The Nationals made a qualifying contract offer to Adam LaRoche before today's 5 p.m. deadline, but not to any of their other free agents, ensuring they would receive at least one draft pick as compensation should they lose the veteran first baseman.
LaRoche was given the one-year, $13.3 million offer all free agents are eligible to be offered under MLB's new compensation system, according to MLB.com and FoxSports.com. The 32-year-old can either accept the offer (which equates to the average salary of the top 125-paid players in the majors this season) and return to the Nationals for 2013 or decline the offer and seek a multi-year contract with any of baseball's 30 clubs.If LaRoche (who has seven days to make a decision) declines the offer as expected, the Nationals would receive a compensatory draft pick (a "sandwich" pick between the first and second rounds) should he ultimately sign with another franchise this winter. That franchise would then lose its first-round draft pick (unless it's one of the top 10 picks) under a system installed under the new collective bargaining agreement that eliminated the old method of classifying free agents as "Type A" or "Type B" players to determine compensation.
Essentially, the Nationals are acknowledging they're willing to pay LaRoche $13.3 million for another season of his services. In truth, they're willing to offer him more than a one-year deal, and the two sides could still reach an agreement on a contract potentially in the range of three years and $36 million.
LaRoche, like all free agents, is free to begin negotiating with other clubs Saturday morning. Coming off a season in which he hit a career-high 33 homers while matching his previous high of 100 RBI and winning his first Gold Glove award, he's expected to listen to offers from other teams in the market for a first baseman. The most likely suitors are the Red Sox, Orioles and perhaps Rangers.
In the end, the Nationals will have the ability to match or exceed any of those offers, or try to convince LaRoche to take less money or fewer guaranteed years to return to a club that believes it can contend for a World Series title in 2013 and beyond.
Though they extended the qualifying offer to LaRoche, the Nationals did not do the same with any of their other free agents (Edwin Jackson, Sean Burnett, Mark DeRosa, Michael Gonzalez, Zach Duke). Jackson, who made $11 million this season, was the only member of that group who would be worth anywhere close to $13.3 million.
In electing not to make the offer to Jackson, the Nationals essentially are acknowledging they don't intend to make much of an effort to re-sign the right-hander and are content to seek a No. 5 starter elsewhere.
266 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 266 of 266 Newer› Newest»Thanks, Faraz, I think it was eight for the game. But I don't think they were all in the same inning. I was at the game, got the scorebook at home (I'm at work now). I'd forgotten about LeCroy's two throwing errors as well. It was a diaster. Somehow the Nats hung on to win the game. But it came at a psychic cost.
Now I remember LeCroy! No to Valverde- can you imagine that celebration fitting in here? And Goodwin got totally, completely robbed by Hamilton. Think that might happen a few more times in the future?
Nats pitcher alert! Barrett. First pitch strike- second pitch hard hit, but scored an error.
Well. That was fast. Is Tony LaRussa managing the East?
He got two batters, one re- scored a hit, one strike out. The hit bounced off the third baseman and was originally an error. Next pitcher totally blows it.
And they should have kept Barrett in the game. The Cub is getting shelled.
Goodwin!!
I do believe we have our center fielder of the future.
Goodwin trying to win the MVP. Impressive LH on LH hit.
Rendon sighting!
Goodwin has a nice compact swing and generates a lot of pop. Rizzo has to be pleased to see that.
Rendon with an upper cut swing. Didn't like that.
And Miguel Batista. And Chad Durbin. And Todd Coffey. The ex-Nats FAs march on.
so great to see the Nats of 2005-2010 (Schneider Kearns, Coffey, Nyjer, Coffey et al) scrawling across the bottom of the screen, all looking for work. Meanwhile, Goodwin is trying to win the MVP of this game ... and fight is way on a talent-filled roster for '12.
I'll come right out and say it: The 2012 Washington Nationals are loaded. LOAD-ED!.
The best 25 (and Kristina) come North!
Agreed. Goodwin with a nice looking swing, Rendon maybe trying to go yard? Barrett small sample size but fine. Keep the prospects coming!
Oh- nice defense by both Goidwin and Rendon.
Never mind, Steve already got Coffey time.
Getting late, thought the screen crawl was one of those scuzzy box elder bugs that were invading our house before Sandy.
Wasn't Endy Chavez once a Nat? Also Brian Bruney
Goodwin finishes a nice 2-5 with the HR and double.
Yes, Endy Chávez was an original 2005 Nat.
@Gonat. Both were. Chavez was the putz who wouldn't bunt in the leadoff slot for Frank. Bruney left here in a huff, and has flat-lined since. Meh to both.
Bruney was one of Rizzo's best DFAs however he put us through a couple of extra weeks of misery watching him. It was a painful few weeks and worse than watching Lidge.
