vinny Castilla a smart move? -- Mac C., Clifton Va.
Yes, it was. While he can still play defense, Castilla is past his prime as a hitter. In fact, I was surprised that Castilla wasn't benched immediately after Ryan Zimmerman was promoted to the big leagues on Sept. 1, as Castilla was hurting the team offensively for most of the season.

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

Guillen to undergo shoulder surgery

11/19/2005
WASHINGTON -- Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen said on Saturday afternoon that he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder on Monday in Miami. Dr. John Uribe will perform the procedure.
Guillen, who was in Springfield, Va., to help unveil the team's alternate game and practice jerseys, hurt the shoulder sliding headfirst in the third inning against the Blue Jays on June 26. Guillen never went on the disabled list and played with the shoulder problem for the rest of the season.
After the season ended, Guillen tried weight training to strengthen the shoulder, but he still felt pain and had the MRI, which revealed that he has a slightly torn labrum.
"We are trying to get this done as soon as possible. I'm just trying to be ready for Spring Training. I don't know how long I'm going to be out for. We just have to repair the shoulder," Guillen said.
Guillen admitted that the shoulder affected him during the second half of the season when he hit .246 with six home runs and 26 RBIs. For the season, Guillen hit .283 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs.
"I don't want to make any excuses. The year is over. Let's forget about it. I just have to be ready for next season," Guillen said. "Sometimes, I played through injuries. Sometimes, I think I have to be smart and know when to stop. I like to play every day. Sometimes, I was like, 'I can go.' But I've healed pretty quickly through some injuries. Hopefully, it's [going to be the same way with the shoulder]."

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

Notes: Nats unveil new alternate jersey

11/19/2005
WASHINGTON -- About 200 fans saw the Nationals unveil their alternate game and practice jerseys at Modell's Sporting Goods in Springfield, Va., on Saturday afternoon.
Outfielder Jose Guillen modeled the game jersey, which is red with the DC logo on the left and uniform number on the right. The jersey is similar to the practice jersey worn by the Nationals this past season. The Nationals are expected to wear the jerseys on special occasions.
The practice jersey, modeled by relief pitcher Gary Majewski, is blue with the DC logo on the left. The Nationals are also expected to wear the jersey during Spring Training.
"I like the blue uniforms. It's like the red ones we had. The alternate jersey is pretty sweet," Majewski said.
Marlon Byrd also unveiled the jerseys at the team store at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.
Injury report: Second baseman Jose Vidro didn't have surgery on his right knee, as expected. Vidro's knee was evaluated again by Dr. John Uribe on Friday in Miami. Vidro received an injection near his right patellar tendon. Vidro will rest for 10 days, then resume his rehab program.
Backing up the coaches: The Nationals are planning to make decisions on the coaching staff after the Thanksgiving holiday. On Saturday, Majewski defended the work of pitching coach Randy St. Claire and bullpen coach Bob Natal. Under St. Claire, the Nationals ranked fourth in the National League with a 3.87 ERA, while the bullpen had an ERA under 3.60 under Natal.
"They are both great," Majewski said. "Randy knows what he's doing. He is always on top of everything. He knows when something is going wrong. He addresses the situation. He doesn't let it get out of control with the pitchers -- mentally and mechanically.
"Natal talks about a lot of situations [in the game]. He had to deal with a lot of young guys this year. Being a former catcher, he tells us a lot of things. ... He takes his job real seriously."
No big deal: Majewski started his professional career with the White Sox, who traded him and right-hander Jon Rauch to the Expos on July 16, 2004, for outfielder Carl Everett. Majewski said he has no regrets about not being part of a White Sox team that won the World Series this past season.
"The grass is greener [in Washington]," Majewski said. "The Nationals gave me an opportunity. It was going to be tough with the White Sox because they have been trading away a lot of their younger players for the talent they have this year. It was hard for them to call people up. I might have been up in the big leagues with them. But I'd rather win a championship with the Nationals than with the White Sox."

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

Mailbag: Will injured be healthy in '06?

11/21/2005
Any news on right-hander Ryan Drese, who missed most of September because of shoulder problems? -- Chares W., North Port, Fla.
I heard from Drese recently. He had shoulder surgery in September and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
Here's what Drese said to me in an e-mail: "My shoulder is doing great. I have been going to physical therapy every day and I am feeling wonderful. I hope to come back stronger than ever, and I fully expect to make a full recovery. I have two goals for next year: throw 200 innings and stay healthy. I was told I can start throwing in mid-December, so I should be ready for the season."
If you had an open budget and could pick any former Nationals/Expos players that you wanted, who would you get? -- Yishai H., Jerusalem
Being an imaginary GM, I would try to get two former Expos: Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and shortstop Orlando Cabrera. I covered both players in Montreal, and they were winners and never came up with lame excuses whenever they made mistakes on the field. Guerrero is the best player I have ever covered. He could do it all -- hit, field and run. He is doing the same thing for the Angels.
Guerrero's absence was immediately felt when he left the Expos after the 2003 season. I still don't think they have fully recovered from his loss.
Cabrera is the smartest baserunner I ever covered. He hardly made a mistake when it came to stealing bases, and he was a pretty good clutch hitter. Defensively, Cabrera wasn't Derek Jeter, but he got the job done.
With the Nationals ownership situation in limbo, what are the chances of re-signing Esteban Loaiza at this early stage of free agency? -- Keith P., Bethesda, Md.
I think it's very slim that Loaiza will return to the Nationals. He wants a three year-deal worth about $20 million, and the Nationals are not willing to give him that kind of money. The Nationals want to give Loaiza no more than a two-year deal worth about $8 million.
Will the Nationals take a look at shortstop Nomar Garciaparra? I think that he would be a great fit. What is your take? -- Rob R., Memphis
Garciaparra's asking price will be too much. Besides, the Nationals have a shortstop named Cristian Guzman, who will play every day.
Diamondbacks pitcher Javier Vazquez is reportedly available. I think he would be a perfect fit. What do you think? -- Kevin D., McLean, Va.
With general manager Jim Bowden, anything is possible when it comes to pitching. However, in order for the Nationals to get Vazquez, the Diamondbacks would have to eat most of the salary. Remember, the Nationals don't have a budget because ownership is not in place.
Do you think Marlon Byrd will be with the Nationals next season? If so, do you think he could be a starter for them next season? -- Thomas W., Washington, D.C.
It's hard to say if Byrd will be with the team. The Nationals have a plethora of outfielders, and Byrd may be used as trade bait. And, yes, I think Byrd can be an everyday player for the Nationals. He proved it in 2003, when he was with the Phillies.
Being from Chicago, I was wondering what Francis Beltran's future with the Nationals is? He was a one-time hot prospect with the Cubs. -- Alex R., Chicago
Beltran is coming off Tommy John surgery, and it's going to be hard for him to work out of the bullpen in 2006. The Nationals already have a lot of quality right-handed relievers such as Chad Cordero, Jason Bergmann, Gary Majewski and John Rauch.
The Marlins are reportedly shopping around Juan Pierre. What are the Nationals' chances of trading for him? -- Max S., Portland
The Nationals would love to have Pierre, who would solve a lot of their problems at the top of the batting order. But keep in mind that the Nationals don't have a budget, and we don't know how much of Pierre's contract they are willing to pay.
Do you see the Nationals signing Tony Armas Jr. for another year and seeing if he can stay healthy? -- Dave Hill, Rockville, Md.
No, I do not. He made over $2 million and the Nationals are not going to pay that kind of money to a pitcher who has had shoulder problems for three years in a row. Bowden will try to get better in another way. The best-case scenario is the Nationals giving Armas a Minor League deal and an invitation to Spring Training.

