The Washington Nationals' #1 Prospect According To Baseball America...

Second in the hearts of DC baseball fans only to the unveiling of the Nationals Farm Authority's "Nationals Top Prospects" list...It's Baseball America's Aaron Fitt, who's back with this year's edition of the, "Top 10 Prospects: Washington Nationals", report which announces the crowning of Jordan Zimmermann, Washington's 2nd Round pick, 67th overall in 2007, as the top prospect in the Nationals' organization, moving up from 7th overall in last year's edition to the top of the list following an '08 campaign that saw the 6'2'', 200lb right-hander post a (10-3) record between Class-A Potomac and Double-AA Harrisburg, going (3-1) with the P-Nats in 5 games, (4 starts) and 27.1 IP in which the 22-year-old Auburndale, Wisconsin native had a 1.65 ERA with an 0.84 WHIP, and (7-2) as a Senator, with a 3.21 ERA in 20 starts and 106.2 IP, over which he K'd 103. 

Aaron Fitt's opinion mirrors that of the Washington Nationals, and apparently a few other teams around the league, at least according to DC GM Jim Bowden, who told a questioner during a live chat, as quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Bowden takes questions from fans", that:

"Of all of the players in our organization, more clubs ask for Jordan Zimmermann in trades than any other player...He will be given consideration to make our rotation out of Spring Training."

...Just yesterday, Washington Post sports writer Chico Harlan, in an article entitled, "Right Off The Stove" in the Post's Nationals Journal, included Jordan Zimmermann in his list of the, "...five in line for rotation jobs," with the '09 Nationals, along with John Lannan, Scott Olsen, Collin Balester and Daniel Cabrera, as the Nationals put the strength of their scouting, drafting and teaching to the test, looking to work three starters, Lannan, Balester and Zimmermann, who were drafted by DC within the last four years, and two starters, Olsen and Cabrera, acquired this offseason, into the Major League rotation. 

Lannan jumped from high Class-A ball in Potomac to Double-AA Harrisburg, Triple-AAA Columbus and finally the Nationals' rotation in 2007, after just 55 starts in DC's system following his selection, 324th overall, in the 11th Round of the '05 Draft. Balester's '08 debut followed 5 seasons and 94 starts in the system after the Expos chose him with their 4th Round pick (114th) in 2004, and now Jordan Zimmermann will look to make the quickest ascent of three, having made just 35 starts and 3 relief appearances, and without having thrown a pitch above Double-AA ball. 

The Rest Of Baseball America's Aaron Fitt's Top 10 DC Prospects List...

(coming soon)...

(ed. note - "Or maybe more accurately, 'What If Feels LIke To Be An Out-Of-Town Washington Nationals Fan'...")

-- From the Newark Star-Ledger Sports Page's "Summing Up" section, a list of MLB Free Agent Signings so far this offseason:

National League

ARIZONA - Felipe Lopez, (re-signed) Tony Clark

ATLANTA - (re-signed) Greg Norton

CHICAGO - (re-signed) Ryan Dempster

CINCINNATI - Mike Lincoln, David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes

COLORADO - Alan Embree

HOUSTON - (re-signed) Doug Brocail, Mike Hampton, Jason Michaels, Aaron Boone

LOS ANGELES - (re-signed) Casey Blake, Mark Loretta, (re-signed) Rafael Furcal

MILWAUKEE - Jorge Julio, (re-signed) Mike Lamb, Trot Nixon

METS - Francisco Rodriguez

PHILADELPHIA - (re-signed) Jamie Moyer, Raul Ibanez

PITTSBURGH - Ramon Vazquez

ST. LOUIS - Trever Miller

SAN FRANCISCO - Jeremy Affeldt, Bobby Howry, Edgar Renteria, Randy Johnson

(ed. note - "If you don't notice a problem here, click on the link below for an explanation and the rest of the post...")

Continue reading this post »

Center Field in DC...Goes To...?

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest news out of Washington yesterday, (solely in terms of baseball news, of course), was in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Nationals miss out on Bradley", about the free agent outfielder Milton Bradley's decision to sign with the Chicago Cubs instead of becoming the Nationals' center fielder, but the big news didn't concern Bradley's spurning DC, (or the teased Nationals-related story on the MLB Network that never materialized last night)...but instead what the Nationals said in the wake of their 3-year/$30M dollar offer to Bradley being rejected, as Mr. Ladson wrote:

"According to baseball sources, the Nationals have decided to let Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge compete for the center-field job."

