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| Associated Press |
By Mark Zuckerman
CHICAGO — David DeJesus was out having lunch with his wife on Monday when the Cubs outfielder realized he has missed a call from team president Theo Epstein. Kim DeJesus told her husband, "You probably got traded."
Two hours later, David DeJesus was standing outside the third base dugout at Wrigley Field, exchanging hugs with his now-former teammates and trudging across the field to the first base dugout to join the Nationals, having indeed been traded just before the two clubs opened a four-game series.
"It's different," he said. "I couldn't even find my way to the locker room. I've never been on this side of the field, so I had to go upstairs. I was like: 'Do I go up the stairs? Or is there another way around?' It was kind of surreal, but I got through it OK."
Seeking yet another upgrade to their unproductive bench, the Nationals acquired DeJesus in a waiver-claim trade for a player to be named later, then released fellow outfielder Roger Bernadina to clear space on their 25-man roster.
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114 comments:
This is sad, but had to happen. I really liked the shark.
This may be a prelude to more roster moves. Someone else is going to have to go when Russ Ohlendorf is called up, and I'm guessing it's not going to be Tanner Roark that gets the axe. This may be Chad Tracy's turn, since DeJesus now plays the LH bench bat role that Tracy was supposed to fill. That would restore the Nats to a 12 man pitching staff with a bench of Moore, DeJesus, Lombardozzi, Hairston and Suzuki.
What is DeJesus' contract status? A short term rental or signed through 2014?
Hate to see The Shark go, but he hadn't had a hit in over a month.
Sorry for Bernadina, but not for the Nats.
De Jesus is an upgrade, tho I do wonder about the timing. He is under control for next year, but seems an expensive 4th OFer, esp. when he's another lefty with poor splits vs RHP.
DeJesus is in the last yr of a $10M/2yr contract, with a team option for 2014 ($6.5M, w/ $1.5M buyout). Hopefully the Nats got a lot of cash from the Cubs.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejesda01.shtml#contracts
Good luck, Shark. We will miss you.
Does this leave Desmond as The Last Expo?
Er, make that poor splits vs LHP.
There is a club option for 2014--$6.5M, with a $1.5M buyout, per mlbtr.
The silver lining in this season is that Rizzo can see more clearly where the holes are in this team.
Per MLBTR, DeJesus has a $6.5M club option for 2014, with a $1.5M buyout.
With a $4.25M salary for 2013, he's owed just under $1.05M the rest of the year, plus a $1.5M buyout, so that's over $2.5M the Nats have to pay. Doesn't seem like the team will have to give up a prospect of any consequence, considering the financial implications of the deal.
Sorry MrsB. Maybe you can be MrsD now. It rhymes.
I believe this leaves Desi as the only one that was in the organization when they came.
That's expensive at $6.5 for a .250 BA light hitting OF. Yes, he appears to be an upgrade, just not one that gets you real excited.
My guess is the Orioles pick up Bernadina.
Well, the team doesn't seem like they're quitting b/c they could easily have DFA'd Bernadina and call up C Brown from Syracuse. Got to give them credit for trying to fight through the last 39 gms of the season.
Yeah, Tracy probably next to go. They can always call up Espi if they want a no-hit infielder. Espi can even no-hit from both sides of the plate.
I'd rather they saved their money and applied to getting a real difference maker in the off season. But maybe he will help out.
Good Luck Shark!!!
Yes Desi is the last Expo.
We will not give up the ship---yet!
Since ARen can play 3B, not sure why Tracy has been kept on the roster, since Anthony came up.
See Tracy going, and TyMo staying????
Isn't Bernie the second Nat to be injured playing in the World's and later cut because they never matched previous performance?
Shark never got any better but he never made waves. Good luck to him. Surprised we couldn't even get an A ball pitcher for him.
I like DeJesus but I don't understand the move. Rizzo doesn't think we are still in it does he? and he's not gonna pick up the option. Is he?
SCNatsfan, good point since Hairston cost the Nats an A ball guy and Bernie can play defense and has speed.
DeJesus has been marginally better than Denard Span (better OBP) but he's turning 34 and we aren't going to pay a bench player $6.5 mil. Are we?
JD, we know why the Cubs got rid of him as it's a salary dump but it doesn't make a lot of sense for the Nats as he is expensive relative to his output.
I hope Rizzo gives them Cutter Dykstra.
Bernie has been below replacement level this year. In fact last year was the only year he made any significant contribution to the team cause. It was definitely time to for him to move on.
