The Washington Nationals just dealt closer Jon Rauch (4-2, 17 saves, 2.98 ERA) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B prospect Emilio Bonifacio. Baseball America rated Bonifacio as the D-Backs No. 6 prospect.
According to the Nats' official release, Bonifacio (.302 (111-for-367) with 18 doubles, five triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 85 games with Tucson of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this year) is one of the fastest players in the minors and projects as a future lead-off hitter. Shouldn't be too hard for him to meet that expectation on the Nats, where the only requirement is to have two functional legs. A pulse is optional, as proven by current leadoff man Willie Harris (.221 avg. through the All-Star break).
Next they made sure Bonifacio, who I'm sure will be the Nats' 2009 Opening Day starter at second, had a double play partner, giving SS Cristian Guzman a two-year contract extension.
A few thoughts:
• I was afraid GM Jim Bowden would try to hold up the bank for Rauch like he did with both he AND Chad Cordero last trade deadline. A top prospect at a position where the Nats had no long-term options is a nice haul.
• Is Arizona the new Cincinnati? Bowden used to love dealing for players on his old team (Austin Kearns, Willy Mo Pena, Jose Guillen, Ryan Wagner, etc., etc., etc.). Now it's Asst. GM Mike Rizzo, the former Director of Scouting with the Diamondbacks, grabbing from his old team. Washington previously acquired Matt Chico and minor leaguer Garret Mock from Arizona for Livan Hernandez.
• Financial terms haven't been reported yet, but my gut reaction is that I don't like the Guzman deal. Last time he was in a contract year he batted .274 with 10 SBs and 84 runs scored. Next year he drops to .219. Next year he's injured. This year (another contract year) he's had a career year (.310, 56 R thus far), but I'm hesitant about what next year holds.
His name was on the trade market, with teams like the Dodgers interested. He could have brought a nice piece in return. Now he's under contract and (depending on the terms) unlikely to move. Feels a lot like the deals the Nats gave to Ronnie Belliard and Dmitri Young last July. Those contracts haven't panned out at all.
UPDATE: MLB.com writer Bill Ladson reports the Guzman deal is two-years at $8 million per. The Nats must really think he can replicate this year's success for that kind of money.
Showing posts with label Nationals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nationals. Show all posts
7.22.2008
7.21.2008
Sun-Up Splinters: More Wildness in the Winds, Dancing D-Ends and (of course) Dark Knight
Padraig Harrington joined a super select group of golfers that includes the likes of Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Bobby Jones as a repeat champion of the British Open.
Hard to do anything but credit Greg Norman, the leader through three rounds, for a fantastic tournament. I know the tourney organizers had Dr. Heimlich on stand-by, given Norman's propensity to choke down the stretch, but you really can't fault the guy for a Top 5 finish in a major at the age of 53. Well done, Greggy.
The first major without Tiger Woods was a resounding success, but I wouldn't say the sport is just "fine" without him as John Feinstein's Monday column in the Post suggests. A lot of pieces fell right to provide great stories at the Open, but someone from the senior tour is not likely going to contend at the PGA. And what about the non-major tournaments that drew vast crowds simply because Tiger was in the field? The AT&T at Congressional this year was a ghost-town of talent after Tiger's injury. The tour will go on, sure, but "fine" is not a word I'd use to describe its status during Tiger's absence.
Here's what I took away from the Open Championship: Harrington is a gamer, fighting through a wrist injury that almost forced him to withdraw before the start. Norman is a helluva golfer. Period. Ian Poulter, who has previously worn sequined pants during tournaments is looking like he could become the guy everyone loves to hate. The ever-flamboyant Pink Pantster earlier claimed that it was just a matter of time until he and Tiger sat atop the rankings. He later retracted the statement, saying he aspired to be No. 2 behind Tiger ... that should work out well, considering the No. 2 finish on Sunday was his best ever in a Major (his previous best was ninth at the 2006 PGA) and he's yet to win a PGA tour event. He's got talent, but right now he just feels like some sort of gimmicky glam-rock golfer.
Things I'm looking for as the season heads to the final major and the FedEx Cup: Jim Furyk has been very sharp lately and is my early pick to win the PGA and the FedEx. Paging Phil Mickelson, consistency is looking for you at the front desk. Willowy British amateur Chris Wood (tied for fifth at the Open) is officially on the radar ... I just hope someone gives the poor kid a sandwich so he doesn't waste away before he turns pro.
The Washington Redskins traded for Jason Taylor after losing two of their DEs to season-ending injuries. While sad, come December, those injuries may be the best thing that could have happened. The Skins needed to address their D-line, have for years, and now they finally have an impact player to apply some pressure. Unlike last season, opposing QBs won't have time to calculate the next digit of Pi before carving up the Skins' secondary.
Saw Dark Knight (along with roughly half the world) on Friday. Briefly: Ledger was great. Script ran a little long. The themes were amazing. All in all, it showed super hero movies aren't required to fit the vapid Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer mold. Along with Spider-Man 2, this is probably the best hero movie I've seen. Once again, great work from the Nolan Brothers.