So the idea of moving Milledge to a corner spot is put on hold as he competes for the center field spot with Dukes. What happens to the loser? Do they go to right field? Go to the bench? I was pretty sure Dukes had a place in the '09 outfield, but Mr. Ladson cites Dukes' string of "right leg problems" last season as the reason why Dukes, the better defensive center fielder in Mr. Ladson's opinion, hasn't just been given the job in center since the team has said since the Fall that they see Milledge in a corner spot. 

Buster Olney Doesn't Think Dunn's Coming Either...

The Nationals might be on the verge of going 0 for 3 with a swinging K in this winter's free agent market according ESPN.com's Buster Olney's latest post entitled, "Ten things to keep a close eye on", where Mr. Olney speculates that in spite of the Nationals' interest in bringing Adam Dunn to DC, for the free agent...:

"...to sign with Washington, Dunn would have to be at peace with the idea that he would be returning to almost the same kind of situation that he had in Cincinnati: He would be playing for a team that will probably struggle (for at least the next couple of years), a team lacking in the kind of pitching needed to contend..."

I probably have a higher opinion of the Nationals' young pitchers than Mr. Olney does, but, admittedly, most scouting reports on the starters in the Nationals' organization seem to place DC's arms in the middle or back of potential Nationals' rotations of the future, though hopefully the drafting and signing of Stephen Strasburg this season will give the Nationals their first true ace...(Sorry, Livan!)...but I share Mr. Olney's opinion of Adam Dunn's situation. What does DC have to offer Adam Dunn...the money hasn't been enough to bring either the Yankees' new first baseman or Milton Bradley to DC, so what makes you think Adam Dunn's going to be any different? 

WINTER LEAGUE PLAYOFF UPDATES...

Dominican Winter League - The Tigres del Licey beat Aguilas Cibaenas 8- 2 Monday night with Anderson Hernandez starting at second, walking twice and going 1 for 4 to improve his DWL Postseason average to .375 after 8 games in which the Tigres are now 5-3. Ronnie Belliard recovered from a mini-slump following a recent HBP to go 1 for 4 with a run scored, 1 RBI and 1 walk.

Puerto Rican League - The Leones de Ponce pounced upon the Criollos de Caguas Monday night for a 6-1 win with the Criollos' one run coming on DC OF prospect Justin Maxwell's 7th HR of the winter, third-best in the PRWL. Maxwell was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, the HR, and now he's hitting .225 in for Caguas. Garrett Guzman was 0 for 4, lowering his AVG to .264 after 41 games. According to MLB.com's Caribbean League Roundup entitled, "Araguas' relievers shut down Caracas", the Criollos de Caguas will, "...host the Indios on Wednesday for the last postseason slot," in the Puerto Rican League Playoffs. 

WINTER LEAGUE UPDATES...

Anderson Hernandez doesn't want the Washington Nationals thinking about any other second baseman, not Ronnie Belliard or Orlando Hudson, no one but him for the starting spot in '09, and that's why Hernandez tore up the Dominican Winter League, finishing the season with a .365 AVG, which was good enough for second in the League, 20 doubles (1st), 6 triples (1st), 1 HR and 29 RBI's in 50 games and 211 AB's, over which he posted a .406 OBP, .531 SLG and .937 OPS...

...After going 0 for 2 this afternoon in a 3-2 Dominican Winter League Playoff win over the Azucareros del Este, Hernandez was hitting .393 in 7 Postseason games for the Tigres del Licey, who are 4-3 after Sunday. (Belliard was 0 for 3 Sunday starting at 3rd for the Tigres).

(ed. note - "Before you, uh, hand?...Anderson Hernandez the starting job at second with DC, just remember, this isn't the first time the second baseman destroyed the DWL...back in 2007, Hernandez, then with the NY Mets, and still playing for the Tigres del Licey, led the DWL Playoffs with a .402 AVG in 23 games according to MLB.com writer Eric Justic's article entitled, "Hernandez wins postseason batting title", and Hernandez's '07 stats with the Mets...according to baseball-reference.com's A. Hernandez stat page...4 G, 3 AB's, 1 H...

MLB.com's Sunday Caribbean Leagues Roundup, entitled, "Aybar, Tigres edge Azucareros", (my favorite title of '09!), singles out the performance of Azucareros' right fielder, and, "Nationals prospect Ricardo Nanita, (who) went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Azucareros."