I just looked up Endy Chavez. Played 7 games for the Nats in 2005 and in May 2005 was traded to Philly for Marlon Byrd.
Endy must've really pissed Frank Robby off!
Add Matt Capps and Joel Peralta as FAs
That's a triple negative statement!
That's a triple negative statement!
Swami, NatsLady Sunshine: LeCroy game at RFK gave rise to the chant, "We want Fick."
Fell asleep before the end of the game (just as Barrett came on), so will have to watch the DVR on the rest of it.
Also on a LeCroy note, I don't recall that he cried afterwards (although Frank did). Matt later said something like, "Heck, my own daddy would have pulled me from that game."
And I liked Marlon Byrd.
Has anyone seen any medical updates on Wilson Ramos? Is he supposed to be ready by spring training?
BigNat33, http://www.masnsports.com/nationals_pastime/2012/10/what-a-healthy-wilson-ramos-would-mean-for-kurt-suzuki.html
Ramos is walking without crutches and won't be playing Winter Ball as he will be staying in Washington to rehab here.
Thanks Gonat. I guess Flores is trade bait then; probably a throw-in if a package deal is made.
BIGNAT33 said...
Thanks Gonat. I guess Flores is trade bait then; probably a throw-in if a package deal is made.
November 04, 2012 7:15 AM
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You would think but some are also saying there's a chance he could be non-tendered as he is a arbitration eligible player.
Flores is a very capable back-up catcher but I think his stock went down as he wasn't performing as well playing almost every day as the #1 catcher.
In his defense, he was playing hurt but teams may just look at this slash (.213BA .248OBP .329SLG .577OPS) and not offer anything much in trade.
Does Rizzo really want to be on the hook for a contract if he is only going to receive a Cutter Dykstra type in return?
I read that Rizzo went after Jacoby Ellsbury last season and may try again this winter. He's a FA after 2013. That would solve our CF/lead-off problem. Could he be had for Morse and Lombo?
A trade for Price is unlikely and would cost too much. What about Dempster as our #5 starter? He went 12-8 last year with 3.38 ERA. The Cubs and Blue Jays have shown interest. We could sign him for two years at less than EJax got.
Fast Eddie, Saw that in the post about Ellsbury. Holy Poop! Rizzo was going for it (again, never playing poker with Rizzo). Not sure if ellsbury will leave after 2013, he is too good and since BOS ditched Bobby, he may be content to stay with the new manager.
Dempster could be a stop gap until Meyer is ready so that could be an option. I also heard that Demp might want to go to LA with Ted Lilly (best buds from Cub Days).
fast eddie, I think with the emergence of Bryce Harper as a legit CF, there's no longer the panic for a CF.
I'm not annointing Brian Goodwin as a future superstar, but did you see him play last night? He hit a HR, a double off of a lefty, and hit a would-be triple but was robbed by the Reds speedster.
Peric, I saw on your post about the Adam Dunn comp pick and it was actually comp picks that resulted in both Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/the-nationals-draft-haul-for-losing-adam-dunn/2011/04/14/AFxhXZdD_blog.html
Swami --
Matt LeCroy -- backup catcher from the Paleozoic Nats era infamously removed by Frank Robinson in the middle of an inning after allowing a half dozen or so of the enemy to steal second; after release, manager of Hagerstown and now Harrisburg; proof of emotional scaring after removing players (one each at Hagerstown and Harrisburg) after taking the field in the bottom of the inning when they failed to run out ground balls.
Most notable accomplishments as a player were as a catcher and DH w/ the Twins.
Highly spoken of as a manager and teacher though I don't see humiliating players as a BFOQ.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Gonat... do not underestimate the value of a relatively young, controllable catcher with at least some Major League pedigree. And also remeber, it was Davey that suggested Flores as a rule 5 guy to Bowden when he was dok for the Nats.ing early consulting wor
November 04, 2012 8:31 AM
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I just think it could go either way. If Rizzo thinks he will definitely get a team's Top 20 prospect I'm sure he will do it but to receive a Cutter Dykstra type, why bother.
I think it will be interesting to see what happens.
Gonat from last night --
Marlon Byrd was as much of a lemon as Chavez. The Nats cut him because Frank Robinson, the career .300 hitter, 500 HR guy and HOFer, was trying to improve Byrd's batting and he wouldn't listen.
NatsJack in Florida said...
What I'm saying is that until Wilson Ramos's status is determined, Flores won't be going anywhere. And that probably won't occur until after pitchers and catchers report.
It will be alot easier to ascertain roster needs and other teams desperation at that time.
Flores will still be a relatively cheap solution for somebody, including the Nats.
