Cordero Cut Loose

Jim Bowden announced in an interview with D.C. sports radio station Sportstalk 980 that the club will not tender a contract to injured closer Chad Cordero next season. Cordero is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum and likely won't be healthy for most, if not all of next season.

Here's the Post's take as well.

Tough break for The Chief, one of the most adored players on the Nats, and just an all-around nice guy. The team could still bring him back at a reduced price (he would have been due about $5 million had they tendered him) but he'll be free to sign elsewhere at the end of the season.

It might be time to bid bon voyage to Cordero. By the time he's healthy again, a number of young arms will have auditioned for the closer's role, including current ninth-inning-man Joel Hanrahan and minor leaguer Zech Zinicola or maybe even Shairon Martis, currently a starter at AAA Columbus, but he closed the Future Stars Game for the World team. Expect to see Martis get work in some capacity when the rosters expand.

If Cordero is willing to give the Nats a huge break, he may be back, but if not I'll miss him. He was one of the first players I interviewed when the team came to D.C. and I'll never forget his excitement while describing the unique RFK Stadium phenomenon of the bouncy bleachers.