--(ed. note - "...and I'll forgive the fact that the MLB.com article doesn't use a possessive apostrophe with "Nationals prospect", since I didn't recognize Nanita's name until I pulled up the results of the '08 Rule 5 Draft at Baseball America.com and realized the Nationals had selected the OF from the White Sox with the first pick in the 1st Round of the Triple A Phase of the R5D back on December 18, 2008.")   

Nanita's 3 for 4 performance Sunday gave the 6'0'', 195lb, left-handed hitting outfielder, (a 14th Round White Sox' selection in 2003), a .447 AVG with 2 doubles and 3 RBI's in 8 DWL Playoff games. After hitting .286 with 22 doubles, 9 HR's and 51 RBI's in 111 games and 412 AB's with the ChiSox' Double-AA affiliate in Birmingham, Nanita hit .313 in the DWL Regular season with the Azucareros, collecting 10 doubles, 4 HR's and 26 RBI's in 47 games and 160 AB's...

...and speaking of Nationals' Prospects, I apparently overlooked Alberto Gonzalez all winter, who's been plying his trade with the Venezuelan WInter League's Aguilas de Zulia, and today, according to the same MLB.com article referenced above, Gonzalez, who started at short and was 2 for 4, "...singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Aguilas squared their record at 1-1 in the round robin playoffs." You'll remember that Alberto "The General" Gonzalez was acquired by DC in a trade with the NY Yankees in late July '08, in exchange for Jhonny Nunez, and he hit .347 with 6 doubles, 1 HR and 9 RBI's over 17 games with Washington. This winter with Aguilas, Gonzalez hit .303 with 2 doubles and 14 RBI's in 38 games and 142 AB's. 

...In the last game of the Puerto Rican Winter League's regular season, outfielder Jorge Padilla, one of the 13 Minor League free agents the Nationals signed back on 12/13/08, according to MLB.com writer Bill Ladson's report entitled, "Nationals sign 13 to Minors deals", started in right for the Lobos de Arecibo, and according, (again to the uncredited MLB.com article entitled, "Aybar, Tigres edge Azucareros"), the, "...Nationals farmhand Jorge Padilla homered and drove in three runs for Arecibo before he was ejected in the ninth." Way to go Padilla, that's like the baseball version of hockey's Gordie Howe Hat Trick...

...and lest we forget, the Criollos de Caguas dropped a 4-3 decision Sunday to the Gigantes de Carolina, in spite of the two runs, 1 each, by both Nationals' prospects playing for Caguas, Garrett Guzman and Justin Maxwell, both of whom were 0 for 2 with 2 walks, while Criollos' and Nationals' reliever Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera completed a scoreless inning of work while allowing just one hit. 

end transmission...

There are 42 days until the Washington Nationals' prospective pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on February 14, 2009. Forty-two days for the Washington Nationals to somehow figure out how to add offensive power to a lineup that finished at or near the bottom of the League in nearly every statistical category that's measured these days...for Washington to find the "...guaranteed 30 home run(s) and 100 RBIs" that Nationals' Manager Manny Acta asked for in an October 2, 2008 article by MLB.com writer Bill Ladson entitled, "Nationals see reason for optimism in '09", where Mr. Acta said what he thought was missing from Washington's lineup:

"We need a guy who strikes fear. That guy will go in the middle of the order regardless of who is there now."

The Nationals thought Mark Teixeira was that player. The rest of the baseball world thought Washington had lost it, and the Yankees eventually stepped in and signed Tex, so DC turned its attentions toward Adam Dunn, the 29-year-old left-hander out of Houston, Texas, who is the very definition (+10 HR's) of what Mr. Acta asked for just after the Nationals' 102-loss '08 campaign had mercifully ended. (ed. note - "Though I bet if you asked Mr. Acta again he'd ask for a .300 AVG and less than 110 K's.")

...Still, here we are on January 4th, and just this weekend, DC GM Jim Bowden is quoted in another article by MLB.com's Bill Ladson, this one entitled, "GM Jim Bowden not done improving Nats", where Mr. Bowden assures the DC Faithful:

"We are exploring a lot of possibilities," Bowden said. "I think, obviously, we would like to have a big left-handed bat in the middle of our lineup. So that's a priority."