November 04, 2012 8:51 AM
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What you say makes sense but they still have Solano and Leon under team control as able backups with Minor League options.
Theo, thanks for the background on Byrd. I didn't realize all that transpired between him and Cranky Franky.
Byrd has improved as an outfielder since leaving, but he was awful when he played here. He drove me nuts with his running in on balls that ended up over his head. He was worse then Lasting Milledge and Nyjer in that respect.
Following up on yesterday's posts regarding bat size and speed, let me recommend Chapter 6 of The Physics of Baseball (3rd Ed). The first section of the chapter, which includes the summary of an actual field experiment on the subject, is entitled "The Optimum Bat Weight." Do not be intimidated by the title of the book: it is written so that the narrative results, readable by mere mortals like me, are in the first part of each chapter. The heavy math is in each second part.
The book also covers such pitching subjects as curves and knuckleballs, and addresses how far can a ball be hit under the best conditions (and separately for Denver).
ArVAFan
I don't the hating on Marlon Byrd is justified, and to compare him to Lastings Millege is libelous. He certainly was not and never will be a superstar, but he's had a very decent career since he left the Nats. Don't forget he made the ASG in 2010. He's well on the way down now for sure (age 35), but he always played hard here. I remember one great diving catch racing in and toward the left field line. The guy had no fear.
NatsLady, I have followed cricket before I became a fan of baseball. In cricket, players trying to hit for power always used heavier bats. I am assuming it is the same principle here. Heavier bats (more mass leads to more force) lead to more power than lighter bats. Lighter bats are better suited to get hits since they increase bat speed. That's what I understood.
I bet Giancarlo uses a heavier bat.
Also I wonder long time use of heavier bat affects bat speed over a player's career.
Faraz, I would love to see the physics of length of bat, weight of bat, impact points, flex & whip on bat, etc.
I always thought Wilson Ramos swung a light bat as it looks like a toothpick in his hands and it seemed he needed a bigger bat like Morse uses.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/physics/4216783
Physics of the HR and very cool - Ryan Zimmerman!
Good read. Thanks, Gonat. sweet spot is more like sweet zone I guess. Frazier (or was it Ludwick) proved it past summer when he hit a broken bat home run.
WOW there is a lot of stuff written on this topic.
When you go to the Louisville Slugger factory they have a fact sheet they use on the physics of hitting a baseball.
Fascinating.
Does this raise the question whether Babe Ruth would have hit more HRs if he had paid attention in physics class at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys?
Very likely, Theo. That and had he started his career as a hitter only.
I am already tired of Nationals and Bourn rumors.
The Redskins sure are exciting when they lose!
A couple of the Redskins will be lucky if they're allowed back in the locker room.
The only thing good about football season (since I can't see my Bears play) is the fact that we don't have to watch election coverage. Tuesday cannot come fast enough.
I am predicting that all of the election commercials will be immediately replaced with Christmas commercials.
They've had Christmas stuff in the stores since before Halloween. Le Sigh.
These commercials ALMOST make me miss the creepy WB Mason guy.
Kyle Shanahan's play calling is turning the young superstar into RG3 & out.
The Redskins remind me of the 2007 Nats. 1 superstar and in need of many more good players.
Unless a miracle occurs, as long as Snyder is running that franchise they will be terrible. I can't believe the guy actually had the temerity to run down Joe Gibbs, the only head coach to give him a winning season outside of the last Norv Turner year. And Gibbs gave him two!
Snyder is a complete and total moron and shouldn't be placed in charge of a dumpster much less a professional sports team.
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"Said it last week, I'll say it this week. As an organization, starting at the very top....the Redskins STINK!"
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Yup, that's why I'm no longer a STH of the Redskins!
So, as the Deadskins continue their slide to the bottom under The Danny's leadership, can we expect the Nats' fan base to grow as the disenchanted search for another outlet?
And there is not going to be hockey this year : ( The Nats may be the only game in town worth following by spring.
Bourne is a definite no go. We need Price. I think a deal that includes Espinosa, Rendon, and maybe even Morse gets it done. Bats basically kept the Rays out of the playoffs. Espinosa is a strike-out machine, and I don't see it getting better.
I watched the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year awards. One player per team - the best defensive player. Ours was ALR - no shock there. Then they named the best defensive player in the AL and NL -- the NL was -- Bourne. Really. Okay then...In the entire National League?
The Nats are already the only game in town I follow, so I'm good there. :-) Thanks for the info on the Wilson awards show. (Go, ALR!)
baseballswami said...
And there is not going to be hockey this year : ( The Nats may be the only game in town worth following by spring.
November 04, 2012 9:45 PM
actually bourn was very good last season according to advanced metrics. might have been best.
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