Nationals to Fire Acta

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Nationals will fire manager Manny Acta and replace him with bench coach Jim Riggleman. Acta has been with the team since the 2007 season, and has done a fairly good job despite poor records. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is having a breakout year for the Nationals, hitting .315 with 11 home runs and a .391 on-base percentage. Acta also has had an influence on young catcher Jesus Flores, who was hitting .311 with 4 home runs and 5 extra-base hits before landing on the disabled list.

The Nationals pitching has been quite a disappointment up to this point in the season, and a change is in order. Riggleman brings years of managerial experience, having managed the Padres, Cubs, and Mariners. 

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Nationals Sign Storen, Strasburg Next

The Nationals have come to terms with their 10th overall pick, Drew Storen. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a sophomore at Standford, Storen went 7-1 with a 3.80 ERA and 7 saves. The Nationals hope that his attitude on the mound, as well as his mid-90s fastball, will move him quickly through the minor league system and into the Nationals bullpen as their closer or set up man. 

Now, there's Strasburg. Early indications are that negotiations are positive and that a deal should be reached well before the August 15th deadline. Keith Law of ESPN.com suggested that the Nationals have a clause in the contract that says he will be in the majors by a certain date. The Nats should offer a deal in the 22-24 million dollar range, with a 'in the MLB' clause kicking in, say, before the trade deadline. He has already thrown 109 innings this season, and the Nationals would be smart to limit him to 150-165 innings so that he doesn't overwork his arm. The Nationals are already 18 games out of first, there is no need to overwork your best and newest pitcher when you are well out of contention. 

 

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Nationals Select Strasburg

The Washington Nationals selected pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft today. Strasburg was 13-1 with 195 strike outs in 109 innings for the San Diego State Aztecs, leading them to the postseason for the first time since 1991. 

The tough part will be to sign Strasburg, who is reportedly seeking a 50 million dollar contract. I believe the Nationals will be able to sign Strasburg, but probably not until the August 15th deadline if they choose to play hardball with Scott Boras. 

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Braves Release Glavine

The Atlanta Braves cut ties with future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, releasing him just a day after throwing six scoreless innings in a rehab start. Glavine, who is recovering from minor elbow surgery, was clocked between 83-86 mph on his fastball. 

"I don't know what else I can do," Glavine said after Tuesday night's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Physically I felt good and I feel like I'm ready."

Glavine is still a couple week away from returning, and it is possible he could get picked up if he wanted to continue pitching. The Nationals would benefit from his presence.


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Rosenthal: Nats Will Draft Strasburg

Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Nationals will draft Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in June's draft. Strasburg's advisor, Scott Boras, is looking for a record 50 million dollar signing bonus. The Nationals do expect to sign Strasburg, but do not feel pressure to sign him after failing to sign their first round pick last year.

Rosenthal points out that if the Nationals fail to sign Strasburg, they will receive the number 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft. If they continue to play like they are now, they could receive the first and second overall pick in 2010. Boras is known to hold out until the last possible moment, getting the most money for his client. Expect these negotiations to go until the August 15th deadline.

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Trade Winds

Red Sox scouting Braves' Francoeur: Braves GM Frank Wren chose not to comment on a report that the Red Sox were scouting outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Francoeur is hitting .253 with 3 home runs this season, and a lot of local media outlets have been speculating that he could be traded.

Dodgers eyeing Peavy?: The Dodgers are in the market for pitching, despite a pretty strong showing from their pitchers right now. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said that he has been in contact with the Padres, but hasn't spoken to them since Peavy vetoed the trade to the White Sox. One source I spoke to said he fully expects the Dodgers to get in on the Peavy chase in July.

Davis or Washburn to Minnesota: The Diamondbacks will likely shop lefty pitcher Doug Davis as we approach the trade deadline. Davis is 2-6, but has a 3.77 ERA and had four consecutive double-digit seasons before his season was cut short in 2008. Washburn is another option, probably the more likely option because he is already in the AL and is open to a trade to the Twins.  

Nick Johnson to Mets?: Johnson told reporters he would welcome a trade to the Mets, but who wouldn't if you were playing for the crowded Nationals. The Nats have been shopping Johnson for a couple seasons, and now that he is hitting .337 with 4 home runs, it is a good time to trade him. The Red Sox have been linked to them, but nothing appears serious. 

Pirates' Sanchez to Rays?: The Pirates will likely shop Freddy Sanchez at the trade deadline, and the Rays could be a possible fit. Sanchez is a solid fielder and hitter, and could be a long term option for the Rays. With Aki Iwamura out for the season and a club option for 2010, it would make sense that they would pursue him. 

Sanchez to Marlins or Phillies?: Lefty pitcher Jonathan Sanchez could be moved at the right deal, and if they start shopping him now, they could get a good value for him. They need a second baseman. They need a corner outfielder. The Marlins and Phillies have both. Dan Uggla is available.