42 Days...Outside of a trade for Prince Fielder, the possibility of which keeps coming up and getting quickly dismissed in Mr. Ladson's articles, the only other targets the Nationals have identified are Dunn and possibly Milton Bradley, and unless DC plans on giving another oft-injured first baseman like Richie Sexson, Nomar Garciappara or one of the many 30+ outfielders on the market a chance, (and please don't think I'm advocating that), the likelihood of their adding a substantial bat to the lineup, (in any way other than a blockbuster trade which somehow materializes in the next month and a half), is dwindling every day...

There are pitchers on the market. Just sayin'...

But Adam Dunn is still on the market too...and as of now the Nationals are the only team that's been indentified as having a serious interest in his services...So surely some will argue, with the newest trend in numbers in support of their claims, that Adam Dunn is just what the Nationals need, but I'd answer that like the great actor of our generation Kevin Costner (Q: Kevin Costner? A: Just go with it!) says, as DA Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone's conspiratorial mess of a movie, "JFK", "Theoretical physics can also prove that an elephant can hang off a cliff with its tail tied to a daisy! But use your eyes, your common sense..."

...The fact that Dunn hasn't signed with Washington yet is probably a sign he thinks something else is out there, though there haven't been any official reports yet of a contract offer from the Nationals or anyone else as far as I know, (though the Dodgers and Rays have expressed "interest")...and though I just don't see the point of paying Dunn what it will take to keep him from going to LA or Tampa, or understand why Dunn would want to come to DC now in the first place after eight seasons of not winning as a Red...I'm almost to the point of thinking it's the only option left, uh, for first...if...?

...If you're not going to stick with Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young. If...you don't think Elijah Dukes or Ryan Zimmerman or Josh Willingham can turn into the 25-30 HR, 100 RBI guy the Nationals need in their lineup. If...you don't think Austin Kearns can finally put it all together...If...you don't think the needed offensive boost is to be found within the Nationals' system...That's a lot of "if's" and only 42 days to sort them out...Where will Washington's offense come from in 2009?

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE PLAYOFF UPDATE...

The Tigres del Licey dropped two straight this weekend to drop to 3-3 in the first round of DWL postseason play. Friday night at home in Licey's Estadio Quisqueya, it was the newest Nationals' pitcher Daniel Cabrera taking the loss in a 6-4 decision after allowing 6 hits, 4 runs, (1 earned) and 2 walks with 1 K in 4.0 innings pitched against the Gigantes del Cibao. Anderson Hernandez was 2 for 4 Friday, (and hitting .500 after 5 playoff games). Saturday night, the Gigantes welcomed the Tigres to Estadio Julian Javier where they took the second half of the home and home by a score of 4-2. Ronnie Belliard returned to the Tigres' lineup for the first time since being hit by a pitch on December 21, but went 0 for 4, as did Anderson Hernandez, as Licey was unable to hold on to a 2-1 lead, losing the game when Cibao scored 3 in the bottom of the seventh off Tigres' reliever Frances Beltran, who was trying to hold what another Nationals' pitcher, Jorge Sosa, had kept in tact through six innings on the mound. 

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE...

With the Puerto Rican Winter League playoffs set to start this week, the Criollos de Caguas finish up with 5 games from Friday through Monday, starting with Friday's doubleheader against the Lobos de Arecibo, on the road in Estadio Luis Rodriguez Olmo, both of which Caguas lost. Justin Maxwell, 2 for 4 with a double (8) in game one, went 1 for 4 with a DP grounder in game 2 for a .222 AVG so far on the Winter. Garrett Guzman was a combined 0 for 6 Friday, with DC reliever Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera taking the loss in the second game after allowing a walk, 3 hits and 1 run in 1.1 IP. 

Saturday night, the Criollos de Caguas came back with a big 6-2 win over the Gigantes de Carolina at home in Parque Yidefonso Sola Morales. Garrett Guzman, Criollos' DH, was 1 for 4, and Maxwell, who started in left, was 0 for 3 with a walk...but the Criollos got all the offense they need from former Mets' catcher Raul Casanova, who hit 2 HR's and collected 2 RBI's in the win. 

RUMOR MILL...