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

Bowden has second interview

11/21/2005
BOSTON -- The Red Sox took another procedural step in their search for a general manager, conducting a second interview with Nationals GM Jim Bowden on Monday.
Bowden became the second candidate to have a second interview, as Jim Beattie and his wife had dinner at the home of Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino last Friday.
"It was a mixture of a social evening as well as... I think it's an opportunity for them to get to know me personally as well as professionally and there was a component of both sides of that Friday night," Beattie said.
Efforts to reach Bowden were unsuccessful.
The Red Sox had a first interview with White Sox director of player development Dave Wilder on Saturday. It has not been announced yet if Wilder will have a second interview.
There are expected to be additional interviews in the coming days, but the names of those candidates have yet to be announced.
And the club said in a brief statement Monday night that the process will be interrupted by the Thanksgiving holiday later this week.
As for Beattie, who was recently dismissed from his post in the Orioles' front office, he enjoyed meeting with Lucchino and team chairman Tom Werner in a more social setting.
"In something like this, when you're developing relationships, it takes a while to really get to know someone," said Beattie. "I held my fork right, I tried to do all the social graces correctly in a dinner environment.
"There was also a time where we sat together and just kind of talked about the club and my thoughts on the club and my thoughts on a few other things as well."
There is plenty to discuss when it comes to the club.
Star slugger Manny Ramirez and veteran left-hander David Wells have both asked to be traded; center fielder Johnny Damon is a free agent, as is third baseman Bill Mueller.
And there have been plenty of rumblings that the Red Sox are trying to acquire Josh Beckett in a deal with the Marlins which, according to reports, would also bring third baseman Mike Lowell to Boston.
For now, there is not a general manager to orchestrate such a significant move. Instead, the Red Sox have a committee of officials collaborating on the offseason plans, including Bill Lajoie, Jed Hoyer, Peter Woodfork, Craig Shipley and Ben Cherington.
To get Beckett, the Red Sox would likely have to give up some significant prospects, including shortstop Hanley Ramirez and probably a pitcher.

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

Guillen has successful shoulder surgery

11/22/2005
WASHINGTON -- Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen had successful surgery on his left shoulder on Monday, and he is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Dr. John Uribe performed the surgery in Miami.
Guillen hurt the non-throwing shoulder sliding headfirst in the third inning against the Blue Jays on June 26. Guillen never went on the disabled list, instead playing with the shoulder problem for the rest of the season.
After the season ended, Guillen tried weight training to strengthen the shoulder, but he still felt pain and had the MRI, which revealed that he has a slightly torn labrum.
According to Guillen, the surgery was supposed to take 30 minutes, but he was on the operating table for 2 1/2 hours. Guillen said it will take two to three months to fully recover from the surgery.
"I have to spend a month without moving my shoulder," Guillen said. "I believe there was more damage than what was [originally diagnosed]."
In retrospect, Guillen said he should have taken time off during the season in order to allow the shoulder to heal.
"I cannot be playing like this anymore, because it really cost me a lot. I was playing in a lot of pain during the second half. I have to be smart enough next time. I have to look out for my future and my career," Guillen said. "There was no way I could shut it down [in the second half], because we were fighting for a playoff spot. Jose Guillen is all about winning, not about anything else."
In other news, according to Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, A.J. Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, has conveyed to Bowden that the Nationals will be somewhere near the top of the list of teams for which Burnett is interested in playing. The Nationals had dinner with Burnett and Braunecker last week, and Burnett enjoyed the visit with the team. The Nationals have yet to make an offer to Burnett.
The Nationals are hoping that Burnett's wife, Karen, will play a role in the right-hander coming to the Nationals. She is from Bowie, Md.
"It's a family decision. A.J. is not going to make this decision independent of [Karen]. In any situation, I certainly believe she will have input," Braunecker said.
Braunecker reiterated that it would help if the Nationals had ownership in place to allow Burnett to get acquainted with his potential bosses.
"It would certainly make the situation more appealing if they had ownership in place." Braunecker said. "We understand that new ownership has the right to select who they want to run the club. But I'm not going to say that the situation that they currently have is going to hurt it. It would be beneficial if they had that final bit of certainty."
Bowden has declined to comment about his second interview with the Red Sox, who are looking to hire a general manager. He said he will not talk about the situation until it's resolved.
According to a baseball source, the Nationals have inquired about Diamondbacks right-hander Javier Vazquez, who has requested a trade in order to be closer to his home in Puerto Rico.
Vazquez played six Major League season with the Expos and was once considered the ace of the staff. His best season was in 2001, when he went 16-11 with a 3.42 ERA. The Expos traded Vazquez to the Yankees for Nick Johnson, Juan Rivera and Randy Choate after the 2003 season.

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

Nats jump into local efforts in first year

11/23/2005
WASHINTON -- More than 2.7 million fans went to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in 2005 to see the Nationals play their first season in Washington.
But the Nationals were just as popular off the field, as they participated in over 30 charity events ranging from Brad Wilkerson and Gary Bennett paying a visit to Children's Hospital in Northwest Washington, D.C., to Brian Schneider participating in the Major League Baseball Players Association's "Buses for Baseball" program, a leaguewide initiative designed to bring underprivileged youth to Major League baseball games around the country.
"For our first year, it was quite successful. We definitely have room to grow, and we are certainly planning on doing that," said Barbra Silva, the Nationals' director of community relations. "But given the first year, and the short turnaround time on quite a few things that needed to be done, I think players did a great job."
Arguably the most heartfelt moment occurred June 29 at RFK Stadium. Outfielder Jose Guillen went to the stadium on that day with a left shoulder contusion, an injury he sustained sliding headfirst in the third inning against the Blue Jays on June 26.
But Guillen decided to play because of the war veterans he visited at Walter Reed Army Medical Center the previous afternoon. Most of the veterans had been fighting in Iraq.
Guillen gave some of the veterans tickets to the June 29 game between the Nationals and Pirates, donated $10,000 to the Walter Reed Society, which helps the families of war veterans and distributed red hats with the Nationals logo.
"They were my motivation to play," said Guillen. "The veterans mean a lot to me. They have given their lives in Iraq. I decided to go to the hospital and see how those people are. It's tough to see. I was shocked to see how these [soldiers] live their lives like that. I know we have a lot of rich people in this country, and we could help these guys."
Infielder Jamey Carroll was another giving player. A candidate for the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award, Carroll was active with the Nationals organization by visiting the soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center. He also assisted with the team's community outreach by acting as the Nationals' Mother's Day Breast Cancer Awareness player representative.
Carroll's involvement in breast cancer awareness hits close to home. Carroll's aunt, Marilyn Watson, passed away from the disease a day after the Expos drafted him in the 14th round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft.
Carroll donates his time and teaching skills to baseball camps in Washington and back home in Indiana.
Next year, the Nationals are hoping to get the players even more involved in the community.
"We have a preliminary plan for next year. One of the things we have in mind is to have the players more involved in youth baseball programming and educational initiatives," Silva said. "We realize it takes a bit of time to get things going."

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

Bowden still working on improving Nats

11/08/2005
Even though he is a candidate to become the general manager of the Red Sox, Jim Bowden spent most of Tuesday working on improving the Nationals at the GM meetings in Indian Wells, Calif.
He spoke with the agents of right-hander Hector Carrasco and was planning to talk to Darek Braunecker, the agent for right-hander A.J. Burnett on Tuesday night.
Carrasco, 36, had his best season of his career in 2005, going 5-4 with a 2.04 ERA for the Nationals. During the month of September, Carrasco was put in a starter's role and was solid. He posted a 2.03 ERA in five starts.
Although they are not close to a deal, Bowden said the conversation between him and Carrasco's representatives was positive.
"We had some discussions and we are planning to have some more dialog," Bowden said.
Carrasco reiterated on Tuesday that he wants to stay with the Nationals because they were the team that gave him his first chance to pitch in important games. He also made it clear that he wants pitching coach Randy St. Claire to return to the team. St. Claire, whose contract expired on Oct. 31, taught Carrasco to throw a deadly changeup.
"I hope the negotiations work out because I want to go back to Washington," Carrasco said. "I want St. Clair there. I owe him a lot. He taught me everything."
Bowden is planning to have his third meeting with Braunecker regarding Burnett, who is not expected to return to the Marlins. Braunecker has already had discussions with the Blue Jays and Tigers. The Nationals are looking to add a starter to the rotation, and Burnett has been one of their main targets. Burnett was 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA for the Marlins in 2005.
In other news, the Nationals have expressed interested in backup catchers Sandy Alomar Jr. and Todd Pratt, according to a source.
Pratt, who is considered by many as the best backup catcher in baseball, hit .251 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs for the Phillies this past season.
Alomar, who was once an All-Star catcher, hit .273 with 14 RBIs in 46 games for the Rangers in 2005.
The Nationals are in need of a backup catcher because Gary Bennett is not expected to re-sign with the team.

