Kasten joins Magic in bid for Dodgers

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Stan Kasten, Nationals president from 2006-10, is bidding on the Dodgers.

When he announced in Sept. 2010 he was leaving his post as Nationals president, Stan Kasten made it clear he wasn't about to enter the retirement phase of his life.

"I don't feel like retiring," he said on Sept. 23, 2010. "I'm going to do something. I think it will be a while before I do."

Turns out "a while" was a little more than one year, because today, Kasten's name surfaced as a potential bidder for the soon-to-be-sold Los Angeles Dodgers. As part of an ownership group headlined by ... wait for it ... Magic Johnson.

Magic? Really? See, I would've pegged Stan as more of a Larry Bird guy.

But seriously, folks, this has the makings of a powerhouse ownership

Aggressive Marlins mean business

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Heath Bell just signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Marlins.

When Jeffrey Loria insisted earlier this fall he would be opening up his checkbook in an attempt to lure anyone and everyone to his newly renamed Miami Marlins franchise, skeptics questioned whether the blustery owner would actually stay true to his word.

Well, it certainly looks like he is. The Marlins appear to be serious about making a big-time splash this winter.

First came the hiring of Ozzie Guillen as manager, then recruiting trips to South Florida by some of the biggest names on the free agent market: Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle. Then last night, the Marlins consummated their first significant deal of the offseason, inking closer Heath Bell to a three-year, $27 million contract.

Now, you can question the wisdom of shelling out $27 million for a 34-year-old closer who just posted the lowest strikeout numbers (7.3

Beasley to Syracuse, LeCroy to Harrisburg

Updated at 7:46 p.m.

Continuing a theme that has seen several of their minor-league staffers promoted year-to-year, the Nationals have named Tony Beasley their new manager at Class AAA Syracuse and Matthew LeCroy skipper at Class AA Harrisburg.

Beasley spent this season managing at Harrisburg, where he led the Senators to an 80-62 record and first-place finish in the Eastern League's Western division. The 45-year-old Virginia native coached third base for the Nationals at the big-league level in 2006, then spent the next four seasons in the Pirates organization before returning this year.

In Harrisburg, Beasley was charged with managing top prospect Bryce Harper during the season's second half, and there's a good chance the two will be paired up again at Syracuse for at least part of the 2012 season.

Beasley takes the position previously held by Randy Knorr, who after

Mock signs with Blue Jays

The Nationals spent five years hoping Garrett Mock would blossom into a front-line pitcher and gave the right-hander plenty of chances to realize his potential, both as a starter and a reliever.

But Mock's results never matched his arsenal and left him toiling away in the minors this season. And now, he's no longer a member of the organization.

Mock has signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays, offering a new opportunity to resurrect his career.

The 28-year-old was first acquired by the Nationals, along with lefty Matt Chico, in the 2006 trade that sent Livan Hernandez to the Diamondbacks. The Nats touted him as a potential front-line starter,

Improved bench a must

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Laynce Nix was one of several Nationals who struggled as pinch-hitters this year.

For all the attention we've given so far this offseason to the Nationals' desire to acquire a veteran starting pitcher and a starting center fielder, we should be careful not to overlook another roster dynamic desperately in need of a major upgrade: The bench.

It may not seem as important as a deep rotation or a bolstered lineup, but there's no portion of the Nationals' roster that needs more improvement than its bench. Don't believe that? Have you looked at the numbers from this season?

Nationals pinch-hitters batted a collective .186 (38-for-204). And that's not even the most pathetic stat associated with that role. Those same pinch-hitters combined to drive in 14 runs (fewest in the NL) while producing a whopping five extra-base hits for the season (leading to a .240 slugging percentage).

Having trouble coming to grips with those anemic numbers? Wait, it gets even worse.

Let's look only at the five batters who were most-often called upon by Jim Riggleman and Davey Johnson in pinch-hitting situations: Matt