MLB.com writer Bill Ladson reported earlier this week that the Washington Nationals were not interested in signing veteran left fielder Manny Ramirez in an article entitled, "Nationals not interested in Manny", and Mr. Ladson's MLB Hot Stove blog post today, entitled, "Reports: Giants have interest in Manny Ramirez", reports on a story out of San Francisco claiming that the Giants have extended a 4-year offer to Mr. Ramirez, which would seem to put to rest any lingering thoughts of Washington's interest in the 36-year-old slugger. Finally...

SI.com's Jon Heyman mentions the Nationals as a team of interest in the pursuit of Adam Dunn, and Mr. Heyman also takes a shot at the franchise when he ranks Tim Redding as the 20th of 20 available free agents in his article entitled, "Resetting the Market: The Top 20 remaining free agents", writing that Redding was able to win,"...10 games for the Nats, which if you think about it, isn't such a small accomplishment." As for DC and Dunn, in Mr. Heyman's opinion, it's the Nationals as a "prime possibility", and then the Dodgers next in line to sign the 29-year-old LF/1B, and that's if the Dodgers don't bring Manny back to LA.

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects List is Coming...On January 7th.

Three players, Collin Balester (1), Kory Casto (4), and Matt Chico (8) who were included on Baseball America writer Aaron Fitt's (1/12/07) list of Nationals' prospects entitled, "Top 10 Prospects: Washington Nationals", have seen significant time with DC in the two seasons since the list was published. In his (11/7/07) rankings, Aaron Fitt added Jordan Zimmermann, (7), Josh Smoker (6), Jack McGeary (5), Michael Burgess (4), and Ross Detwiler (2), all '07 picks, to the updated version of his list, with Zimmermann, a 6'2'', 22-year-old right-hander, the only player being seriously mentioned as having a chance of making the Nationals' roster from the start of the '09 season, after posting a combined (10-3) record with a 1.65 ERA in 5 games at Class-A Potomac, and a 3.21 ERA in 20 starts and 106.2 IP with Double-AA Harrisburg. 

Which players selected in this season's draft do you think will appear on the first 2009 Baseball America list of the Nationals' prospects? We know one who won't...Will Zech Zinicola, who was on the list in January '07 and off in November of that year make a return after impressing in the Arizona Fall League? Will Chris Marrero and Ross Detwiler remain atop the list of Nationals' Prospects? We know Glenn Gibson (8th on the 11/07 list)  won't be back since he was traded to Tampa for Elijah Dukes. If SS Esmailyn "Smiley' Gonzalez (5th on the 11/07 list), was ranked that high last season, where will the 18-year-old infielder be after hitting .343 with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR's, 33 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, a .431 OBP, .475 SLG, and .906 OPS in 51 games with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals in '08? 

The New Baseball America Washington Nationals' Top 10 Prospects list is set to be released on January 7th...

To The Future and Beyond With Washington's Nationals...

I believe the 2009 season began on September 28th, 2008, the moment Emilio Bonifacio's weak grounder reached the glove of Phillies' first baseman Chris Coste, who tossed to the Philly pitcher Clay Condrey covering first, to finish off the Nationals for loss number 102 of 161, and everything that's happened since has been an attempt to build for the future, for 2009 and beyond, including the trade that sent Bonifacio to Florida in return for 29-year-old left fielder Josh Willingham and 24-year-old left-hander Scott Olsen, who could end up being the steal of the offseason at the top of the DC rotation as a veteran on a talented young starting staff. Overly optimisitic? I've got pessimism for you...

2008 will go down in DC baseball history as the year the Washington Nationals lost 102 games and failed to sign their 1st Round Draft pick...(Of course, they'll get the 9th pick(9A) in this year's draft as compensation for failing to sign Aaron Crow, and the first pick of this year's draft for failing to win more than 59 games...) and it was also the year that the Nationals opened their new ballpark, Nationals Park, to polite applause, but attendance at the games only, not in front of radios or TV's in any significant way in the DC Metro area...(Is that way they call it? I'm from up North...)

...Now 2009 starts with the failed attempt to land their main free agent target, (whose name we'll not mention), and two months before Spring Training, with the new year now literally underway, no other signifant additions, (outside of Daniel "Potential" Cabrera), to what was, must I remind you, a 102-loss team...Nationals' Team President Stan Kasten told Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell, as quoted in an article entitled, "Nats Go All In", that in his opinion, the Nationals, "...already had a terrific offseason," with the additions of Cabrera, Olsen and Willingham, but when pressed by an incredulous Mr. Boswell, Mr. Kasten said:

"'We're determined to do more and be better in '09. We've already being(sic) looking at every option every day, not just Teixeira. His signing may start other moves in the industry. Now we know what the Yankees can pay. Let's see what everybody else will pay.'"

