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The Nats Make a Move That Doesn’t Suck
By Jamie Mottram | November 11, 2008
Hip Hip! The ‘09 Nats won’t be the same sorry lot we saw in ‘08. A blog had it first, but take it away, ESPN.com news services:
The Washington Nationals began their rebuilding process Monday, agreeing to a trade for outfielder Josh Willingham and lefty starter Scott Olsen of the Florida Marlins for a package of players.
Wait, did the rebuilding process really just start yesterday? If so, we’re in deeper shit than I thought. Either way, the package going to Florida includes Emilio Bonifacio, who was no good to begin with, and minor league pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski, who I don’t know anything about.
What I do know is that had Willingham (left) and Olsen (right) been on the Nationals this season, Willingham would have been one of their top three hitters and Olsen one of their top two starters, and both come relatively cheap. That’s change you can believe in.
Willingham, 29, has a career OPS of .833. He walks a bit and hits for some power. He’s about as accomplished at the plate as Ryan Zimmerman, and probably replaces Austin Kearns in the lineup, which is a clear upgrade.
Olsen, 24, has topped 30 starts three years running and has a career ERA of 4.63. He was decent in ‘06, terrible in ‘07 and decent again this season. Also worth mentioning is his Wikipedia page’s six-paragraph “suspensions, confrontation and legal trouble” section, with this being my favorite bit:
After making his scheduled July 20, 2007, start, Olsen was arrested by police in Aventura, Florida after fleeing from police following a speeding violation (he was clocked going 48 MPH in a 35 MPH zone). He fled for about a mile, at which point he stopped at his home and sat in a plastic chair in the front yard. When police arrived and tried to arrest him, he kicked at the officers who then used a taser to subdue him.
Hey, if 48-in-a-35 is wrong, I don’t want to be right, but there are bad parts to this deal too. The first that I’m leery of is dealing with Florida. They’re able to ball on a budget for a reason, and I fear the day when Dean and Smolinski become the Ricky Nolasco and Hanley Ramirez of tomorrow. And the second is you never want to add a douchebag to your roster, but at least this one can play a little bit, unlike Lo Duca.
Delmon Young-for-Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett it’s not, but this brings the Nats closer to respectability (Keith Law and Dave Sheinin concur), and there’s money left to burn. Maybe our sadness isn’t so infinite after all.
Topics: Scott Olsen, Josh Willingham, Nationals |
15 Responses to “The Nats Make a Move That Doesn’t Suck”
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November 11th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I disagree. This is a very iffy move.
Willingham batted .265 with 21 bombs last year. He has a decent OBP but he’s getting older…He is not a slam dunk.
Olsen has had no good years ever.
His best full season era is 4.04. In 2007 his era was 5.81. Plus he is a high BAA guy/Whip guy.
I know he’s young but he is not legit.
This is a move to make the team respectable but it should have never happened. Why not languish in shittiness a few years and let our prospects have time to contribute instead of languishing in shittiness with no prospects?
November 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Considering the prospects given are in the low minors and not highly rated, and Willingham and Olsen are upgrades in the lineup and rotation, I don’t see how this was “a very iffy move”.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:31 am
You know, these dudes in Florida better get a grip when it comes to bucking at officers toting tasers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWijwmvGU4
November 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I had hope for the guy…but if this means the end to the Austin Kearns era, then I’m completely fine with it. I don’t care if the guy has a cannon.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I gotta agree. If this deal is even, or close to it, on paper, the fact that it gets Kearns out tips the scales in D.C.’s favor.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I’m just happy they’re doing something to bolster the lineup. If it includes replacing Austin Kearns, all the better.
Fleeing police when you’re only going 13 over is pretty amazing. It’s not like he couldn’t afford the fine. This guy sounds like a total fruit loop, which bodes well for you guys and Steinberg….
November 11th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Disagree. Fleeing the police at 13 over shows the sort of commitment to winning that this team could desperately use right now.
This is a lot better than the Rauch trade, that’s for sure.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think this is a good move for the Nats. Of course, it’s balanced out by the incredibly dumbass move of pairing that great red-on-grey script road jersey they unveiled last week with the blue hat, thus ruining the overall look. You’re not the University of Oregon football team Jim, don’t mix and match uniforms and hats!
November 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am
OK Jamie can I put you on the record as saying that Scott “I’m not really a big league pitcher” Olsen and Josh Willingham are going to eventually contribute to the Nats making the playoffs?
What is the best case scenario for this move?
Nationals Farm Authority says that Dean is “a solid prospect” and that Smolinski has “gap to gap power”. I don’t anticipate those guys going to Cooperstown either but at least they would be hitting their theoretical prime 3 or 4 years from now when the Nats might possibly be good, right?
The comment you made about one of them becoming the next Hanley–although it probably won’t happen–scares me because Florida doesn’t miss much with prospects.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
To answer your questions: 1) No 2) The team improves 3) Perhaps, if they make it to the Show at all.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Wait, Jeff V, you’re keeping a record of shit we say on this blog? That seems like a horrible waste of resources.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
True Chris. Bloggers are like Cornerbacks, they have to have a short memory.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
“To answer your questions: 1) No 2) The team improves 3) Perhaps, if they make it to the Show at all.”
Just to be clear you are saying this trade won’t make us playoff contenders but will improve us into the mediocre range…you’re right totally worth dealing prospects.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I’m still confused, Jeff. So you do, or do not, agree with Jamie about this trade? I don’t think you’ve made yourself clear.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Actually, mediocre would be a 20-win improvement, so I’m saying this trade will improve the Nats into the almost-mediocre range.