Ross Detwiler
On Friday, the Nationals traded Ross Detwiler to the Texas Rangers for infielder Chris Bostick and relief pitcher Abel De Los Santos. I personally have mixed feelings on the trade. I'll always remember the Game 4 gem Ross pitched in the NLDS to keep the Nationals alive against the Cardinals in 2012. But after seeing him struggle last year with injuries and then this year with the questionable role he was placed in, it was probably best for he and the Nationals to move on.
Why make the move now though while you're trying to win a World Series? There were a few reasons, first was Ross is a year away from free agency and was going to cost the Nationals between 3 and 4 million this year in arbitration. That money can now be allocated elsewhere (Bryce Harper's new deal). Being that he was a year away from free agency, was going to sign somewhere else at the end of the year, and had an undefined role in the bullpen as is, Mike Rizzo decided to trade him and get a few prospects who may or may not make a difference in a few years. The Nats have a few options in AAA to replace him, so the bullpen should be fine.
In return the Nationals got the middle infield depth that they lacked in the minor leagues. Bostick is a 21 year old middle infielder who can play both 2B and shortstop (although he's better suited for 2B), he hit .251 with 11 home runs in A ball last year. De Los Santos is a 22 year old reliever who had a pretty good season in A ball throwing 51 1/3 innings, striking out 65 to the tune of a 1.92 ERA.
Bryce Harper
Bryce and the Nationals have been at odds this offseason due to a dispute about whether or not Bryce can opt out of his contract and into arbitration as a Super Two player. Bryce's current contract calls for him to earn $1.5 million next year, but through arbitration Bryce could have earned between $2.5 and 3 million. I think it's ridiculous that the Nationals were even fighting this, but what do I know. You would think that you would want to keep your potential franchise cornerstone happy, even if it means spending a few extra million over the next few years. If you want to keep him here after his contract is over, its going to be very expensive, so why piss him off now. Give him the money and move on. Early this morning, the Nationals and Bryce agreed to a two year contract for $7.5 million to avoid arbitration and hopefully avoid any future contract issues (until it's time to sign him to a new deal). The new contract calls for Bryce to be paid $2.5 million this year (thanks Ross) and $5 million next year.
In a market where Chase Headley just got 4 years for $52 million, having Bryce for 2 years at $7.5 million is a steal. I know it's a different scenario because Headley was a free agent where as Bryce is still on his rookie contract, but the point is, don't upset your so called star player over $2-3 million. Also note, Bryce isn't a free agent in two years, he is under team control through the 2018 season, but come 2016 is when Bryce will start to make big money.
Whats Next
Now it's time for Rizzo to go address the one glaring need this team currently has, second base. There aren't many options out there, whether it be in free agency or trade, but there are a few options that I like. The first option is to resign Asdrubal Cabrera. He's not opposed to coming back and playing second base even though shortstop is his preferred position. The Giants, Angels, and Athletics are three teams who could be in on him, but all come with a few question marks. Nobody knows what kind of money the Athletics have to play with right now after essentially rebuilding on the fly this offseason. The Angels are trying to cut payroll, not add it, so for that reason I think they're out. The Giants have the money and have a need at third base, but I have a feeling they're going to throw a lot of money at either James Shields or Max Scherzer and I'm not sure that they have the money for a pitcher as well as Cabrera. Jed Lowrie, the other second base/shortstop option teams were considering, signed today with the Houston Astros for three years and $23 million. If I'm Mike Rizzo, I offer Cabrera a 3 year, $24 million contract and make it clear there's not much room for negotiating. Cabrera is one year younger and a better hitter in my opinion. Offering one million more than Lowrie got is a fair offer. The Astros aren't going to be competitive, the Nationals are, so as long as winning is a priority to Cabrera, you would think accepting an $8 million per year offer would be a no brainer given the market. If Cabrera thinks he can get a better offer elsewhere, then so be it, the Nats can move onto their trade target.
We can be completely unrealistic and say somebody like Ian Kinsler should be the Nats next second baseman, but as good as he would look in the Nats lineup, that's just not going to happen. The Nats should go after Ben Zobrist though. He's in the last year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and will earn $7.5 million and it would be the best $7.5 million the Nationals could spend this offseason. Besides the fact that Zobrist is 34 years old, there are not many negatives that can be said about the guy. He can play second base, shortstop, and the outfield. That kind of versatility is incredibly valuable for a team with World Series aspirations. Over the past 6 seasons, Zobrist has a 37.4 WAR. For comparison purposes, over those same 6 seasons, Ryan Zimmerman has a 23.5 WAR. Why would you not go after a guy like this if you can get him at your price?