...And DC GM Jim Bowden let the baseball world know, in MLB.com writer Bill Ladson's article today, entitled, "GM Bowden not done improving Nats", that the Nationals weren't done improving their roster, with Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson still at the top of their wish list...as a replacement for first baseman Nick Johnson and a leadoff hitter and second baseman, respectively, should the free agents choose to join the Nationals...and just as the DC Front Office has been saying all winter, Mr. Bowden once again assures fans:

"'We are exploring a lot of possibilities,' Bowden said. 'I think, obviously, we would like to have a big left-handed bat in the middle of our lineup. So that's a priority. We want to continue to add starting pitching and bullpen. I would say that most of our discussions were for those three areas.'"

But two paragraphs later, Mr. Ladson writes, "Don't expect the Nationals to acquire a big-name pitcher", and when he lists the projected starting rotation for 2009, it's John Lannan, Olsen, Jordan Zimmerman(n), Collin Balester and Shairon Martis, (not Daniel Cabrera?), so what makes you think veteran bats like Dunn or Hudson are going to want to become part of the rebuilding process in DC unless the Nationals outspend the competition to bring them in, as Mr. Kasten seems to be intimating they might in the quote above...(from the Washington Post)...

One has to wonder...Do Dunn or Hudson mean as much to the developing Nationals as they do to the contending teams that are in need of one or two extra pieces in their attempts to compete, while the Nationals are attempting to become competitive enough to regain the interest of their own fanbase...Will Washington overwhelm Dunn with an offer that draws him away from the Dodgers or Cubs? Will Washington sign Hudson when infielders Anderson Hernandez and Ronnie Belliard are already on the roster? Will Washington become interested in Manny Ramirez if no one steps up to sign him? And what are they going to do about all those outfielders? That's enough questions for now...

Former Montreal Expos' draft pick and former enfant terrible, free agent outfielder Milton Bradley, is apparently drawing interest from the Washington Nationals, as FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal briefly mentioned in a 12/23/08 article entitled, "Angels standing pat on offense...for now", where the Nationals were listed as one of four teams looking at the possibility of signing the 30-year-old outfielder, and now MLB.com's Bill Ladson has picked up the story in an article entitled, "Nationals in serious pursuit of Bradley", and ESPN.com's news services have produced an article entitled, "Cubs trade DeRosa to Indians", which quotes anonymous sources estimating the duration and dollars of the deal DC's offered. 

In MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, "Nationals in serious pursuit of Bradley", Mr. Ladson pulls no punches in his assessment of Lastings Milledge's troubles in center, restating the fact that Washington wants him in a corner spot, and writing, "Milledge had trouble going back on fly balls and has a weak arm," which is why Mr. Ladson believes DC could acquire Bradley to play center, though a look at Bradley's baseball-reference.com stat page shows that he hasn't played center regularly since 2005 (with the Dodgers), and he only played 20 games in the outfield total in 2008 with Texas, spending the majority of time hitting, and putting up a .321 AVG with 32 doubles, 22 HR's, 77 RBI's, a .436 OBP, .563 SLG, and .999 OPS as the Rangers' DH. 

The article generated by the ESPN.com news services entitled, "Cubs trade DeRosa to Indians", reports that, "...the Washington Nationals are believed to have offered Bradley $30 million over three years", at least according to their "sources", who also note that the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays are looking to acquire the outfielder, with the Cubs making several moves today, which could open the way for a deal either with Bradley or for Jake Peavy from the Padres depending upon whose article you're reading... 

So the Nationals see Lastings Milledge as a corner outfielder. The Nationals acquired Josh Willingham to play left. And now, the Nationals are trying to acquire Milton Bradley to play center? What does the mean for Elijah Dukes? For Austin Kearns? Can anyone make sense of the Nationals' offseason game plan? A front-end starter should be high on the list? Not just the promise of Daniel Cabrera's arm...And shouldn't DC still be trying for a first baseman? MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article reaffirms the Nationals' intentions towards Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson, but neither player seems eager to sign...

What will the New Year bring for DC's Nationals? Spring Training's less than three months away...

I'm Going With "The Hammer", "Super Dukes" and "Lasto" Left To Right...