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Nationals DFA Cabrera

After starting the year 0-5 with a 5.85 ERA, the Nationals have designated Daniel Cabrera for assignment. Cabrera has a pretty good fastball, but cannot command his secondary pitches, which has lead to 35 walks to just 16 strike outs. Cabrera will be 28 tomorrow, and will likely find a job somewhere soon.

I would think the Cardinals would be a good landing spot. Pitching coach Dave Duncan is the best pitching coach in baseball, having success with several pitchers that were considered busts. Other spots for Cabrera include the Padres and Indians.


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2009 MLB Draft: Washington Nationals

The Nationals have the first and tenth pick in the draft this year, presenting them with an opportunity to add two very good young players to their farm system. The Nationals have a tendency to draft college pitchers and high school hitters, no matter the success rate. With Stephen Strasburg the presumptive number one pick, the Nats will have to wait nine more picks to make their next selection.

If Tanner Scheppers is around when they make their second selection of the first round, I recommend selecting him. To add two top arms like that in a span of ten picks would do wonders for their rotation. Other guys that could be around then include Alex White, Zach Wheeler, and Tyler Matzek.

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Strasburg Update

San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the presumtive number-one pick in this years draft, pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, improving to 13-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 102 innings. He has struck out 180 this season. He exited the game with back cramps, but Strasburg said it is nothing serious.

The Nationals have a big decision to make in the next couple weeks. Strasburg is going to be tough signing, probably holding out all the way until the deadline, which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering he has set a new career high in innings pitched. The Nationals should seriously consider Tanner Scheppers at the number one pick. He has incredible stuff and is expected to rise quickly, assuming he can stay healthy.

Dustin Ackley Update: I wrote about Dustin Ackley last week, basically disagreeing with Peter Gammons' evalutation. I watched some more game footage of him at the plate and I have to admit, I was pretty impressed. However, his inability to play the outfield this season raises some issues for me as a top ten pick. Outfield can be very tough on a player, requiring a lot of conditioning. Be away from that for a year, and then being asked to adjust in the minor leagues while adjusting to wooden bats and professional pitching, seems like a tough adjustment.

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WIll the Nationals Pass On Strasburg?

Nationals owner Stan Kasten is telling people that he will pay a fair-market rate for Stephen Strasburg. If that's so, you can expect these negotiations to carry out all the way until the August 15th deadline, when Strasburg will decide to either sign or sit out a year - which he has not ruled out. Strasburg is 12-0 with a 1.34 ERA and 174 strike outs in 13 starts this season, one of which was a no-hitter. Some say Strasburg is major-league ready, but would likely need a couple starts in the minor leagues to adjust to professional hitters.

Even if Strasburg comes up and proves he is ready for the big leagues, he has already thrown 94.1 innings this season, and would probably need to be cut off at around 130 or 140, at most. If the Nationals were to pass on him for another pitcher, perhaps Tanner Scheppers, they would be paying much less for someone who could be equally as effective. I would be surprised to see the Nationals pass on him, but they might be better off drafting and signing someone who is eager to sign and play.

First round draft picks have been given major league contracts before, so the Nationals are going to have a hard time not agreeing to that, especially because their 2007 first round pick Ross Detwiler has been on the 40-man roster since being drafted.


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Johnson to Red Sox?

Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson is off to a solid start this season hitting .333 with 3 home runs and a .421 on-base percentage. Johnson hasn't had a full season since 2006, missing all of 2007 and playing in just 38 games in 2008. Johnson would give the Red Sox offense a huge boost, especially because David Ortiz is not hitting. Johnson could platoon at first and DH, giving time off to Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Mike Lowell (Johnson at first, Youk to third).

The Nationals would definitely ask for pitching in return, possibly targeting Daniel Bard. ESPN.com's Peter Gammons believes Manny Delcarmen could be a closer in the NL, so the Nationals could ask for Declarmen and a minor league position player. The Red Sox are very protective of their top young pitchers, and I would be surprised to see them trade Buchholz, Bowden, Tazawa, or Masterson.

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Ackley Seattle Bound?

With the Nationals already set on pitcher Stephen Strasburg, it is now the Mariners turn to pick the best player on the market. That player may be Dustin Ackley, who is hitting .405 with 17 home runs and a .511 on-base percentage for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Mariners like his speed and ability to hit for average, but there are questions about his power and his ability to play the outfield as he still comes back from Tommy John surgery.

The Mariners should seriously consider Tanner Scheppers, who is pitching in the Independent Leagues right now. Scheppers is excited about the draft, a strong indication that he will sign. Scheppers, if you don't remember, so his draft stock fall after he injured his shoulder. He was drafted by the Pirates, but chose not to sign. Scheppers is a big time pitcher who has the potential to be a front of the line rotation starter.