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

Nationals put priority on pitching

11/09/2005
WASHINGTON -- Although the Nationals were in playoff contention for most of the 2005 season, there were some glaring weaknesses.
Washington had a tough time scoring runs, ranking last in almost every offensive category. And after Livan Hernandez, John Patterson and Esteban Loaiza, the team lacked clear-cut fourth and fifth starters.
General manager Jim Bowden is already busy trying to fix some of the problems this offseason. Last week, he traded third baseman Vinny Castilla to the Padres for right-hander Brian Lawrence, who is expected to serve as the fourth or fifth starter. Lawrence, who logged 195 2/3 innings in 2005, is coming off his worst season, but the Nationals believe his pitching should improve at RFK Stadium, which is larger than San Diego's PETCO Park.
"It's important that we get innings," said Bowden, who is a candidate to be the GM of the Red Sox. "We said that last [January] when we signed Loaiza. It's important to get a guy that is capable of pitching 200 innings. It's a very valuable thing.
"He doesn't throw that hard. He throws 84 to 86 [mph], but he knows how to pitch. He throws strikes, and he goes after the hitters. If he had overpowering stuff, he would be a No. 1 or a No. 2 pitcher instead of a four or a five."
The Nationals are not done looking for pitchers. They have targeted free agents A.J. Burnett, Paul Byrd, Kevin Millwood, Matt Morris and Jarrod Washburn as possible additions to the rotation.
Even though the relief corps was one of the best in baseball, Washington would still like to tweak it a little. The Nationals have targeted free agent Scott Eyre to be the main left-hander out of the bullpen. The franchise hasn't had a left-handed reliever who could get both lefties and righties out since Scott Stewart was the closer for the Expos in 2002.
Eyre has been a quality reliever for the Giants since 2002. Last season, he appeared in 86 games, going 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA.
The club also is trying hard to re-sign two of its own free agents -- Loaiza and reliever Hector Carrasco.
Loaiza, who won 12 games in 2005, is looking for a three-year contract, but the Nationals don't want to offer such a long-term deal.
Carrasco had the best season of his career in 2005 and has expressed interest in returning to the Nationals because they were the first team to give him a chance to pitch in meaningful games. But Carrasco is expected to make more than the Major League minimum salary of around $300,000 that he earned in '05.
"We are not disrespecting the fact that we need more offense, because we do," Bowden said. "We also think health will help cure some of the offensive woes. But our priority has to be pitching. I want to get better. We won 81 games, and we want to win nine more to make the playoffs next year."
Injuries affected position players Brad Wilkerson, Brian Schneider, Nick Johnson and Jose Guillen in 2005, and all of them are expected to make full recoveries.
"I don't think people realized how hurt our players were -- especially the second half -- and they kept playing," Bowden said.
The Nationals, however, need a leadoff hitter and at least two sluggers. How Bowden meets the team's needs on offense will depend on the budget, which hasn't been given to him yet.
Red Sox leadoff hitter Johnny Damon is a free agent, but he is expected to command a contract that most likely will be too steep for the Nationals.
The Marlins, who are having financial difficulties, may be willing to deal Juan Pierre for the right price. Pierre is considered one of the best leadoff hitters in the game, hitting .276 and stealing 57 bases in 2005.
As far as the sluggers go, Brian Giles and Juan Encarnacion are available on the free agent market. Unlike many of Washington's position players, Giles has consistently displayed plate discipline. He had 119 walks and a .423 on-base percentage for the Padres this past season.
The Nationals were after Encarnacion before the trade deadline, but they opted for Preston Wilson instead. In 2005, Encarnacion hit .287 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Marlins.

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

Bowden interviews for his 'dream job'

11/09/2005
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Jim Bowden sounded giddy on Wednesday after his interview with the Red Sox for their open general manager's position.
Bowden, the Washington Nationals vice president and general manager, spent 90 minutes talking with Red Sox president Larry Lucchino and chairman Tom Werner for the job vacated on Oct. 31 by Theo Epstein.
He left the room with a choice of the best of all worlds: remaining with the Nationals and having a chance to thrive in the nation's capital possibly even after the franchise is eventually sold, or perhaps joining his hometown team.
"This is my dream job," Bowden said about the Red Sox. "I was born in Boston and raised in Boston. I mean, I love Washington. But to have a chance to join my hometown team, a team with the second-highest payroll in the Major Leagues, a franchise that's loaded in the Minor Leagues, a team that's loaded in the Major Leagues, I think people in Washington will understand."
Bowden said the Red Sox made no commitments at the meeting and he wasn't told how long their search for a general manager might take. Werner and Lucchino also met with Dayton Moore of the Atlanta Braves, and Wayne Krivsky of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Former Expos and Orioles executive Jim Beattie is scheduled to be interviewed in Boston on Friday.
Whether Bowden will be called back for a second interview is anybody's guess, he said, adding he won't know what the next step will be until he receives a telephone call from the team.
"These are very intelligent people and I had a good time talking to them," Bowden said. "Without going into what went on at the meeting because I think that's private, just the fact that they are those kind of people tells you all you need to know about the type of detail they went into."
It was the second time Bowden interviewed with another team since the end of the regular season. He interviewed last month for the Arizona job vacated last summer when Joe Garagiola Jr. left for MLB's New York office. That position later went to Boston's Josh Byrnes, one of Epstein's assistants.
Meanwhile, his business with the Nationals continued as the general managers meetings completed their third day. Bowden has met with agents and general managers about potential transactions as he prepares the team for the 2006 season.
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Bud Selig told reporters that the potential sale of the Major League Baseball-owned franchise to one of eight suitors wouldn't be consummated before next week's owners meeting in Milwaukee and that there's no timetable for the process to be completed.
Bowden was recently signed to a six-month contract extension that will last until the end of April. The longer the sale process, takes the better the chance that Bowden, manager Frank Robinson and the coaching staff will be carried into next season even under new ownership.
But the contracts of Robinson and his staff all expired on Oct. 31, and none of them have been notified about their status.
Bowden said the pending sale won't impact his decision whether to stay or leave if the Red Sox ultimately offer him the job.
"I've always said that if you're in a job for one day or one year, you give the best you've got no matter what," Bowden said. "Look, when I was hired last year it was supposed to be until the end of April and a year later we're still here. To me, it has never been how fast baseball sells the team, but they need to sell it to the right group.
"It's just like Boston. It was a long process to put the current group in place and everyone complained. Well, look what happened. It's a great group. They brought a World Series title to Boston and nobody is complaining about it now."
MLB bought the Expos/Nationals franchise from Jeffrey Loria in early 2002 on the same day Loria acquired the Florida Marlins from John Henry, and Henry, Lucchino and Werner then purchased the Red Sox from the Yawkey estate.
Bowden, whose previous GM job was with the Reds, joined the Nationals on Nov. 2, 2004, replacing Omar Minaya, the move coming just a little more than a month after it was announced that the franchise would move from Montreal to Washington. Minaya, who spent three years as GM of the Expos, is now in the same position with the Mets.
Under Epstein's watch, the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004 and then were swept out of this year's playoffs in the first round by the eventual world champion White Sox.
Epstein and Lucchino couldn't come to an agreement on the terms of a new contract and Epstein decided to step down late last month, leaving the Red Sox without a general manager heading into the free agent signing season. They also lost Mike Port to MLB this summer and Byrnes to the Diamondbacks.
Bowden seemed undaunted by all those machinations.
"I'm honored to have interviewed with the Red Sox," he said. "I'd like nothing better than to get them back to the World Series."