That's exactly the issue, the Rays don't need to trade Zobrist. With that being said, the Rays would trade Zobrist if they were given a few prospects in return. Offering Jeff Kobernus and Jake Johansen could get a trade done. The Rays would like Kobernus because he's versatile just like Zobrist, is under team control until 2021, and is a cheaper option than Zobrist. Johansen was the Nationals second round pick in 2013, he had a 5.19 ERA in Hagerstown this past year and is ranked as the Nationals #15 prospect according to MLB.com. Johansen's ERA clearly won't blow anyone away, but he's got potential to be a back of the rotation starter or a valuable bullpen piece. For one year of control of Zobrist I think this is a more than fair offer. As for the Nationals, why would you not make this trade? Ian Desmond, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Tyler Clippard, and Denard Span are all set to become free agents after this season. It's time to make a splash and go for it, Zobrist would make this Nationals team the most talented Nationals team of the past few years (barring a trade of Zimmermann, Desmond, Fister, etc.).
It's your move Mike Rizzo.
In a market where Chase Headley just got 4 years for $52 million, having Bryce for 2 years at $7.5 million is a steal. I know it's a different scenario because Headley was a free agent where as Bryce is still on his rookie contract, but the point is, don't upset your so called star player over $2-3 million. Also note, Bryce isn't a free agent in two years, he is under team control through the 2018 season, but come 2016 is when Bryce will start to make big money.
Whats Next
Now it's time for Rizzo to go address the one glaring need this team currently has, second base. There aren't many options out there, whether it be in free agency or trade, but there are a few options that I like. The first option is to resign Asdrubal Cabrera. He's not opposed to coming back and playing second base even though shortstop is his preferred position. The Giants, Angels, and Athletics are three teams who could be in on him, but all come with a few question marks. Nobody knows what kind of money the Athletics have to play with right now after essentially rebuilding on the fly this offseason. The Angels are trying to cut payroll, not add it, so for that reason I think they're out. The Giants have the money and have a need at third base, but I have a feeling they're going to throw a lot of money at either James Shields or Max Scherzer and I'm not sure that they have the money for a pitcher as well as Cabrera. Jed Lowrie, the other second base/shortstop option teams were considering, signed today with the Houston Astros for three years and $23 million. If I'm Mike Rizzo, I offer Cabrera a 3 year, $24 million contract and make it clear there's not much room for negotiating. Cabrera is one year younger and a better hitter in my opinion. Offering one million more than Lowrie got is a fair offer. The Astros aren't going to be competitive, the Nationals are, so as long as winning is a priority to Cabrera, you would think accepting an $8 million per year offer would be a no brainer given the market. If Cabrera thinks he can get a better offer elsewhere, then so be it, the Nats can move onto their trade target.
We can be completely unrealistic and say somebody like Ian Kinsler should be the Nats next second baseman, but as good as he would look in the Nats lineup, that's just not going to happen. The Nats should go after Ben Zobrist though. He's in the last year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and will earn $7.5 million and it would be the best $7.5 million the Nationals could spend this offseason. Besides the fact that Zobrist is 34 years old, there are not many negatives that can be said about the guy. He can play second base, shortstop, and the outfield. That kind of versatility is incredibly valuable for a team with World Series aspirations. Over the past 6 seasons, Zobrist has a 37.4 WAR. For comparison purposes, over those same 6 seasons, Ryan Zimmerman has a 23.5 WAR. Why would you not go after a guy like this if you can get him at your price?
That's exactly the issue, the Rays don't need to trade Zobrist. With that being said, the Rays would trade Zobrist if they were given a few prospects in return. Offering Jeff Kobernus and Jake Johansen could get a trade done. The Rays would like Kobernus because he's versatile just like Zobrist, is under team control until 2021, and is a cheaper option than Zobrist. Johansen was the Nationals second round pick in 2013, he had a 5.19 ERA in Hagerstown this past year and is ranked as the Nationals #15 prospect according to MLB.com. Johansen's ERA clearly won't blow anyone away, but he's got potential to be a back of the rotation starter or a valuable bullpen piece. For one year of control of Zobrist I think this is a more than fair offer. As for the Nationals, why would you not make this trade? Ian Desmond, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Tyler Clippard, and Denard Span are all set to become free agents after this season. It's time to make a splash and go for it, Zobrist would make this Nationals team the most talented Nationals team of the past few years (barring a trade of Zimmermann, Desmond, Fister, etc.).
It's your move Mike Rizzo.
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