Nationals even mess up waiver claims

[Temo]

BJ Upton has been pretty bad with the bat... and that's about it? I don't even think a single braves player has a batting line under league average, as amazing as that is.

Compared to the lines those 4 guys put up for the Nats... it's not even a comparison. BJ's been better with the bat than all of them, and he's been our worst hitter.

[Temo]

Haven't the Braves had to overcome the same problem plus 6 season ending injuries to important or contributing players? Just saying...

BJ Upton has been pretty bad with the bat... and that's about it? I don't even think a single braves player has a batting line under league average, as amazing as that is.

Compared to the lines those 4 guys put up for the Nats... it's not even a comparison. BJ's been better with the bat than all of them, and he's been our worst hitter.

[bravesnumberone]

I don't really see it as a mess up, but I also don't see the point. Blocking someone from getting David DeJesus isn't accomplishing anything.

[gilesfan]

Yes, hence the key.

I feel like the estimates are more on the conservative side though, don't you?

Yes, conservative on a few players....Zimmermann/Desmond/Ramos (Desmond/Zim likely get extensions).

One of Clippard/Storen/Soriano will be gone and probably 2-3 of the arby 1 players.

[zitothebrave]

Yes, hence the key.

I feel like the estimates are more on the conservative side though, don't you?

Especially on Zimmerman

[gilesfan]

IF they actually needed to save money, wouldn't they just not pick-up Sori's option? Ya know, since he's been horrible in the 2nd half and makes 7 mil, compared to 1.5?

He makes 1.5 MIL and we are talking about him like it's a 20 mil contract....this is stupid.

With their payroll of 118 last year likely rising significantly (according to Lerner---and in part due to future tv contracts), the 1.5 million is probably has no consequence.

[gilesfan]

Especially on Zimmerman

Zimmerman is signed long term.

[zitothebrave]

Zimmerman is signed long term.

Sorry forgot the second M, I was referring to the pitcher who they have making less than 3 million more in his next arb raise despite an extremely strong season.

[Hawk]

IF they actually needed to save money, wouldn't they just not pick-up Sori's option? Ya know, since he's been horrible in the 2nd half and makes 7 mil, compared to 1.5?

He makes 1.5 MIL and we are talking about him like it's a 20 mil contract....this is stupid.

It seems like an obvious move, but the Nationals are hell bent on alienating Drew Storen, plus Mike Rizzo is easily the worst GM in the NL East.

Edit: Actually, that honor might go to Amaro. But I still dislike Rizzo.

[gilesfan]

I would rank Rizzo slightly behind Wren. What are your issues with Rizzo?

[BRule]

It seems like an obvious move, but the Nationals are hell bent on alienating Drew Storen, plus Mike Rizzo is easily the worst GM in the NL East.

Edit: Actually, that honor might go to Amaro. But I still dislike Rizzo.

Storen has been horrid this year, in previous years I would agree. Granted he signed Soriano off a very good year from Storen, so I see your point. I wouldn't hand Storen the job next year, I wouldn't bring Sori back, either.

As for NL East GM's

1- Wren
2- Sandy
3- Rizz
4- Rube
5-Whoever is in FL

[Dunit24]

Storen has been horrid this year, in previous years I would agree. Granted he signed Soriano off a very good year from Storen, so I see your point. I wouldn't hand Storen the job next year, I wouldn't bring Sori back, either.

As for NL East GM's

1- Wren
2- Sandy
3- Rizz
4- Rube
5-Whoever is in FL

Hard to argue with the order of that list. Ive been impressed with Sandy, but Wren(even after throwing out some bad contracts to Uggla, Upton, Lowe, Kawakami) has put together one of the youngest and best teams in baseball.

[zitothebrave]

Storen has been horrid this year, in previous years I would agree. Granted he signed Soriano off a very good year from Storen, so I see your point. I wouldn't hand Storen the job next year, I wouldn't bring Sori back, either.

As for NL East GM's

1- Wren
2- Sandy
3- Rizz
4- Rube
5-Whoever is in FL

I'd actually go

1. Wren
2. Sandy
3. Hill (Marlins have done a good job with a horrible owner)
4. Rizzo
5. Amaro

Though really Amaro is a special class of terrible

[thethe]

Alderson has benefitted from three things:

1. Matt Harvey being arguably the best pitcher in baseball
2. Having trade chips in Beltran/Dickey. He deserves a bunch of credit for getting those three players but he was trading premium talent for non-major league players
3. Expectations from the fanbase were nill so he could sit through sucking without having to worry about winning

Still a good GM but I think he is overrated.

[conalthomas]

From District Sports Page:



Key
FNT = Full no trade clause
NT = partial no trade clause
© = Club option
MO = Mutual option
A1, A2 or A3 = Arbitration eligible year 1, 2, or 3.

I think it's hilarious that the Nats owe Werth 21 million in 2016 and 17 million in 2017. He'll be what, 38? And they owe R. Zimmerman 18 million in 2019.

One of the things that disgusts me about baseball is the disparity in salaries. LA has a payroll that is TEN TIMES the size of the Houston payroll. It's ridiculous.

[gilesfan]

Yeah, Werth contract is ridiculous.

Zimmerman one isn't too shabby considering they only 14 mil a year between 2014 and 2018, which are his 29-33 year old seasons.

[Hawk]

I would rank Rizzo slightly behind Wren. What are your issues with Rizzo?

My number 1 is Sandy Alderson. I think what he's done with the Mets in terms of player development, the trade market, and team relations is textbook worthy.

As for Rizzo (although I will admit, he is definitely no Jim Bowden,) the main issue is my perception of his personality. For example: firing Rick Eckstein recently without even talking to Davey Johnson ahead of time. Also, I think the signings of Werth and Soriano were ill-advised. At the time I remember a lot of pundits saying that Werth was a high-priced signal to players (and the league) that the Nationals were around to spend and win. Still, they owe him $60MM from now until his age 38 season (2017.) And, with the exception of this season, he hasn't produced for them at all except in his role as Harper's 'mentor' and handler. I guess the Soriano signing bothers me the most -- mainly because he ousted a young, viable, and cheap option from closers role with little delicacy in the process, but also because Rizzo treated it as an icing on the cake move, "strengthening a strength," when it actually caused strife in the bullpen to the point where Tyler Clippard called out management (Rizzo) about a month ago for their handling of the Storen situation.

And then there's this:

"Cole Hamels says he's old school? He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough," Rizzo said, according to the report. "He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with.

"He thinks he's sending a message to us of being a tough guy. He's sending the polar opposite message. He says he's being honest, well, I'm being honest. It was a gutless chicken (bleep-bleeping) act," Rizzo added, according to the report. "That was a fake-tough act. No one has ever accused Cole Hamels of being old school."

"This goes beyond rivalry and all that stuff," Rizzo added. "This points to, you take the youngest guy in baseball. He's never done a thing. And then Hamels patted himself on the back. Harper's old school. Hitting him on the back, that ain't old school. That's (bleeping) chicken (bleep)."

[NYCBrave]

How is this "messing up"? Teams block all the time....people are really reaching....

Why would a team with a 1% chance of making the playoffs be worried about blocking someone?

[jpx7]

They must have forgotten that nobody ****s with DeJesus.

John Turturro is the best.

[BRule]

Why would a team with a 1% chance of making the playoffs be worried about blocking someone?

Well, I'm not sure if you're aware or not BUT there is baseball next year....and DeJesus contract runs through NEXT year.