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

Robinson fourth in NL manager voting

11/09/2005
Guiding a club that had one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and entered the season with low expectations in a talented National League East, manager Frank Robinson turned the Nationals into one of the feel-good stories in baseball in 2005.
Robinson's work was recognized by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Wednesday, when it was announced the Nationals skipper finished fourth in the ballotting for the NL Manager of the Year.
Bobby Cox, who led the Braves to their 14th consecutive division title despite fielding a rookie-laden lineup and carrying an injury-depleted staff, took home the award, finishing with 28 first-place votes. It was Cox's third NL Manager of the Year Award and fourth overall.
St. Louis skipper Tony La Russa (52 points) and Astros manager Phil Garner (38 points) finished second and third, respectively. Robinson garnered two first-place votes, four second-place votes and seven third-place votes for 29 points. Milwaukee's Ned Yost (7 points), Phliadelphia's Charlie Manuel (5 points), San Diego's Bruce Bochy (4 points) and New York's Willie Randolph (1 point) rounded out the balloting.
Ozzie Guillen, who piloted the Chicago White Sox to their first World Series championship since 1917, won the award for the American League.
In their first season in Washington, D.C., the Nationals jumped out to a 52-36 record at the All-Star break, taking hold of the top spot in the NL East. But the offense, one of the lowest-ranked in baseball, would sputter in the second half and the terrific pitching the club enjoyed wasn't enough to overcome the struggles at the plate. A trade for slugger Preston Wilson didn't provide the expected boost, and injuries down the stretch ultimately took its toll as Washington faded to a 28-45 mark after the break.
"I loved the first half and I think we did what we had to do to capture the enthusiasm and the imagination of the fans in the D.C. area," Robinson told MLB.com last week. "With the personnel that I had during the second half of the season, there's nothing much I could have done. They gave me all they had. I think they got worn down."
But despite the downturn, Robinson was able to keep the club in the Wild Card race heading into the final week of the season as they finished at 81-81, the third time in four years the club has finished at or above .500.
The 70-year-old skipper -- the third-oldest manager in 2005, behind only Florida's Jack McKeon and San Francisco skipper Felipe Alou -- finished his 15th as a big-league manager. He was named the first African-American manager in baseball in 1975 by the Indians.
Robinson's contract as Nationals manager expired on Oct. 31, and he likely won't know his final status with the club until a new ownership group is in place. But Robinson has expressed his desire to remain at the Nationals' helm.
"I don't know if I'm going to be back or not," Robinson said last week. "No one has talked to me about next year. [General manager] Jim Bowden has told me that he can't do anything until ownership is named. After that, we'll see. I told you guys before, I would like to come back."
It's the third top-five finish for Robinson since taking the helm of the franchise before the 2002 season. Robinson previously earned the 1989 AL Manager of the Year Award when he piloted the Orioles to an 87-win season on the heels of a 101-loss campaign in 1988.

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

No timetable set for Nationals sale

11/09/2005
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday morning that the sale of the Washington Nationals to one of eight groups vying for the franchise for the past nine months won't be completed by next week's owners meetings in Milwaukee, and there is no timetable for the process to be completed.
The Commissioner has been individually meeting with each group since mid-October and still has three more to go, he told a round table gathering of reporters after talking to general managers, who are in town this week for their annual post-World Series sessions.
"I'm interviewing these groups myself," Selig said. "All these people have spent a lot of time, money and effort and they certainly each deserve one interview. I've really enjoyed it. I've done five interviews already and I'm trying to do the rest as quickly as possible. We have owners meetings coming up, industry meetings and other things."
The last quarterly meetings of the year are next Wednesday and Thursday in Milwaukee. The owners don't gather again until mid-January in Scottsdale, Ariz.
MLB, which owns and operates the Nationals, had hoped to have the approximately $450 million sale of the team completed by the end of the regular season. But complications with the Washington, D.C., city council regarding a lease for the team to play at a new $500 million ballpark in the nation's capital has delayed Selig's decision.
To meet expectations of prospective bond purchasers, the council is currently in the process of approving financing changes in the original legislation passed late last year. Negotiations between MLB and city officials on the lease are ongoing, and both sides hope to complete the document by the time the council closes business this year.
Stipulations regarding the lease were memorialized in a term sheet agreed upon last year by both parties when the team shifted to Washington from Montreal. In general, the Nationals will make no upfront financial contribution to the ballpark, which won't be ready until 2008 at the earliest, but will pay rent initially estimated at about $5 million a year.
Meanwhile, the team will continue to play at aging RFK Stadium, where it drew 2.5 million fans this past season and reportedly made a profit of about $30 million. MLB purchased the former Expos from Jeffery Loria and his group of minority partners for $120 million on Feb. 15, 2002.
It has been Selig's position that the franchise shouldn't be sold until the lease agreement is contractually completed. Thus, he declined to define a timetable for the sale.
"It won't happen by the owners meetings and I can't give you a timetable," he said, speaking about the prospective owners. "Look, we'll do it as soon as possible. And I understand their view. We've talked to them a lot about it and they understand. I'll say this for the groups: they have plans in waiting. It's just a question of who gets the team."
Bob DuPuy, MLB's president and chief operating officer, met with Selig in late September and laid out the ownership choices after the relocation committee conducting the sale spent months gathering information and accepting bids. The club went 81-81 and wasn't eliminated from the National League Wild Card race until late in the season.
Of the eight groups, two have the strongest ties to the area. The first is headed by Fred Malek, a former Texas Rangers minority partner during the early 1990s when President George W. Bush was the managing general partner of the team. The second is Mark Lerner, a minority owner in the company that holds the NHL's Washington Capitals. The other top contender is a group headed by former Seattle Mariners owner Jeff Smulyan that has limited Washington ties.
Each group had already met at least twice this year with select members of the relocation committee, but this is the first round in which Selig has been directly involved.