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2009 MLB Draft Order

Here is the order for this years MLB Draft, which is set to take place in June.

1. Washington Nationals
2. Seattle Mariners
3. San Diego Padres
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Baltimore Orioles
6. San Francisco Giants
7. Atlanta Braves
8. Cincinnati Reds
9. Detroit Tigers
10. Washington Nationals*
11. Colorado Rockies
12. Kansas City Royals
13. Oakland Athletics
14. Texas Rangers
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
17. Arizona Diamondbacks*
18. Florida Marlins
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Houston Astros
22. Minnesota Twins
23. Chicago White Sox
24. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
25. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*
26. Milwaukee Brewers
27. Seattle Mariners*
28. New York Yankees*
29. Boston Red Sox
30. Tampa Bay Rays
31. Chicago Cubs
32. Colorado Rockies*

10 - Washington Nationals receive this pick as compensation for not signing 2008 1st Round Pick, Aaron Crow.

# 17 - Arizona Diamondbacks receive this pick as compensation for the Los Angeles Dodgers signing 2B Orlando Hudson

# 24 - Los Angeles Angels receive this pick as compensation for the New York Mets signing Francisco Rodriguez.

# 25 - Los Angeles Angels receive this pick as compensation for the New York Yankees signing Mark Teixeira.

# 27 - Seattle Mariners receive this pick as compensation for Philadelphia Phillies signing Raul Ibanez.

# 28 - New York Yankees receive this pick as compensation for not signing 2008 1st Round Pick, Gerrit Cole.

# 32 - Colorado Rockies receive this pick as compensation for Los Angeles Angels signing Brian Fuentes.

(Courtesy of 2009 MLB Mock Draft)

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Strasburg Update

The presumptive number one overall pick Stephen Strasburg struck out 17 batters on his way to no-hit victory. The San Diego State Aztecs, led by Hall of Famer Ton Gwynn, defeated the Air Force 5-0. Most of the Nationals front office staff, including GM Mike Rizzo and scouting director Dana Brown, were in attendance to see the game.

This story keeps getting better as Strasburg improves to 11-0 on the year with a 1.24 ERA and 164 strikeouts. Gwynn has been praised for doing what he can to take care of Strasburg's arm, and pitching him on a regular five day schedule certainly helps. Strasburg has thrown 87 1/3 innings this season.

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Quick Hits: Crow, Damon, Chacon, Milledge

Quick hits:

• The Nationals have the first and ninth overall pick in this years draft. By missing out on pitcher Aaron Crow last year, they receive the ninth pick as compensation. Bill Ladson of MLB.com says the Nationals haven't ruled out drafting Aaron Crow, who chose not to sign with them last year. He probably would be in the Nationals rotation by now if he hadn't spurned them. Crow made his Independent league debut Monday, lating just 1 2/3 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) while striking out three.
• Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon has been discussing his future lately. "Hopefully, I can be happy in New York for a few more years. It’s tough to keep moving around teams. Hopefully this will be my last.” Damon has hit .286 in the past three years with the Yankees, and has averaged a little over 17 homeruns those three years. With Austin Jackson waiting in the wings, will the Yankees sign Damon?
• The Global Post has an excellent featured video on 15-year old prospect Miguel Angel Sano from the Dominican Republic. His athletic build and smooth swing has all thirty teams pursuing him. With so many stories coming out about players giving the wrong age, it is hard not to be suspicious. But the video gives you a little background and his family reassures everyone that he is indeed 15-years old. For what it's worth, I was convinced.
• Right handed pitcher Shawn Chacon has signed with the Newark Bears. Chacon will join veterans Keith Foulke, Armando Benitez, Carl Everett, Jay Gibbons, Bobby Hill, and Pete Rose Jr. on the Bears roster.
• "The Lastings Milledge Project" has taken a turn for the worst. Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says that Milledge and the Nationals have not had contact since his demotion last month. I suspect teams will follow him closely, especially after what Triple-A manager Tim Foli said: "You'd be pretty stupid to not understand how high the ceiling would be on a Lastings Milledge if he got it all together."

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Will the Mariners Be Sellers?

Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal has an interesting piece out on why the Mariners and Athletics aren't set on being sellers just yet. The Mariners have good group of veterans they could deal, but currently lead the AL West by 1 1/2 games and the Angels pitching, particularly the bullpen, has been subpar. But if the Mariners were to fall out of contention, here are the players who would likely be available:

Adrian Beltre, 3B: Beltre is in the final year of five year deal making 12 million dollars this season. Beltre is hitting just .208 with 0 HR this season, but is a career .285 hitter after the trade deadline. The power should come, and if it does, he could be on the block.