Taking for granted that someone will offer Adam Dunn a deal that will pay him more than Washington is willing to, and assuming that he would play first even if he was signed by DC since Josh Willingham was acquired in a trade and told he'd play left, where I really doubt Manny Ramirez will be playing this season, since he is too old (sorry), too old for DC, and too expensive, looking for more than a two-year deal...etc....Who would you pencil into the Nationals' outfield if the season were to start today? 

The Washington Nationals' Official site has Josh Willingham in left, Lastings Milledge in center and Elijah Dukes atop a list of prospective right fielders that includes Austin Kearns and Justin Maxwell, (and I think the fact that they're listed alphabetically is just random luck, meaning I thinks Dukes is supposed to be starting in right in the Depth Chart's opinion, because no other position is organized by last name, but who knows whose opinion this chart is based upon?...)...Dukes is also listed second in center above Willie Harris and Roger Bernadina, (who will most likely start the season at Triple-A with at least 4 or 5 players ahead of him on the OF depth chart...at least by my own estimation...)

In a mid-November poll, the readers of federalbaseball.com voted decisively (with 64 of 155, or 41% of the votes cast) in favor of the Willingham, Dukes, Milledge outfield, left to right, but maybe their opinion was swayed by an article, published in late September, by Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, entitled, "Milledge may be placed in corner for '09", where Lastings Milledge was quoted in the first paragraph asking a question , "Do I play shallow, deep?", (that still has me wondering here in December)...? Has your opinion changed? Is Milledge back in right where he played the majority of the time with New York...?

-- Josh Willingham played just 102 games last season for the Florida Marlins, lowering his career average a bit with a .254 '08 campain in which he collected 21 doubles, 5 triples, 15 HR's and 51 RBI's after seasons of 32/4/21/98 in '07 and 28/2/26/74 in '06, though he met most of his career averages in terms of OBP, SLG and OPS, where he's now been statistically proven to finish around, .361/.472/.833 per 162. 

-- Elijah Dukes played 38 error-free games in center for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in '07, assisting on 3 outs, with one double play, but Dukes played only 1 game in center last season for DC, playing mostly right, committing 5 errors, and assisting on 9 outs in 69 games over which he hit .264 with 16 doubles, 14 HR's, 44 RBI's, a .386 OBP, .498 SLG, and .877 OPS. 

-- Lastings Milledge played 24 of his first 50 MLB games with the Mets in right field, making only 1 error as a 21-year-old rookie in the Big Apple in '06, (or at least outside it, in Flushing, Queens, where Shea Stadium is being slowly dismantled to make room for Citi Field which opens this April and which Washington will visit in the last week of the month...), and Milledge only played 14 games in center in '07 in place of an injured Carlos Beltran, while spending 28 games in right and 11 in left, and committing just 2 errors in 52 games...but Washington acquired Milledge to play center, and they put him out there, uncomfortable as he seemed at times, for 134 games in which he committed 5 errors, while hitting .268 with 24 doubles, 2 triples, 14 HR's and 61 RBI's, a .330 OBP, .402 SLG, and .731 OPS. 

Is that your '09 Washington Nationals' outfield? The Hammer, Super Dukes and Lasto? What should DC do with Austin Kearns? Do any of the young players, Justin Maxwell or Roger Bernadina, or Kory Casto (he can play LF/RF?) have a shot in the outfield? Don't forget Wily Mo Pena. Upstart Leonard Davis? Willie "WILLIE HARRIS WANTS TO PLAY" Harris? That's all the outfielders currently on the Nationals' 40-Man Roster? Give me your best Manny Acta and list your starting outfield in the Comments section...

Two Opinions on The Nationals' New Starter...

Sporting News' writer Ryan Fagan has an article at Yahoo! Sports.com entitled, "Little deals can make a big difference", where Mr. Fagan examines the four MLB starters who have signed 1-year deals, including the Washington Nationals' newest starter Daniel Cabrera, with Mr. Fagan writing that, "The Orioles are as pitching-poor in 2009 as any club...and they just cut Cabrera loose. That should tell you something," though Mr. Fagan does come down on the side of it being a good risk/reward situation for DC's Nationals. 

