The Washington Nationals have begun the process of trying to improve the MLB’s worst baseball team last season, in what could be the start of a very active off-season.
The Nationals dealt 2B Emilio Bonfacio, obtained late last season in a trade for reliever Jon Rauch, and two draft prospects, SS Jake Smolinski (2007), and reliever PJ Dean (2007) to the Florida Marlins in exchange for P Scott Olsen and OF Josh Willingham.
Olsen will join the Nationals rotation in what will likely be a refurbished rotation. I suspect we will see more changes as the Nationals will attempt to bolster their starting pitching. Olson gave the Marlins over 200 innings last season, finishing 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA. Olsen has been a Marlins starter the last three seasons. His rookie year he finished 12-10 with 166 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.04. If the Nationals plan to go with a mix of youth and veteran pitching, the Olsen deal could mean the end of Odalis Perez and Tim Redding. We are assuming that John Lannan and Colin Balestar are locks for the 2009 rotation. You would think Jordon Zimmerman could be part of the mix as well, after super impressive rise through the minor last season. That would leave a spot open for perhaps another bigger type starter to join the crew.
Willingham’s arrival probably means a departure for Austin Kearns or another outfielder, given the National logjam in the outfield. Willingham, like Olsen, has started the past three season for Florida as well. Last season, Willingham hit .254 with 15 HRs and 51 RBIs. In 2007, Willingham drove in 89 runs with 21 homers and he hit 26 homers his first season starting in 2006.
The National obtained Bonafacio and saw him as their future starting second baseman. However, Anderson Hernandez, obtained in a trade with the NY Mets that sent reliever Luis Ayala to New York, hit .333 in 26 games for the Nationals and made Bonafacio expendable. The Nationals appear to bet set in making Hernandez their starting second baseman.
A few days ago, the Nationals made clear they intend on improving the baseball club that finished dead last with a record of 59-102. Among positions targeted are starting pitching and a slugging first baseman. Olsen is a start, but not a likely finish for the Nationals attempt to get better pitching. Among names mentioned are …
It was revealed last week that the Nationals have targeted free-agent outfielder/first baseman Adam Dunn, Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday and free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira as possibilities to solve their problem in the No. 4 hole.
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