I just don't understand the DeJesus acquisition.
This would have been a much better -- and potentially more meaningful -- move in June or early July.
This move makes no sense.
Bernadina must surely have passed through waivers unclaimed if the Nats are now releasing him rather than trading him for a bag of balls. He should have seen the handwriting on the wall when the Nats failed to even acknowledge his presence during Shark Week, even as the Racing Presidents celebrated it every night in most lame fashion.
That is really telling....Roger B kills the team all year and Rizzo just now notices that and get nothing for a guy who stayed on the MLB roster all year and got MLB at bats all year.
Rizzo is way over rated.
Ghost,
DeJesus has actually earned his keep for the Cubs. He is a 1.8 WAR player which is worth roughly $10 mil on the open market. The issue is that he's played regularly for the Cubs and I don't see that happening with us unless We move Span.
Ah, Tracy got 2 hits yesterday. Jeez, what does he have to do to please you guys. Okay, he's BA is below Mendoza but he's got a couple of big pinch hit HRs and a recent double. Pinch hitting in the 8th and 9th innings ain't easy.
JayB,
Roger had a very good year last year and deserved to be brought back. You can't release players when they have a bad month or so and Roger had lots of company this year.
No, Rizzo isn't perfect but he's not an idiot either.
So, in the 7th inning stretch do we make a shark sign while singing "take on me"?
Are you for real.... Like are you for real... We got rid of Bernadina... But we kept that bum Tracy....
I am so sick right now... And beyond done...
Month or Two.......or three or four or five.....come on....Rizzo and Davey sat back and let them sleep walk through the year.
Two of the fan favorites now gone. Morse, now Bernadina. Sorry MrsB.
Sorry, MrsB. Perfectly understand if you don't hang around but would love it if you stayed friends!
I'm happy because I believe after putting the numbers up he has that he shouldn't be on the roster, good guy or not.
JayB,
Rizzo didn't sit on his hands. He removed Espinosa and Henry and Duke and brought in Krol, Abad and Rendon. There were many other moves including: Jordan, Ohlendorf, Moore,Storen etc.
You can'r replace the whole roster as you advocate especially when don't have anything to replace them with.
Why would the Nationals pay this guy $1 million for 39 games??? It is still $1 million!!! Rizzo is always a day late and a dollar long.
I will always love Roger for his defense and that awesome catch in Texas. Good luck, Roger!
SCNatsFan, while I don't disagree with your position, I'm not happy, there are a LOT of players who are putting up numbers that makes them unworthy to be on a MLB roster.
Roster expansion is 2 weeks away. I just don't know.
SC - that theory can be said about the entire bench.... At least Roger bought something to the table... He and Lombo (and now Moore) are the only ones who are worth anything...
Everyone else is expendable... Including noodle arm Hairston...
I'm so pissed right now...
I have bashed Tracy in the past but over the last 30 days he has out performed Sharky. Neither should have been here past May 1st but no suitable replacements.
Um. I love Bernadina, but he's hitting .178.
Ghost,
That's the problem. You build your bench in the off season and by May 1st it's too late. It was reasonable to expect Bernie to at least repeat last year's performance but it didn't happen. Sometimes things don't work out.
Nats106, my thought is the team got complacent and it is a production based league and the team tried "I know you are good, will produce and we have your back"; that failed although I agree with the message. Now the message is produce or we will try to find so done who will.
Lack of production, and losing, shouldn't be accepted.
Mrs.B.
Saying that someone is worse than Bernie is not a good defense of the player. He has been useless this year and that's a documented fact. Yes Tracy and Lombo have been equally awful and would have been out the door given appropriate replacements. I'm kind of thinking that Rizzo will bring DeJesus back next year, otherwise I really don't get this acquisition.
Oops someone friggin autocorrect.
BTW - Expos still active:
Jamey Carroll
Maicer Izturis
Scott Downs
Jon Rauch
Bruce Chen
Ted Lilly
Bartolo Colon
Endy Chavez
Luis Ayala
My bet for the Last Expo is Ayala.
Most of the bench has been useless, JD... Lets be for real... But I don't understand why the Nats cut someone who could at least play D or be a pinch runner.... And keep... Ugh...
I'm so done right now....
But I do wonder about DeJesus and his 6.5 mil option...
JaneB,
The reason shark made so many dramatic catches is bacause he was out of position so often that he made routine catches look great. Span doesn't have to do that.