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

Robinson awarded Medal of Freedom

11/09/2005
WASHINGTON -- Frank Robinson has accomplished a lot on the baseball field in the past 50 years. He was one of the best players in the Major Leagues from 1956-76 and, in 1975, became the first African-American to manage in the big leagues. Thirty years later, Robinson managed the Nationals to a surprising 81-81 record.
On Wednesday afternoon, Robinson was rewarded for his accomplishments when President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award. The ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House.
President Harry S. Truman created the Medal of Freedom in 1945 to recognize United States citizens for their efforts during World War II. But in 1963, President John F. Kennedy reinstated the award to honor distinguished service.
Robinson was one of 14 people to receive the award, including boxer Muhammad Ali, golfer Jack Nicklaus, comedian Carol Burnett and singer Aretha Franklin.
The star-shaped medal was placed around Robinson's neck by President Bush.
"It doesn't get any better than this," said Robinson, who spoke to MLB.com about an hour after the ceremony ended. "It's a tremendous honor to be presented the medal from the president along with all the other recipients. It's mind-boggling. I stayed away from injuries. Fortunately, I had a lot of good teammates and we had success. And that's what it is all about."
When President Bush was reading Robinson's accomplishments, which included winning the Most Valuable Player in both the National and American Leagues and being the first black manager in the big leagues, Robinson was fighting back tears.
During that moment, he said he was thinking about all the black baseball players who paved the way for him to be successful.
"I think about the Negro League players," Robinson said. "You think about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. You think about Roy Campanella, Willie Mays -- those guys in the old days when they had to take the rough times on and off the field. They made it easy for me to accomplish what I've been able to do."
There was a point during the ceremony when Robinson seemed happier for the other recipients than for himself. He was relieved to know that the recent reports of Ali's suffering due to Parkinson's disease were overblown. While Ali needed help to get on the podium and to his chair, he was strong enough to joke with President Bush and received a lot of laughs from the audience.
"It was great to see Muhammad Ali," Robinson said. "He was an inspiration to all African-Americans. To me, he helped bring this country together during the course of his career."
During the ceremony, Robinson was sitting next to Paul Rusesabagina, whose life was depicted in the movie "Hotel Rwanda." Rusesabagina gave people shelter at the hotel he managed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
"I heard about his deeds and I saw the movie, and it was very touching," Robinson said. "To be sitting next to him was a tremendous thrill and honor. I was really happy for him."
In attendance were Robinson's wife, Barbara, and daughter, Nichelle. Robinson often talked about how they made sacrifices for him to be successful in baseball. It was Barbara who told Frank, "Whatever you have to do, you do it. The kids and I will adjust to you."
"They are on Cloud 9," Robinson said. "It was good to have them with me, because a lot of times when I was playing, they couldn't be with me. I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything if not for them. They have made it comfortable for me to be able to focus on the job that I was doing at hand. I worry about them when I'm on the field, but it doesn't occupy my mind because they make it comfortable for me."
Robinson is still not sure if he will have a job with the Nationals next season. His contract expired on Oct. 31, and he hasn't heard from anyone about his future.
"I haven't heard a thing," Robinson said. "I only hear what I read in the paper. I don't let it consume my time. It will happen when it happens. That's when I'll put the focus on it."

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

Carrasco, Loaiza to hit open market

11/10/2005
WASHINGTON -- Nationals general manager Jim Bowden often said that re-signing right-handers Esteban Loaiza and Hector Carrasco was his top priority during the offseason. But the Nationals haven't come close to reaching a deal with the two pitchers, and, starting Friday, Loaiza and Carrasco will start listening to offers from opposing teams as the free agent signing period begins.
"The process is going slow. It's too early in the process to make the determination if they will go elsewhere," said Bowden who is attending the GM meetings in Indian Wells, Calif. "But they are going on the open market on Friday, and we'll see how the open market plays out. They have expressed interest to come back, and we have expressed interest in keeping them as well."
The chances of Loaiza returning to the Nationals appear to be slim. According to source close to the negotiations, Loaiza is looking for a three-year deal worth about $20 million, but the Nationals want to give the right-hander no more than a two-year deal worth about $8.5 million.
The Mariners, Royals, Indians, Rangers, Mets and Rockies are interested in Loaiza's services.
"We were not presented with something that we felt was competitive or what we are expecting in the marketplace," said Loaiza's agent, John Boggs. "Once the marketplace is determined, we will probably know where we stand. Jim is hamstrung with the budget that is given to him."
Bowden said on Thursday night that he still doesn't have a budget to work with. The team's payroll was at $58 million in 2005.
Carrasco expressed earlier in the week that money would not be a determining factor, but, on the other hand, he is expected to get a significant raise from the $315,000 that he made in 2005. Carrasco ended up having the best year of his career, going 5-4 with a 2.04 ERA.

In other news, there have been reports that the Yankees are interested in outfielder Brad Wilkerson, but, according to a baseball source, the Yankees have not contacted the Nationals about Wilkerson. The Yankees are looking for a center fielder to replace Bernie Williams.
This past season, Wilkerson had the worst year of his career, hitting .248 with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs and 147 strikeouts.
The source said Wilkerson could be traded if the right offer came along.
Bowden said he didn't make a lot of progress at the GM meetings on Thursday. He talked to three teams about trade possibilities. Bowden would not discuss who he was talking to, but it's not a secret that he is looking to improve the offense and acquire more pitching.
"At this point, I'm doing a lot of groundwork," Bowden said.

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

Harris among Nats' AFL standouts

11/11/2005
After six long weeks in the desert, six Washington Nationals prospects can look forward to the end of the Arizona Fall League season -- and their first home-cooked meals since February.
Utility man Brendan Harris wasn't able to keep his average above the magical .400 mark, but he did finish the season as one of the AFL's top hitters. On the mound, Chris Schroder overcame some difficulties at the start of the season to finish with a 10-inning scoreless streak.
Here is a rundown on how the rest of the Nationals' farmhands did during the final week of the season for the Peoria Saguaros:
RHP Roy Corcoran -- Things went from good to bad to worse in Corcoran's three appearances. The 25-year-old right-hander earned his only save of the AFL season with a scoreless ninth inning on Nov. 5, allowed one run in one inning on Nov. 7 against Surprise, then gave up two runs on two hits and two walks on Nov. 9 against Grand Canyon.
INF Brendan Harris -- Harris collected a hit in each of his last three games, giving him a .376 average for the fall, good for fifth in the league. He also finished in the top 10 in on-base percentage (.417, ninth) and hits (32, 10th).
LHP David Maust -- The southpaw from Morgantown, W.Va., started the week in fine form, tossing four hitless innings on Nov. 4 against Surprise. But he was touched up for three runs over two innings during the season finale on Nov. 10 against Mesa. Maust finished the year with a 1-2 record and a 6.65 ERA, striking out 17 in 23 innings.
RHP Chris Schroder -- Schroder was nearly untouchable during the final week of the season, tossing four scoreless innings in three appearances. On Nov. 5 against Phoenix, he went two innings and allowed two hits to get the win. The 27-year-old Oklahoman finished the season 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA, fanning 18 in 20 innings.
1B Josh Whitesell -- A late addition to the Saguaros' roster, Whitesell found his swing midway through the week, collecting five hits in two games. His best performance came on Nov. 7 against Surprise, when he went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
3B Ryan Zimmerman -- Zimmerman did not appear in any games this week. The Nats' first-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft saw limited AFL action and batted .263 with one home run and two RBIs in 10 games.

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

Short but very sweet year in Triple-A

11/09/2005
It's been a long journey for Rick Short.
The former 33rd-round draft pick began his professional career in 1994 with Bluefield of the Rookie Appalachian League and has since played in the Class A Advanced Carolina and California leagues, the Double-A Eastern and Southern leagues, the Triple-A International and Pacific Coast leagues -- and for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
Now, after winning the Triple-A Offensive Player of the Year Award at age 32, Short's career is finally taking off.
Short, primarily playing a combination of first, second and third base for the New Orleans Zephyrs, batted at least .304 every month -- except September, when he went hitless in his only game. In June, he enjoyed a 40-for-80 performance, but it wasn't always easy.
"A lot of balls die in the humidity in New Orleans," said Short. "When you hit a ball in the gap, it just seems to hang up forever."
Despite the unfavorable conditions, Short put together a 20-game hitting streak in June and topped it with a 21-gamer that began the following month.
Already batting .381 on Aug. 10 and making headlines with his quest for .400, Short went on a rampage, going 12-for-15 (.800) over his next four games to raise his average to .401.
"He was confident in what he was doing," said Zephyrs manager -- and 16-year Major League veteran -- Tim Foli. "He takes care of himself and works awful hard. He's not a 'rah-rah' guy. He leads by example and how he plays the game."
Short played the game with incredible consistency. He batted .350 with the bases empty and .418 with runners in scoring position. He hit .358 against lefties and .391 off righties. He batted .361 at home and .404 on the road. He hit .394 as the Zephyrs' cleanup man and .381 in the seventh slot.
Yes, the seventh slot.
Although Short entered the season with a career Minor League average of .312, Foli moved him around the lineup and started him at different positions -- including one game behind the plate -- to prepare him for any role he might encounter in the big leagues.
The moves paid off. After two brief callups in June and July, Short left his Minor League-best .383 average behind for a slightly longer September stint with the Washington Nationals. He responded by going 5-for-13 with two doubles and two homers to wrap up his first big league season with a .400 average and a .933 slugging percentage.
Short finished his monster year in the Minors with 11 homers, 35 doubles, 70 RBIs, 72 runs and a 1.025 OPS. He also drew 46 walks to go with just 27 strikeouts.
"If I fell way behind in the count," said Short, "I just wanted to somehow put the barrel on the baseball. I kind of play the numbers a little bit. I figure that if you have 500 at-bats and put the ball in play 475 times, you're gonna get your hits."
Foli appreciated this approach.
"What I saw in Shortie is a professional hitter," he said. "When you have the best pitcher out there, he puts on a good at-bat. He knows how to take what the pitcher gives him. He knows how to hit in those situations."
As for next season, Foli will be back with the team and he hopes that Short won't.
"If he's healthy, he should make the (Nationals') Opening Day roster."
Short has a good chance, considering he has a career .520 career average in Spring Training.