A few more slivers ...
• Kerry Wood looks like he's heading to the DL. In other news, the sun will set again tonight.
• Peter Gammons reported Sunday that the Nationals were fielding calls on closer Jon Rauch, but were asking for more than what the Brewers gave up to land CC Sabathia. I can't believe unreasonable requests like that make other teams more willing to deal with you.
• Saturday was Mullet Night at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. This isn't the only hair-brained scheme of late. The Yankees held a mustache give-away to support Jason Giambi's All-Star candidacy. Less appealing was a past promotion by the Potomac Nationals to give an award to the fan with the most back hair. ::Shiver::
• ESPN.com has a story on a 14-year-old mixed martial arts "prodigy." Apparently kids as young as 7 are getting in on the action. Forget the ethics of this for a second, this thing seems like it's only a few serious injuries away from an age-restriction. Interesting read.
• Friday Night Lights and The Wire are snubbed again by the Emmys. FNL's second season was a little more "O.C." than I'd like, but the first season remains one of my favorites for any show (along with Lost, House, Six Feet Under and HBO mini-series Band of Brothers). Do yourself a favor and check it out.
Hard to do anything but credit Greg Norman, the leader through three rounds, for a fantastic tournament. I know the tourney organizers had Dr. Heimlich on stand-by, given Norman's propensity to choke down the stretch, but you really can't fault the guy for a Top 5 finish in a major at the age of 53. Well done, Greggy.
The first major without Tiger Woods was a resounding success, but I wouldn't say the sport is just "fine" without him as John Feinstein's Monday column in the Post suggests. A lot of pieces fell right to provide great stories at the Open, but someone from the senior tour is not likely going to contend at the PGA. And what about the non-major tournaments that drew vast crowds simply because Tiger was in the field? The AT&T at Congressional this year was a ghost-town of talent after Tiger's injury. The tour will go on, sure, but "fine" is not a word I'd use to describe its status during Tiger's absence.
Here's what I took away from the Open Championship: Harrington is a gamer, fighting through a wrist injury that almost forced him to withdraw before the start. Norman is a helluva golfer. Period. Ian Poulter, who has previously worn sequined pants during tournaments is looking like he could become the guy everyone loves to hate. The ever-flamboyant Pink Pantster earlier claimed that it was just a matter of time until he and Tiger sat atop the rankings. He later retracted the statement, saying he aspired to be No. 2 behind Tiger ... that should work out well, considering the No. 2 finish on Sunday was his best ever in a Major (his previous best was ninth at the 2006 PGA) and he's yet to win a PGA tour event. He's got talent, but right now he just feels like some sort of gimmicky glam-rock golfer.
Things I'm looking for as the season heads to the final major and the FedEx Cup: Jim Furyk has been very sharp lately and is my early pick to win the PGA and the FedEx. Paging Phil Mickelson, consistency is looking for you at the front desk. Willowy British amateur Chris Wood (tied for fifth at the Open) is officially on the radar ... I just hope someone gives the poor kid a sandwich so he doesn't waste away before he turns pro.
The Washington Redskins traded for Jason Taylor after losing two of their DEs to season-ending injuries. While sad, come December, those injuries may be the best thing that could have happened. The Skins needed to address their D-line, have for years, and now they finally have an impact player to apply some pressure. Unlike last season, opposing QBs won't have time to calculate the next digit of Pi before carving up the Skins' secondary.
Saw Dark Knight (along with roughly half the world) on Friday. Briefly: Ledger was great. Script ran a little long. The themes were amazing. All in all, it showed super hero movies aren't required to fit the vapid Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer mold. Along with Spider-Man 2, this is probably the best hero movie I've seen. Once again, great work from the Nolan Brothers.
A few more slivers ...
• Kerry Wood looks like he's heading to the DL. In other news, the sun will set again tonight.
• Peter Gammons reported Sunday that the Nationals were fielding calls on closer Jon Rauch, but were asking for more than what the Brewers gave up to land CC Sabathia. I can't believe unreasonable requests like that make other teams more willing to deal with you.
• Saturday was Mullet Night at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. This isn't the only hair-brained scheme of late. The Yankees held a mustache give-away to support Jason Giambi's All-Star candidacy. Less appealing was a past promotion by the Potomac Nationals to give an award to the fan with the most back hair. ::Shiver::
• ESPN.com has a story on a 14-year-old mixed martial arts "prodigy." Apparently kids as young as 7 are getting in on the action. Forget the ethics of this for a second, this thing seems like it's only a few serious injuries away from an age-restriction. Interesting read.
• Friday Night Lights and The Wire are snubbed again by the Emmys. FNL's second season was a little more "O.C." than I'd like, but the first season remains one of my favorites for any show (along with Lost, House, Six Feet Under and HBO mini-series Band of Brothers). Do yourself a favor and check it out.
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