But SC - I do agree (at least I think you said this), that this move was a message yet it may be too late...
And Ghost - I don't remember the last time Roger played or PH'd...
Bernadina was going to be non-tendered anyway, but the addition of DeJesus for essentially $7M is a head scratcher. Neither Hairston nor DeJesus can really play CF, they are expensive guys all things considered, this likely means no place for Tyler Moore and it is not such a good addition that it can really be expected to help the club make a run now. Rizzo feeling the need to make moves for the Heck of it?
Mrs.B
You are right. In fact it's fair to say that the entire bench has been useless. If DeJesus is to come back as the 4th outfielder next year that's not a crazy thought. This is a player who has a lifetime .354 OBP, he's a major upgrade over what we have.
What everyone is missing is the PTBNL.
I can see that being someone in our Top 10 Prospect list...maybe Ray or Skole....
I think everyone will hate this trade even more when the PTBNL is named.
DeJesus is an expensive bench player, but I think Mike Rizzo said "nobody in-house can do it so screw it. I'll pay to get someone who can."
I like the move. The problem is he and Hairston both have extreme platoon splits. You need to match up Hairston vs lefties and DeJesus vs righties and NEVER GO AWAY FROM THAT.
Dan,, Cliff Lee?
Per John C: "Not all Braves fans are classless jerks, and the ones who aren't are embarrassed by both the displays that the fans put on during the Wild Card game last year and cheering for a HBP (really?). One friend of mine admitted that he doesn't like to attend games at Turner Field anymore because of the atmosphere there. Which is a shame, because the team is good."
(apologies for going back a couple of threads). John, I have several good friends who are Braves' fans and they all share your friends concerns. Suddenly, Braves' fans are acting like jerks (most notably by risking a forfeit by throwing stuff on the field in the wild card game last year). Who knows how such things get started? But Braves management ought to be thinking about ways to fix it.
It's a whole lot less fun to go to a ball game when you're embarrassed by the conduct of your fellow fans.
On a related note, I've been disappointed to see my fellow Nats fans start booing our own players in significant numbers this year. I guess I was an idealist, but I was hoping that Nats fans would be the rare bunch that booed someone only when they deserved it, not just when they failed.
JJ
Tyler Moore is a different story. We really should find out if he could be the every day answer at 1st base.
The other funny thing is that we are picking up a lot of players off of a last place team....sort of like Bowden's love of the Reds players.
Diz- I didnt miss it... I am patiently waiting for it...
JD - but aren't those #s construed... As I want to say DeJesus is a guy who needs to play every day????
Mrs b I think everyone agrees the message is just too late
But, to be fair- how hard must it be to be a bench player?? Yeah, I know- they should be grateful to be on a major league roster, yadda, yadda. But it kind of sucks, you know?? You are either old and looking at the end of your career, or you never, ever got your career off the ground, or you are young and feel like you will never become a starter. You rarely start, don't get many at bats, but yet everyone expects miracles at the most critical point of a game. Not the easiest role . What do you think a fair batting average is for a bench guy?
A couple of years ago i mentioned DeJesus as a 4th outfielder. As i watched him play and his durability he never worked out well but now Rizzo is taking over another financial commitment from the Cubs and i used to go with In Rizzo We Trust and now have to wonder if this is just another blunder.
MrsB, yah not much playing time for Sharky but he didnt shine when he got it.
Mrs. B.
That's a good question. But he's 33 so he can potentially thrive in a reduced role. You still need to get him enough at bats otherwise it's a waste of money.
JaneB, I was thinking of that catch in Houston too, especially since Span's game ending catch was being compared to it. I'll never forget Stammen all alone in the bullpen jumping up and down.
And there was that snow cone catch against the Marlins (I think) that's still on the highlight reels.
Ok, nostalgia over. The Shark has been awful this year. He won't be missed.
Tracy needs to go too. And Moore can stay as the backup 1B.
I would think if Rizzo pays this much for DeJesus.... Wonder what will happen to Suzuki... I like Ramos but he hasn't shown he is durable enough to play an entire season....
Bernadina played in the 15 inning game for the last six innings, didn't he, after Werth sat?
According to Ladsen (take that for what it's worth), Roger had to know it was coming because he wasn't hitting and made baserunning errors.
I don't think Roger's baserunning was worse than Span's, though, was it?
Ghost,
He's a better overall player than Reed Johnson. If we keep complaining about our bench then we can complain when Rizzo tries to upgrade it.