Source: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/

Huppert may head to Phils Class A

11/12/2005
WASHINGTON -- Nationals third-base coach Dave Huppert is close to joining the Phillies organization as the manager of Class A Lakewood.
Huppert is one of three coaches on the Nationals -- hitting coach Tom McCraw and first-base coach Don Buford were the others -- who were often criticized for their work on the field. Huppert was accused of not being aggressive enough, but he felt he did a good job.
"I could have been more aggressive, but not much more. I don't think we had the speed," Huppert said on Saturday. "We hit [.252] as a team and I didn't want to give up many opportunities. I only had seven guys thrown out at the plate for the year -- and the ones I held up, 14 of them didn't score. I did as good a job as I could do. We didn't get a lot of big hits."
Huppert said he would like to stay with the Nationals and work for manager Frank Robinson for a second season, but feels that general manager Jim Bowden "is not excited about [his] coming back" and is prepared to go back to managing in the Minor Leagues.
Huppert managed three seasons in the Expos organization as well as having managerial stints in the Marlins, White Sox and Brewers organizations.
"I look forward [to managing in Class A], if that's where I have to go. In Lakewood, I hear it's a nice place to manage," Huppert said. "You're goal is to always be in the big leagues, but if I have to go to the Minor Leagues, managing is what I want to do. Sometime next week, [the Phillies are] going to announce it. I haven't signed a contract yet."
Robinson, who still doesn't know his status, said a couple of weeks ago that he was pleased with the way Huppert handled himself at the third-base coaching lines.
"Dave Huppert had to familiarize himself with the players on our ballclub -- know their strengths and weaknesses as far as running the bases," Robinson said. "He had to get to know every defensive player on the other ballclubs. ... That takes time, and I can't emphasize that enough. Most clubs don't take infield. We get no idea what they can or can't do. Scouting reports can tell you, but seeing is the best way to do that. Was I completely happy with Huppert? No, because he had to get used to me and I had to get used to him. I was very pleased with the way he handled himself, overall, during the season. If he comes back, he would be only better the second time around."

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

Mailbag: What's ahead in D.C.?

11/13/2005
With the Nationals ending their first season in Washington with an 81-81 record, a lot of fans want to know about the team and its offseason plans.
Here are some answers to your questions. Keep those e-mails coming. Thanks a bunch.
With the Nationals needing starting pitching, would it be good to give Jon Rauch a chance to be part of the rotation? -- Yves R., Montreal
I think Rauch should be given a chance. He is a battler and doesn't give in to hitters. The big question is, however, can he stay healthy for a full season? He missed most of 2005 because of shoulder problems. In fact, Rauch had a history of injury problems with the White Sox as well.
What about the Nationals giving Sammy Sosa a chance? They might catch lightning in a bottle. Wouldn't he come cheap? -- Garin S., Avon, Ind.
I don't think Sosa would come that cheaply. If the Nationals were interested in him, I'm sure the offer would be loaded with incentives. The question is, why would the Nationals take on Sosa? He strikes out way too much. Add Brad Wilkerson to the mix and the team would have 300 strikeouts between two players. That's a bad combination.
Do you think the Nationals regret trading outfielder Jerry Owens? -- Arthur N., Dallas
There is no question about it. Last February, the Nationals traded Owens to the White Sox for outfielder Alex Escobar, who didn't play a regular-season game because of foot problems. It's unlikely that he will return to the team next season. Owens, who was drafted by the Expos in 2003, hit .331 with two homers, 52 RBIs and 99 runs scored for Double-A Birmingham.
What is Ryan Church's role for next year? -- Jerry C., Jupiter, Fla.
It's too early to figure out what Church's role will be with the Nationals. They definitely feel he has the talent to be a solid Major Leaguer, but they would like him to stay healthy, which wasn't the case in 2005. Some in the organization would like to see Church have more tolerance for pain. They felt he should have played with a broken right pinky toe last season.
Is there any chance of the Nationals signing either B.J. Ryan or Scott Eyre as lefties for their bullpen? -- Hannah G., Alexandria, Va.
The Nationals would love to have Ryan and Erye, but keep in mind that the Nationals do not have a 2006 budget in place until a new ownership group is settled on, and those two pitchers are going to command a lot of money on the open market. As of now, and it could change, I think it's highly unlikely they will be members of the Nationals.
The Nationals need speed at the top of the order. Do they have anyone in their farm system ready to come up next year? -- Jacques Q., Ottawa
The only person that is ready is outfielder Brandon Watson, who was not given a real chance to prove his worth when he was twice called up to the big leagues. If the Nationals don't acquire a leadoff hitter via free agency or trade, they have no choice but to give Watson a serious look during Spring Training. Last season, Watson had his best season to date, hitting .355 with one home run and 25 RBIs for Triple-A New Orleans.
Since there are a bunch of backup infielders, what is the future of Deivi Cruz with the Nationals? -- Robin S., Silver Spring, Md.
Cruz is a free agent and will not return to the club. Cruz didn't see much action with Washington in 2005, hitting .255 in 20 games.
Would you agree that the team's active roster lacks speed? Do you believe management sees the need to upgrade overall team athleticism? -- Robert W., Upper Marlboro, Md.
I agree with you that the team lacks speed. In fact, the Nationals stole 45 bases and were caught 45 times. But it may be tough to get that speed in the open market because Washington still doesn't have a budget. Players like Kenny Lofton and Johnny Damon are available, but their asking price may be too much for the Nationals.
Will the Nationals try to lock up catcher Brian Schneider to a long-term deal? He is one of the best in the National League at his position. -- Rich R., Slingerlands, N.Y.
Schneider is one of the best catchers in baseball, but Schneider, as well as Brad Wilkerson, will not be considered for a long-term deal until ownership is in place.
I took in some games and saw the potential in outfielder Chad Chop, who played with Class A Potomac. Where does he fit in for 2006? -- Marc M., Montreal
Chop is a long shot at making the Major League roster. He will spend another season in the Minor Leagues. He hit .260 with three home runs and 52 RBIs for Potomac.

