Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Davey on potential for more trades

USA Today Sports Images
PHILADELPHIA — Though he knows the Nationals haven't gotten the kind of performance he's hoped from the back end of his rotation, manager Davey Johnson said today he doesn't expect the club to pursue pitching help before this month's trade deadline.

Johnson cited the pipeline of young pitching that should arrive in the big leagues by next season as reason not to acquire another starter now.

"One of our areas that we have very little depth in, obviously, is starting pitching," he said. "But after this year and early into next year, some of our young starters should be knocking at the door here. As far as making a move and picking up somebody, a lease just for the short-term, I don't think that's in our plans because I think we have enough talent here and enough coming that we wouldn't do that."

Johnson believes the return of a healthy Ross Detwiler after the All-Star break, and continued improvement from Dan Haren will give the Nationals five starters that can withstand a pennant race.

"We should have Det back right after the break. It looks like Haren's back on track," he said. "So I don't see anything that's out there that we would go spend a lot of money to get."

Johnson did potentially leave the door open for the addition of another veteran bench player in the wake of this week's trade for Scott Hairston, citing Chad Tracy's struggles this season. The 33-year-old pinch-hitter is batting .136 with three homers, five RBI and a .176 on-base percentage.

"I think the next couple weeks, more clarity will come to that picture," Johnson said. "You know, Tracy's an outstanding left-handed hitter and he hasn't done it. We had a young right-handed hitter [Tyler Moore] and he wasn't doing the things he did last year. So we made that move, because that gives Tyler Moore a chance to go play. So that was twofold. It helped this club and it helped in his development."

14 comments:

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

That clunking sound you heard was Rizzo hanging up on Theo in the Matt Garza Sweepstakes.

David Proctor said...

Epstein is asking for A LOT for Garza. I mean, like Rendon and Giolito lot. There's no way in hell I'd even entertain that idea.

(I'm not saying he's asked specifically for Rendon and Giolito, but given what he asked for from the O's, that's our equivalent).

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

David, Strop was close to a DFA like Henry and Arrietta was a 7+ ERA and not good at all. Not sure what Epstein was thinking.

phil dunton said...

Sounds to me like Davey expects the season to end around 9/30 as he heads into retirement. I'd like to remind him that a competent hitting coach isn't going to cost two top notch prospects.

phil dunton said...

Sounds to me like Davey expects the season to end around 9/30 as he heads into retirement. I'd like to remind him that a competent hitting coach isn't going to cost two top notch prospects.

Whack-a-Mule said...

Mule thinks that expectations for 4th and 5th starters may be too high. Nats require "donkeys", not "thoroughbreds".

A 4th/5th starter need be relatively injury-free and durable; able to deliver 6-7 innings every 5th night while allowing 0.5 runs/inning (ERA of 4.50 +/-). Thus, having given up 3 runs in 6 or 7 innings, the team is still in the game. If the offense cannot deliver >3 runs/game, that is not a pitching problem.

ExposedinDC said...

No way we should weaken an already depleted farm system for a rental, if they hit consistently, they are good with the arms they have, if they don't it wouldn't matter anyway.

phil dunton said...

Detwiler as the salvation? I doubt it. He is 18-29 over his career and has spent nearly as much time on the DL as on the active roster.

SCNatsFan said...

As long as Davey is counting on Haren then we know he believes just wishing for good things can make them happen.

TexNat said...

Offense is a bigger concern for this team going forward than pitching. Given how little they have to give up by way of prospects, I'd rather they not give up too much for a rental pitcher. This team will need more offense in the coming years to succeed.

Anonymous said...

I love a site where a poster named "Mule" says the Nats need "Donkeys." No doubt his favorite Senator was Jeff "Burros."

D'Gourds said...

why does it seem like I'm the only one who believes Ohlendorf could be the competent 5th starter they've been looking for?

Will said...

D'Gourds, because from 2011-2012, Russ Ohlendorf was THE WORST pitcher in baseball.

Tigers don't change their stripes, they can just hide them over small sample sizes.

Holden Baroque said...

OTHO, Will, a half-dozen starts or so is not a large sample. So there's that.

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