I tell you what makes me wonder about this move, this late--is Bryce all right? I don't know why it wasn't done in June-July as mentioned above.
I wouldn't worry about the PTBNL. Probably be one of the zillions of baby pitchers we have.
Swami,
The Braves have a bunch of bench players who are producing, it can be done.
Ghost, I knew DeJesus had been mentioned by someone (you?) during off-season comments. Couldn't remember if it was this winter or last.
Swami - it's like with the Nats bench last year... It can be done....
NL,
maybe the Cubs didn't want to do it in June or July.
Hot dang... My bad, JD....
NatsLady, offseason after 2011. If Rizzo could renegotiate a $3 million deal for next year that could make sense. My offseason guy last year was Reed Johnson.
The Cubs are dumping DeJesus and Hairston because they're not winning this year or next year - so neither is any use to them at all. The Nationals have some interest in competing this year and next year, so Hairston and DeJesus are auditioning for roles. Since DeJesus cleared waivers he has no real value - the PTBNL is going to be on the order of the guy that the Nats got for HRod - organizational depth at best. And they have to be upgrades over what the Nationals were getting from the bench (i.e., bupkus).
Going forward, both players are auditioning for roles on the 2014 Nats as well - but nothing is guaranteed to them. The money commitment ($1.5 to DeJesus, $2.5 to Hairston) is nothing that the Nats won't gladly eat if they get a better option.
JD, yeah, I guess, but they were sellers all along. Seems like the longer they wait, the less they get.
Yeah, it can be done. Ours did it last year, the Barves this year. But it just does not seem sustainable. Gattis may be an epic fail next season. And the guys have to be handled properly. If they never play whole games, they will really lose it from sitting the bench too much. It's just not an easy role or an easy mix to create. You also have to have subs for every defensive position and I know they consider the left/ right thing important also. Although major league hitters should be immune to that. It's just a weird science.
John C. -- I think that logic is flawed. The Nats did not take on these contracts just to pay the premium to release the guy(s) next year.
Here's what MLB Trade Rumors said about DeJesus:
"The 33-year-old DeJesus is hitting .250/.330/.401 in 84 games (318 plate appearances) for the Cubs this season. While his overall batting line is solid, he's developed a significant platoon split in recent years and is hitting just .156/.224/.178 against lefties in a small sample of 45 plate appearances this season. DeJesus can play all three outfield positions, though The Fielding Bible isn't a fan of his work in center field, and Ultimate Zone Rating has considered his glove in center to be merely average over the course of his career. Both metrics praise his work at the outfield corners.
DeJesus has roughly $975K of his $4.25MM salary remaining this season and is under control via a $6.5MM club option for 2014. That option carries a $1.5MM buyout, so the Nationals will essentially have a $5MM decision on their hands in the offseason regarding DeJesus. Barring a significant injury, it seems likely that they'll exercise that option.
DeJesus originally signed a two-year, $10MM contract with the Cubs prior to the 2012 season. In 232 games with Chicago, he batted .258/.343/.403. Fangraphs pegs his value as a Cub at 3.1 wins above replacement, suggesting that despite his injuries, he was well worth the money the Cubs invested."
Also, DeJesus is apparently a GREAT clubhouse guy. Think like Mark DeRosa, except he can actually play.
$6.5M (plus almost another $1M this year) for a platoon split back-up OF who lacks the real pop to be a game-changer off the bench? Not sure I buy into this one.
He is supposed to be a great guy, AND his wife is wicked hot, so maybe I should rethink this move . . .
The Barves had have been lucky this year, for example, the backup CF they got is hitting .300 (so they can sit B.J. Upton). Reed Johnson was always a great fielder, but he's hit above his career this season. That's the kind of thing that happened to us last year with Bernadina.
This move makes no sense unless the Nats are planning to get rid of Span in the off-season.
Otherwise, they are paying $2.5 million to DeJesus for 39 meaningless games as a bench player in 2013, or they will pay DeJesus another $6.5 million next year to sit on the bench?
Even for a large-market team that move would not make sense unless the Nats were a lock to make the play-offs.
There is no doubt that Bernadina did not get it done, but I am at a loss to explain why the Nats committed to pay significant money to an OF than is an older and weaker defensive version of Span. BTW, I can understand deciding to give up Span in the off-season, but just not sure how easy that it will be to do, and it would make no sense to commit $13 million next year (Span is guaranteed $6.5 million in 2014) to Span and DeJesus.