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

Guillen, Vidro prepare for surgery

11/15/2005
Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen and second baseman Jose Vidro were hoping to avoid surgery this offseason, but it appears that may not be the case.
An MRI last week revealed that Guillen has a slightly torn labrum in his left shoulder. Guillen hurt the shoulder sliding headfirst in a game against the Blue Jays on June 26, but he never went on the disabled list and played with the shoulder problem for the rest of the season.
After the season ended, Guillen tried weight training to strengthen the shoulder, but he underwent the MRI when the pain didn't subside. Guillen is expected to see Dr. John Uribe, the same person who operated on Livan Hernandez's knee last October, on Friday to schedule an appointment for next week.
"The shoulder is pretty damaged and I can hardly lift weights with the shoulder like that," Guillen said. "It's not a big deal. It's going to take a few weeks to rehab the shoulder. Everything will be fine. I was playing with the shoulder during the second half of the season. I'm going to take care of this and be ready for Spring Training."
Vidro was hoping to avoid an operation on his right knee, but he will have arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday, according to a baseball source. Dr. Uribe will perform the surgery.
"The consensus is that they are going to clean up a little scar tissue and get out of there," the source said.
Vidro's knee problems resurfaced when he came off the disabled list in July. After being shelved by an ankle injury between the beginning of May and the beginning of July, the second baseman was limited to 184 at-bats after the All-Star break and just 19 at-bats in September.
Before the season ended, Dr. Tim Kremchek, the team's senior consultant, recommended surgery on Vidro's knee, which was surgically repaired in September 2004. But Dr. James Andrews told Vidro to rest the knee for a week and then start a special exercise program for three weeks.
Vidro took Andrews' advice, but found that his knee still wasn't right after a few weeks of exercise.
In other news, according to a baseball source, the Dodgers called the Nationals to see if they had interest in center fielder Milton Bradley. The Nationals said, "No thanks," in part because they already have a similar highly-charged emotional player in Guillen, according to the source.
The Nationals are looking for a leadoff hitter, but, as of now, have shown no interest in free agent outfielder Kenny Lofton, formerly of the Phillies, or Padres outfielder Dave Roberts.
"I know Kenny Lofton had a good year, but [the Nationals] can do better," the baseball source said.
The Nationals are serious about getting better in the outfield and they have turned their focus to free agent Juan Encarnacion, who played for the Marlins this past season. The Nationals previously tried to acquire Encarnacion before landing Preston Wilson this past July.
Encarnacion hit .287 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Marlins in 2005. He played for general manager Jim Bowden when both were with the Reds in 2002.

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

Nationals meet with free agent Burnett

11/16/2005
In need of starting pitching, members of the Nationals' front office had dinner with free agent A.J. Burnett and his agent, Darek Braunecker, at Forge Restaurant in Miami on Wednesday night, MLB.com has learned.
Representing the Nationals were general manager Jim Bowden, assistant general managers Bob Boone and Tony Siegle, Jose Rijo, a special assistant to the general manager, and interim farm director Andy Dunn.
The Nationals are one of nine teams that are interested in Burnett's services. Burnett has already met with the Blue Jays, and Braunecker has had discussions with the Tigers, according to published reports.
The Nationals are looking for at least two starting pitchers, and Burnett could possibly fill one of those spots in a big way. Last season, he went 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA and 198 strikeouts for the Marlins. Having a rotation headed by Burnett, Livan Hernandez and John Patterson would help put the Nationals in the right direction.
The dinner between Burnett and the Nationals lasted from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Burnett declined to comment on the dinner engagement except to say the meeting with the Nationals "was positive."
Members of the Nationals didn't comment, but a source familiar with the meeting said they were impressed with Burnett. The Nationals even had Hernandez, a former Marlin, give Burnett a call about playing for Nationals.
"The meeting went real well. Just the thought that he wanted to meet with the Nationals was great. He is a very bright guy. He liked what we brought to the table," the source said. "He knows he is going to get the money [somewhere], but he wanted to know what he was going to deal with in Washington, what kind of place he wanted to play. He wants to play for a team that is committed to winning, raise his family and pitch every fifth day."
According to published reports, Burnett is looking for a five-year contract, but whether the Nationals can give him that kind of deal remains to be seen. The team still doesn't have a budget and is waiting for ownership to be in place. Braunecker said it would be nice if ownership was in place soon so Burnett can familiarize himself with his potential bosses.
"We recognize if somebody is going to go out and pay $450 million for a club, they are probably going to be committed to winning," Braunecker said. "It would certainly help the situation, not only with A.J., but any free agent they are in discussions with. How much will having ownership help? I couldn't tell you that, but it would be beneficial to have ownership in place."
The Nationals are hoping that Burnett's wife, Karen, will play a role in the right-hander coming to the Nationals. She is from Bowie, Md.
"It's yet to be determined if [Karen will play a role]," Braunecker said. "We are just working through the process. We are in the initial stages. We are meeting with clubs, trying to assess where they are at. We are down to a field of nine clubs. Those are the clubs we are conducting meetings with. What influence [Karen will have] on the decision, we don't know yet. I don't know if [she will] have any at the end of the day."

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

Nationals DVD premiere a hit

11/17/2005
WASHINGTON -- A crowd of about 200 people went to the ESPN Zone on Thursday afternoon to catch the premiere of "Baseball returns: Washington Nationals inaugural season."
The DVD, which can be ordered on nationals.com, recaps the Nationals' first season in Washington. From the first pitch to the final out, the fans experienced baseball's reunion with D.C. as the DVD featured highlights, player interviews and commentary.
The highlights featured everything from President George W. Bush throwing out the first ball on Opening Day to Brad Wilkerson hitting for the cycle against the Phillies to manager Frank Robinson's near fight with Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
All of those moments were captured by Charlie Slowes and Dave Shea, the radio voices of the Nationals, and Mel Proctor, who did the play-by-play on TV.
There were plenty of interviews in the DVD, and people like Robinson and Wilkerson explained why they were able to have one of the best records in baseball during the first half of the season.
The DVD doesn't avoid the lowlights. It touches on the Nationals' struggles in the second half, during which they went 29-45. Not even the acquisition of Preston Wilson before the trade deadline could get the team back to its winning ways.
The Nationals finished the season at 81-81 and drew 2,731,993 for the season.
"Being part of that season was the most exciting thing I have ever been involved in during my career. The emotional ride was tremendous, and there was intensity every night," said Slowes, who was the emcee of the event. "I think the DVD gives you a pretty good feel for what it was like every night at RFK Stadium. It gives fans a chance to relive some of the moments from the season."
After the show ended, Slowes hosted a raffle in which fans had a chance to win autographed baseballs from Jose Guillen and John Patterson and a free DVD on the Nationals.
Four people had a chance to win the baseball with Guillen's autograph on it, but they all left the restaurant, and Rob Armour, a season-ticket holder, ended up winning the baseball. Jenny Mulhente won the Patterson autographed baseball, while Scott Christian won the DVD.
"I was glad I stuck around. I was hoping that I would win." Armour said. "I'm a Washington fan that goes back to 1958, when the Senators played at Griffith Stadium."
In other news, Slowes, Guillen and reliever Gary Majewski will help the club unveil an alternate third jersey on Saturday at the Modell's Sporting Goods located in the Springfield Mall in Springfield, Va.
Guillen, Majewski and Slowes will be available to meet fans, talk baseball and sign autographs until 1 p.m. ET.
Outfielder Marlon Byrd also will unveil the jersey at the Nationals team store on Saturday from 12-1 p.m.