Erik Bedard, SP: Bedard is making 7.75 million dollars this season and is off to a good start in five games, going 2-1 with 2.61 ERA and 32 strikeouts. Teams will definitely be interested in the left hander if he is made available. He's never pitched more than 200 innings, but if he could give you 140-150, he could still make for an above average two or three starter.

Jarrod Washburn, SP: Washburn is also in the last year of his contract, making 10.35 million dollars. Washburn is 2-1 in five games with a 2.97 ERA. The Mariners have tried to unload Washburn in years past, but could never come to a deal. You know the Twins will likely be in on him again, and it will be interesting to see if other teams jump in. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nationals dangle an outfielder at them. Maybe Lastings Milledge in a package of players.

Russel Branyan, 1B: Branyan has always had power, but he has never carried an average like he has in 2009. Branyan is hitting .320 with 7 HR in 20 games. A team looking for a power boost could look at Branyan at a low cost upgrade. The Mariners could capitalize on Branyan's strong start.

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Nationals Sign MacDougal

The Nationals and Mike MacDougal have agreed to a minor league deal. MacDougal gives the Nationals another option in the bullpen, which owns a 5.28 ERA this season. MacDougal was an All-Star closer in 2003 with the Royals, but owns a 4.18 career ERA in 262 career games. MacDougal had a 12.46 ERA in five games with the White Sox in 2009, and will have to prove himself in Triple-A before getting the call up with the Nationals.

If you are desperate for saves in your fantasy league, MacDougal could replace Julian Tavarez or Kip Wells in the closer spot if he performs well in Triple-A. Other options (unrelated to the story) include David Aardsma of the Mariners and Scott Downs of the Blue Jays.

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Strasburg Update

San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg is at it again, dominating Santa Clara for eight innings and striking out ten. He is 10-0 on the year, with a 1.38 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched. Ex Nationals GM Jim Bowden said that the decision to draft and sign Stephen Strasburg was made a long time ago. ESPN.com's Buster Olney talked to executives who think the Nationals may shut down Strasburg after they draft him. "If he were to somehow sign immediately, they wouldn't continue pitching him the rest of the year, because then his innings count would climb over 200, easily."

Strasburg fastball is sitting at 98 mph, touching 100 mph on occasion. 

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Mets, Others Consider Martinez

With teams pitching rotations starting to take hits, the Pedro Martinez race is slowly heating up. At this point, teams are not going to pay Martinez 5 million dollars to pitch. Martinez was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 games last season for the Mets, but averaged a little over five innings per start. The Rangers and Nationals are both in desperate need of a starting pitching, but are in no position to add that kind of money. One agent, who asked for anonymity on the matter, thinks the Nationals could target Paul Byrd for the time being and hope they can sign Stephen Strasburg soon after the draft. 

Martinez does not have the stamina and not the same zip on his fastball that he once had, not to mention he hasn't made 30 starts in three seasons. He will probably have to settle for a one year deal worth 2-3 million dollars, plus incentives that could bring it to five million dollars. The Angels and Dodgers are out of the mix, and small market teams are not looking to add payroll right now, so he might be out of luck.

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Bullpen is Hurting Marlins

The Marlins are off to a great start with an 11-7 record, and some are starting to think that the Marlins have what it takes to win that division. Not so fast.

The Marlins bullpen has already blown three saves, and have an ERA of 5.19 (second worst in NL) in 17 games. Matt Lindstrom has a 1o.80 ERA in seven games, with just three saves in five attempts. Leo Nunez, who was acquired from the Royals in the Mike Jacobs trade, has a blown save but has a 4.32 ERA in eight games. Lindstrom has an explosive fastball, but he is not mixing it well with his other pitches. He has left his fastball over the plate too much, and it is starting to get hit. Marlins fans can't complain about trading Kevin Gregg either, the prospect they got for him, Jose Ceda, is a big powerful right handed reliever who could be join the Marlins this season if necessary. It is still early, and the Marlins expect Lindstrom to heat up. He had a 3.14 ERA last season, but had a WHIP of 1.45.

The Marlins have four quality starters who have combined to go 6-3 so far this season. The Marlins are on a six game losing streak, but beat the Mets, Braves, and Nationals in series play. It is way too early to say the Marlins should go out and get a closer, but Lindstrom has been a set up man the past two seasons and may not be suited in the closer role. "Stuff-wise, he's got it. The big arm, 96 miles per hour. His breaking pitch is being developed to be an above-average pitch. His two-seamer is working. Now he needs to develop the other stuff that comes with winning games.''

One possible option could be Red Sox prospect Daniel Bard. He is closing in Triple-A and has really impressed the Red Sox, going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and K-BB ratio of 18-3. The Red Sox could look to acquire Mike Stanton, Gaby Sanchez, or Sean West if they were to make Bard available.

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