DP,
That's the only thing that makes sense to me. I can't believe Rizzo is getting DeJesus for this year's Titanic ride. I think he has decided to start working on next year's bench early. The key to the Braves bench success is that they all play often even when everyone is healthy. Fredi has done a really nice job with their bench.
You have to be a bit creative, you can rest Werth, you can rest ALR and play Werth at 1st, you can sit Span for a couple of games and then of course there are injuries. There is a away to get DeJesus 300 AB's. Hairston too can be a very useful bat off the bench if you put him in the right situations (against lefties only).
James Joyce, it isn't that the Nats are going to dump DeJesus and Hairston or keep them. Doing either are options they control as they sift through possibly alternatives to make the team better. It gives them flexibility in sifting their way through free agents and possible trade offers, and gives them an option if free agents sign elsewhere and trade negotiations don't pan out.
Scott Hairston is now part of the Nats building their bench for 2014? Really? His numbers stink as bad as Tracy and Bernadina. Hairston AVG/OBP/SLG line for 2013 is .182/.238/.402 with 36 K's in 132 ABs. Hairston is also a below average defensive player.
I know that Rizzo likes him because Hairston played for Rizzo on the D-Backs, but if accountability rests on 2013 performance, not sure why Hairston is part of the Nats new-look bench in the future.
I remember when old Lefty said UMD would be the UCLA of the East...that was good goal to set...but rizzo, really, are you trying to make the Nats the Cubs of the East?
lol
good bye Shark..will always remember your catch verse Astros last year, other than that...nice guy who could not hit his way out of a paper bag
Is it a 34 thing? Hairston, LaRoche, Werth, Dejesus, Soriano all will be 24 on 2014 OD. As will Tracy, so maybe he's coming back too.
So the Nats are willing to pay $6.5 million for this guy to be a 4th outfielder, but weren't willing to pay Morse just a little more than that when they could have really used him as a back outfielder and an option at 1st?
TexNat
duck...
great point..the defenders in here of anything Rizzo does will be all over you because you made a valid point
lol
Im with Pilchard. Hairston is the worst fielder the Nats have had since LoDuca played LF. Worse than Willingham and worse than Morse.
Not sure what John C is thinking. Keep pissing a way millions in the offseason when Rizzo never wants to piss a way the millions in the season which is when you get rid of your mistakes.
What took them so long on Bernadina and why is Tracy still employed.
I have very bad vibes on Rizzo...he may destroy this team quicker than Angelos did the Orioles back in the late 90's
I hope I am wrong, believe me...but his moves this season are Rod Serling material
mick, Rizzos luck has to turn. Nobody he has picked up the last 2 season has worked out for this team except Gio Gonzalez which he gave up a ton for.
Laroche and his continued failed approach in 2 strike counts has cost this team. He should have been watching young Freddie Freeman. That K with a man on 3rd and 1st with 1 out in yesterday game is just the instant replay of his season. .230 Batting Average for a guy being paid as a star and the GREAT news is he is under contract again next year!
What do you do with all these marginal players. You can win with marginal players if you have a bunch of stars. Nats dont have a bunch of stars in the field.
Just got an unsolicited call on my land line from some guy going by WODL and he says that DeJesus is 3-4 times the player that Denard Span is.
I tried to tell him that I was on the Do Not Call List.
Weird move here to my way of thinking. I always though Roger was the perfect 4th outfielder. Like others posted, I'll never forget the catch in Houston, but also agree that often he made what should've been routine look spectacular. Good luck, Roger!
Nats 128? Worse than Willingham in the OF? Might be a stretch, and I don't like watching Hairston out there!
Sounds like Davey has officially given up. Talking about the standings and giving younger players playing time.
LOL to "worse since LoDuca". Have to believe Hairston has better UZR but worse arm than Willingham.
Don't see a lot of youngsters in tonight's lineup unless he is comparing to himself ?
Opt 2014 for 6.5
Good luck shark. You were class all the way here
The worst offense in the league doesn't deserve to ne booed?
That was just an exercise if futility. We aren't going to do anything either way, with or without Dejesus or Bernadina. The club probably just wants to make it look like they are trying to do something to improve. Dejesus surely isn't what is needed.
DeJesus deal just does not add-up, unless Rizzo is looking to flip him (or Span) in a deal to some contender.
Moving deck chairs on the Titanic.
Damn it. My caller I.D. Block must not be working and I pay $ a month for that calling feature....
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