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

Selig honored with diversity award

11/18/2005
WASHINGTON -- Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig was honored with the CEO Leadership Award at the 2005 Diversity and Women Leadership Summit & Gala on Thursday.
The award recognizes leaders in business and government who've been successful advocates of creating different types of diversity and was given to a total of eight people.
Selig flew into Washington from Milwaukee, where he'd been earlier in the day at the owners' meetings.
"It means a great deal to me," Selig said. "I'm very flattered and was very proud to be here. I think we've come a long way in the past decade, and we'll continue to [go] a long way in [upcoming years]."
However, Selig also faced a number of questions about the Nationals and their future. He said that Major League Baseball won't set any more timetables for finding a new owner for the team, but definitely wants to get the deal finished.
"We want to move as expeditiously as possible," Selig said. "I'm very sensitive about all these issues. We have a good front office here. We need to select an owner. We need to get a lease done. We just need to move ahead."
Selig said he's constantly reviewing data from the eight possible ownership groups. He's interviewed five of them and will be soon meeting with the other three and shot down reports that there's a leader of the pack.
"These groups are very good," Selig said. "In my mind right now, you've got eight groups that are very qualified. It really makes for a very, very tough decision."
Selig said he knew that baseball fans in the District want to get an owner in place -- especially a group with a local flavor -- but he stressed several times that he wants to take his time and pick the right group. Selig also said that baseball also wants to make sure there's a lease deal in place before picking an owner.
"We need to get an owner, and we need to get the stadium lease done," Selig said.
The lease part of the deal has been moving somewhat slowly, but Selig said several times that asking to have a lease in place isn't anything unusual.
The Commissioner said that getting an ownership group in place will be nice, but that the lease is very important. However, Selig said he's confident everything is going to come together -- saying simply that everyone needs to give it time.
In addition, Selig said not having an owner shouldn't hurt the Nationals much during the winter free agent market and emphasized this is not a team with no leadership at the top.
"They have an owner; they have the same owner they've had," Selig said. "We'll get this done as soon as possible."
Selig also said he understood the city's concerns about the possibility the Nationals could try and leave after a stadium gets built, but brushed that off as nothing to worry about.
"We're going to sign a long-term lease here," Selig said. "This team's going to be here for the next two generations. There's no concerns about that."

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

Bowden to talk to Red Sox again

11/18/2005
The Red Sox announced on Thursday that Nationals general manager Jim Bowden will soon interview for Boston's open GM position. The news comes a day after Bowden and members of his staff had dinner with free agent A.J. Burnett.
It will be Bowden's second interview with the Red Sox. He met with club officials last week during the general managers meeting in Indian Wells, Calif.
Bowden, who spent over a decade as the Reds' GM, is a native of Weston, Mass., and had already stated that being the general manager of the Red Sox would be his "dream job."
Bowden, who is competing against Jim Beattie, a person with experience as a GM, and other unnamed candidates, was not available for comment.
"Naturally, people with experience are usually ahead of the game," said Boston special advisor Bill Lajoie. "By that, I mean they know how to handle a lot of situations. Things come up in your everyday job; you have to weigh each one and put them in order of importance, and they know how to do that."
According to a baseball source familiar with the Nationals' thinking, if they lose Bowden, Nationals team president Tony Tavares, executive vice president Kevin Uhlich and assistant general managers Tony Siegle and Bob Boone most likely would handle the player decisions until ownership is in place.
"[The Nationals] would hate to lose Jim, but how can you tell him not to pursue a multiyear deal with another club? There are no guarantees in Washington," the source said.
In other news, even if ownership is not in place, the Nationals will make decisions about members of the coaching staff shortly after the Thanksgiving holidays, according to the same source.
The contracts for bench coach Eddie Rodriguez, pitching coach Randy St. Claire, third base coach Dave Huppert, hitting coach Tom McCraw, first base coach Don Buford, bullpen coach Bob Natal and roving coach Jack Voight expired on Oct. 31. Huppert has already said that he is close to managing in the Phillies' Minor League system.
Some in the organization would like to see changes made to the coaching staff. Huppert, McCraw and Buford were often criticized for their work on the field. Huppert and Buford have been accused of not being aggressive enough on the coaching lines, while the Nationals ranked 30th offensively under McCraw.

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

Washington reels in Marlon

11/18/2005
In a move to strengthen their bench, the Nationals signed free agent infielder Marlon Anderson to a two-year, $1.85 million contract on Friday.
The left-handed-hitting Anderson played for the Mets last season and hit .264 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs. But it was his work off the bench that stood out. A career .308 (45-for-146) hitter with seven home runs in the pinch, Anderson went 18-for-56 (.321) with one home run and six RBIs off the bench last season for the Mets.
Anderson, 31, ranked among National League leaders in both pinch-hits and pinch-hit batting average. He also hit .351 (13-for-37) with one home run and three RBIs against the Nationals.
"I consider Marlon like Lenny Harris," general manager Jim Bowden said. "He has adjusted from being an everyday player to a guy coming off the bench. He also has good makeup."
Anderson, who was an everyday player with the Phillies and Devil Rays, said he was able to adjust to the role as a pinch-hitter starting in 2004 because of Mitchell Page, who is now the Nationals' Minor League hitting coordinator. Anderson and Page worked together in 2004 when they were with the Cardinals.
"It's the mental adjustments," Anderson said. "It's accepting the role. After not playing every day, I could have easily given up and jeopardized my career. Mitch is a hard-working guy. He will do whatever you need and he is positive. You can't beat that. He was a guy that was willing to work with everybody from me to Albert Pujols."
The Anderson signing was made in part because Washington didn't have a pinch-hitter who could hit for power and drive in runs off the bench. Anderson can play first base, second base and the outfield, and a player of his caliber was needed this past season when second baseman Jose Vidro and first baseman Nick Johnson went on the disabled list.
The Nationals had to use Jamey Carroll to replace Vidro and Carlos Baerga to play in Johnson's spot. Neither Carroll nor Baerga had the consistency that Anderson provided for the Mets. Washington even tried to use Ryan Church as one of its main pinch-hitters, but he had a tough time adjusting to the role.
The Anderson signing also means that the Nationals have a plethora of backup infielders, including Carroll, Damian Jackson, Bernie Castro, Junior Spivey, Brendan Harris, Rick Short and Tony Blanco. This gives Washington the leverage to trade some of these backup infielders. Carroll and Spivey are the two players most likely to be dealt before the start of Spring Training.
Carroll, a Frank Robinson favorite, said he realizes he is in for some stiff competition if he isn't dealt.
"It makes it tougher to find a spot and see where I fit on this team," Carroll said. "We signed a couple of infielders. For the team, it strengthens the club. Anderson is a good role player. He has done a great job wherever he has been."
Anderson said he signed with the Nationals because the team showed interest in him the moment he filed for free agency.
"They let it be known that they had interest in me. Things with New York didn't pan out the way I thought," Anderson said. "The Nationals gave me an offer. With the things that I do [off the bench], I thought it was a fair deal. It was more than anybody else was offering."
"We made a good attempt to sign him," Mets GM Omar Minaya said. "We brought him in last year as a non-roster guy and he was a guy who did a good job for us. Washington went to two years with him and we felt that for that kind of role, we'd like to stay with one year."

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

Blanco leads Nats' contingent

11/18/2005
Several players from the Nationals' 40-man roster are currently honing their skills by playing winter ball. Here's a look at how they are doing entering Friday's action.
Tony Blanco, infielder/outfielder: After playing just a couple of weeks in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaros, Blanco went to the Dominican Winter League and is playing with the Licey Tigers. He is hitting .270 with one home run and five RBIs for them.
A Rule 5 Draft pick from the Reds in December 2004, Blanco hit just .177 in 62 at-bats with the Nationals in 2005. He has yet to show that he can hit big league pitching, and there were times that he looked overmatched at the plate.
Bernie Castro, infielder: Acquired last month in free agency, the switch-hitting Castro is playing left field and second base for Aguilas Cibaena of the Dominican Winter League. He is hitting .337 with one home run, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases.
Castro, who has Major League experience with the Orioles, is expected to get a long look during Spring Training and compete for a backup infield job.
Frank Diaz, outfielder: Minor League hitting coordinator Mitchell Page helped Diaz at Class A Potamac this past season, and the success has carried over into winter ball. Diaz is hitting .289 with six home runs and 18 RBIs for Occidente Pastora.
Diaz, who has a swing that is similar to former catcher Don Slaught's, is a long shot at making the Major League club out of Spring Training, but he is expected to move up in the Minor League ranks.
Armando Galarraga, right-hander: He is playing for Caracas Leones of the Venezuelan Winter League and has a 5.40 ERA in six innings, with six strikeouts.

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