Dave from the Nationals New Network checked in with a FANPOST entitled, "Nats announce Cabrera deal", which linked to his article entitled, (with the federalbaseball.com friendly title), "Nationals Officially Announce Cabrera Deal", where he takes a close look at Cabrera's #'s and concludes that he's on the decline, writing, (with a hint of sarcasm):

"It's the worst of both worlds. He's a lousy pitcher getting worse that takes the ball every fifth day (unless it's injury accounting for the drop in velocity and Ks). Oh goody."

What? I didn't promise a balanced discussion...The Sporting News' writer kinda liked the Cabrera signing...for DC at least...you try to find someone who's enthusiastic about it...

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE UPDATE..

Prospective DC second baseman Anderson Hernandez made the MiLB.com front page after going 3 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBI's Tuesday night as the Tigres del Licey defeated the Azucareros del Este 10-8 in spite of a late rally which saw the Azucareros score 5 runs in the final two innings. (Still no Ronnie Belliard in the Licey lineup after a HBP this weekend). Hernandez now has 5 RBI's in 4 DWL Playoff games, in which the Tigres are now 3-1. 

Who Wants To Play For the Washington Nationals? 

While Washington was busy this afternoon, completing a 1-year/$2.6M dollar deal to bring free agent starter Daniel Cabrera to DC, (as MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported in an article entitled, "Nats ink Cabrera to one-year deal"), the Nationals' stated backup plan for adding a power bat to the lineup suffered a serious blow, as the Los Angeles Dodgers, perhaps frustrated by Manny Ramirez's reluctance to sign a deal to return to LA, emerged as another potential suitor for free agent outfielder Adam Dunn, the lefty home run hitter who has exactly 40 HR's in each of the last four seasons following a 46 homer '04 campaign, (all for the Cincinnati Reds)...

FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal mentioned, for the first time I've heard anywhere, in an article entitled, "Angels standing pat on offense, for now", that the Nationals have shown interest in free agent outfielder Milton Bradley, and Mr. Rosenthal goes on to identify Washington as, (at the point he published), "the only known suitor" for Adam Dunn, after mentioning earlier in the post that the Los Angeles Angels, who had been rumored to be interested, had instead decided to find, "offensive solutions from within."

ESPN.com's Buster Olney brought Washington's search for a slugger up in an article entitled, "Manny solely to blame for his current plight", about Manny Ramirez's inability to find the deal he wants in the current market, mostly, in Mr. Olney's opinion, because of his own past actions, with Mr. Olney writing that:

"The Nationals apparently have money to spend, and in theory, if they were to sign Ramirez, it could be an interesting play. He would be a lure for fans and would give a reason for folks to tune in to watch the Nationals, something that very few people did last season."

Count me as one of the few, (and proud), or 1 of the 9,000 DC tv viewers, who took to calling ourselves by our assigned viewer numbers at some point last season...Also, You might remember, at the end of Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post this weekend entitled, "Boras: For Tex it just came down to winning", Mr. Harlan wrote, in the last paragraph, that he had asked Scott "Maximum" Boras, who represents both the new Yankees' First Baseman, and Manny Ramirez, "...twice...whether the Nats had expressed any interest in the 36-year-old slugger. Boras didn't want to comment. Either time." I'm just saying? Manny in DC? 

I predict that Daniel Cabrera ends up being the Nationals' premier free agent signing. Notice I'm not ruling out trades...but excuse me, once again...

A note to Mr. Manny Ramirez, from federalbaseball.com:

I promise, (if the DC franchise will provide all financial backing)...DC will give you 2-Years/$50M? That's a serious offer, and $5M more than the Dodgers offered...Whatta ya think, Manny? Then the Nationals can trade Willingham and Kearns to some other team as a corner outfield package....and you, Dukes and Milledge can play left to right in Nationals Park...with Willie Harris as the fourth outfielder?

Dominican Winter League UPDATE...

The Tigres del Licey defeated Aguilas Cibaenas this afternoon by a score of 5-2, (though one run remains unaccounted for in the MiLB.com box score as of this moment.) Anderson Hernandez, who started at second for the Tigres, finished the day 3 for 4 with a double, his 3rd in 3 Dominican Winter League playoff games so far, and he's now hitting .462, for the 2-1 Tigres in Postseason play which started this past Friday. On the mound for Aguilas Cibaenas...our old friend Nelson Figueroa. Figueroa gave up 8 hits, 5 runs and a walk in 2.0 IP...former Nationals' favorite Ramon Ortiz got the start, and the "W" for Licey, which is fitting...