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The Nationals traded DeJesus to the Rays today for a player-to-be-named or cash considerations, acquiring and then moving the veteran outfielder in a manner that only a Wall Street day trader could truly appreciate.
Monday's acquisition of DeJesus in a waiver-claim trade with the Cubs for a player-to-be-named seemed curious from the Nationals' perspective. Though the 33-year-old offered a solid reputation as a professional hitter and clubhouse leader, there wasn't much need for another left-handed outfielder on the Nationals roster, a point manager Davey Johnson made as soon as the original deal was announced.
The Nationals, though, immediately placed DeJesus back on waivers, suggesting they wanted to see if another club might be interested enough in him to offer something in return.
The Rays, who do need a left-handed-hitting outfielder, put in a claim on DeJesus and thus had until 1 p.m. today to try to work out a deal with the Nationals, who could have pulled him back and retained him for the rest of the season. In the end, general manager Mike Rizzo felt the player he'll ultimately receive from Tampa Bay was more valuable.
Thus ends DeJesus' brief tenure as a National. He never came to Washington, only transferring from the home clubhouse to the visitors clubhouse at Wrigley Field on Monday, then spending four days in a Nationals uniform.
DeJesus appeared in three games and received four plate appearances. He went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.
He now heads to Tampa, becoming a mere footnote in Nationals franchise lore.
52 comments:
I will be happy if the PTBNL can even remotely be considered a prospect. Maybe it is a catcher. We have run out of players to trade to the A's.
I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the story - whenever that may be. What team was Rizzo trying to block with the claim? Did he see it as only speculative and a way to flip a player? Is there more of this (and Suzuki) to come in the next several weeks? Stay tuned.
I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the story - whenever that may be. What team was Rizzo trying to block with the claim? Did he see it as only speculative and a way to flip a player? Is there more of this (and Suzuki) to come in the next several weeks? Stay tuned.
Yep, told you he would be traded. Hope it works better than the last trade with Tampa for Elijah Dukes.
Nats have freed up 2 spots on the 40 man.
God I'm gonna miss him
Oakland is deliriously happy to have Suzuki back.
So true, Ivan. The man was a fan favorite, for sure.
Both Zuke and DDJ going to contending teams. We are on the other side of things this year for sure.
David, we hardly knew ya. But we loved ya. :-)
They need a spot on the 25-man roster for another RP. I can't think of anyone not already on the 40-man that they need to call up September 1. Harrisburg will be in the playoffs anyway.
My Nats DeJesus jersey immediately becomes a collectors item.
Tampa just DFA Bourgeois.
This appears to have been a no-brainer for Rizzo. He had nothing to lose, apparently knowing, beforehand, he could hand off De Jesus to the Rays. The Rays now decide if they want to give Mike one of the guys he listed as an acceptable PTBNL, or whether they want to eat the cash owed to De Jesus.
Either way, Mike and the Nats do not lose a thing, and may gain a prospect from one of the best minor league systems in the business, on their terms.
Those who thought Rizzo was out of his mind for the De Jesus caper may wish to reconsider that assessment.
Ghost had it pretty much figured out.
Just won't be the same without Dejesus. Four days as a Nat - he will be the answer to a trivia question some day.
Wait, maybe Rizzo did it just to mess with the minds of Insiders, and he's been sitting back, eating popcorn, and scrolling through comments since it all went down. Nah. :-)
Maybe this was Rizzo's way of apologizing for that whole foriegn substance in the glove thing last season
Hey, we were 3 and 1 with DeJesus on the team. How can you let go of a proven winner like that?!
More bizarro events in the bizarro baseball season that is the Nats of 2013.
BIGNAT33 -- yeah, that projects to 122-40 over the whole season. boy, we should have picked him up a LOT earlier.
Only problem is, we'd have to play the entire season against the cubs to make that work. And all at Wrigley Field, too.
With all the twists to this saga, I'm surprised HLN isn't covering it. But given the celebrity of DeJesus' wife, maybe Dr. Drew will get on it tonight.
On another note: I thought there was a report the Cubs were only receiving cash consideration in the original claim because it was essentially a salary dump on their part?
Basically, I'm disappointed they moved DeJesus. I thought Rizzo was finally acknowledging he needs to shop for his bench in Harris Teeter instead of SFW.
Laddie, thanks and the PTBNL is intriguing.
The Braves lead the league in Freddies. just got Garcia.
The Rays will trade DeJesus back to KC next week for their playoffs closer.
The Braves lead the league in Freddies.
And only last year I thought the Nats were trying to put together the all-Ryan team. Guess we dodged a bullet on that one by not getting Braun.
By next year, they need to have more Jordans. But no Air Jordans please, too expensive and they fall apart. Wait a minute...
Nats lead in Ian's.
Perhaps, but when you say BRYCE, no last name or team is necessary. There is one , and only one.
Today's treads indicate Insiders finally have their games right and are ready to go on a serious run.
tHreads - don't have my game right
This week has felt a little bit like a re- make of " who's on first".
DeJesus batting 7th tonight.
baseballswami, will anyone claim LaRoche?
Whynat, we gotta post 'em one thread at a time. I'm just happy to be here and hope I can help the blog. I just want to give it my best shot and, Good Lord willing, things'll work out.
Ghost- Firstbasemen kind of plentiful. Sort of the DH's of the NL. Lefty, streaky, old. ?????
Just occurred to me that Soscia will probably be in the manager conversation. Anyone know much about him?
swami -- Just don't ask Frank Robinson about Soscia (or however it's spelled).
The Nats aren't getting stuck with DeJesus, so it's clearly not much of a loss.
Whether or not it's actually much of a gain is something we won't know until the $$$/PTBNL blanks are filled in, on both sides (what we're sending Chicago and getting from TB).
Game post, but no lineups.
"baseballswami said...
Just occurred to me that Soscia will probably be in the manager conversation. Anyone know much about him?"
Not unless the Angels fire him, and he's under contract there til 2018. Most analysts seem to think they'll fire the GM, not the manager there.
Apparently the Nats turned a minimal cash contribution into a prospect:
JIM BOWDEN @JimBowdenESPNxm
Nationals get DeJesus from Cubs for waiver claim cost…then turn him into a 22-year old LHP prospect as Rays take full salary/contract back4:04 PM - 23 Aug 2013
I know we all can't wait for the day when DeJesus pens his memoirs - especially the section "The Washington Years". Oh yeah, right, he never made it to DC.
We have a new verb: dejesused.
We have a new verb: dejesused.
Or the fourth.
I vote for a noun. Usage: "I am totally dejesused by that transaction."
Or would that be a transitive verb? I'm so confused.
A friend of mine has a collection of baseballs individually signed by every player in Nats history. DeJesus may prove difficult.
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