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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - If the World Series ended a lot sooner than you anticipated, perhaps it’s time to throw a few more pellets into your wood-burning stove and prop up your feet.
The offseason is underway.
For the Nationals, hot stove league conversation revolves around the new ballpark and revving up the offense. How will Nationals Park play? A hitter’s haven? A pitcher’s preference? Fair for everybody? We won’t know the answer to those questions until the All-Star Break, most likely. At first glance it figures to be far less intimidating to hitters than its predecessor, but let’s not be hasty.
The Nats finished dead last in the majors in runs scored in 2007. They were last in the NL in home runs; only the Twins and Royals had fewer homers overall. That would seem to make the acquisition of at least one run-producing power hitter a priority this winter, but who’s really available? Free agent Torii Hunter has publicly indicated an interest in playing with his pal Dmitri Young in Washington, but he’s already turned down a 3-year, $45 million deal from Minnesota. Would a 5-year, $90 million deal make sense for the Nats as they’re currently constituted? I’m guessing the answer to that is no, and it has nothing to do with a reluctance to spend. Hunter would be a complimentary piece to a club that just finished .500 or better and was ready for a run at the top. Devoting that much payroll to a single player after an overachieving 73 win season just doesn’t make good business sense.
I’ve addressed the dearth of quality free agents available this fall and winter in a previous column, and it bears repeating here. Beyond a few obvious names — Hunter, Aaron Rowand and Ivan Rodriguez — there’s not a lot available that’s better than what is already here.
One name that’s particularly intriguing requires an instruction manual to pronounce: Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome — who prefers his first name to be on the back of his uniform (good thinking) — is a 30-year-old strong-armed outfielder who was the 2006 MVP in the Japanese Central League, when he batted .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBI. More comfortable in rightfield, he’s an unrestricted free agent, meaning he would not be subject to the “posting” process that requires MLB teams to pay millions for the right to negotiate. The Nats have indicated a sincere interest in having an international roster, and Kosuke, while not a guaranteed star, would give them a greater presence in the area’s Asian community. Kosuke is coming off a season that ended prematurely with surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow, but still managed to bat .294 with an OPS of .943 in 269 at-bats. He’ll likely get $10-12 million a year for 5 years from a club over here, which may make more sense for the Nats.
Expect GM Jim Bowden to be active in the trade market this winter — it’s his nature to wheel and deal — but don’t expect a willingness to part with their A level prospects. Baseball America ranked the Nats’ performance in the June draft first overall, and those players with high ceilings will be untouchable for at least a year or two. As an organization, the Nats know the novelty of a new ballpark only lasts so long; far more sooner than later you’ve got to contend.
Hear Phil Wood Saturdays at 10 a.m. on SportsTalk 980 AM.
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:33 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 27, 2008 re: "‘The 21st Century Ripken’"
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2:00 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "Don’t panic yet"
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10:34 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "Don’t panic yet"
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10:18 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008
re: "Don’t panic yet"
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12:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 13, 2007
re: "New park feels like home already"
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12:20 AM MST on Wed., Oct. 3, 2007
re: "Expect Bowden, Nats to make significant noise in the offseason"
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10:02 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007
re: "Expect Bowden, Nats to make significant noise in the offseason"
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5:12 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 11, 2007
re: "Perhaps it’d be better to keep Young around"
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8:47 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 27, 2007
re: "Orioles could repeat managerial history with Trembley"
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5:52 PM MST on Wed., May. 30, 2007
re: "A long, winding road from Baltimore"
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1:07 PM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
re: "O's game gives umps a black eye"
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5:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
re: "A black eye for umps"
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Examiner Reader said:
There are many Nationals fans who are still patient with the team. I remember how Edward Bennett Williams as well as Peter Angelos tried---and failed---to build a winner with the Orioles by buying free agents. But my biggest nightmare is that once Zimmerman's contract runs out, he will sign a lucrative deal with another club because (a) the Lerners are unwilling to pay the money to keep him when they have the chance, (b) Zimmerman has no faith that the franchise will become a playoff contender anytime in his career, or (c) all of the above. Maybe the Lerners are smart by forcing Zimmerman to prove his worth this year, but if he has a breakout year and then flies the coop like Alfonso Soriano, fans' faith in The Plan will vanish like the wind. Edward J. Cunningham Rockville, MD
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Gee, Phil, thanks. I'm glad you reminded us that we're all raving idiots and that you have been appointed by MENSA to set us straight. "It’s perfectly plain that the issue is offense." I'm glad we have an "expert" like you to tell us this. Hm. All along, I thought the problem was that Nationals Park doesn't have enough cupholders!!!
7 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner reader said:
Phil, is it ok for fans who call in to your radio show to comment on the Nats' play? Or are they also ignorant folks who know nothing about facts or logic?
4 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner reader said:
What an arrogant, condescending column this is. Fans shouldn't comment about and criticize the team because they don't know enough about baseball? Fans don't know what's going on in the dugout or in the clubhouse? Well why don't you tell us then, Phil, and disabuse us of our shallow, uninformed nonsense. And most fans agree that Lenny Harris did a terrific job last year? Really? Maybe it is you who is uninformed, Phil. (And anyway, who cares what the uninformed *fans* think?) Did you know that the Nats came very close in the offseason to not retaining Harris because they thought that he did not do a good job and was not ready to be a major league hitting coach?
8 agree | 2 disagree
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natsbaseball.com said:
Thanks Phil. Sounds wonderful - can't wait to see it. Being about the same age I remember attending the first baseball game at DC Stadium after experiencing Griffith for one or two seasons as a young child. It was a world of improvement over the falling down older park. After baseball returned 34 years later and about 15 years of going to Camden, RFK was, of course, kind of stark (I think is was designed by Joseph Stalin) but we all knew it was temporary and to have a home team again we would have put up with a lot worse. My only regret is the new stadium is in a location that couldn't be harder to get to for most of the area's fans. People are whining about the lack of parking - but it doesn't matter as there are no roads. Metro is bragging about being able to carry about 10,000 fans and hour. Since most of the 41,000 fans who could show up will have to go by metro - I cringe at the 4 hour trips it will take to get home. In that regard RFK had it all over the new park.
103 agree | 97 disagree
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kjack said:
Another great article Phil. Why those idiots at espn[The world wide leader in crap]and fox don't hire informed,aware, and intelligent individuals like you. To inform the general public of the things that really matter in baseball. I'll personalll never understand.
190 agree | 213 disagree
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EdDC said:
Phil, What do you think of going after Coco Crisp? He is still young and had back to back .300 seasons not long ago in Cleveland. Nats need a CF. Crisp didn't do much in BoSox pressure cooker, like Wily Mo Pena. So Crisp might benefit from just relaxing, knowing the world is not on his shoulders. His contract is reasonable: Covelli Crisp of 3 years/$15.5M (2007-09), plus $8M 2010 club option As to Bowden, I like him asking for the world. He tries hard and contacts many many teams, and if one or two bite, then Nats come out ahead. This is better than just trading to make trades.
244 agree | 227 disagree
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Pope John Paul Ringo George said:
"Did you ever hear any specific player’s names that would’ve ended up here in exchange for the Fonz?" This is a poor argument. The reason the Nats never get serious offers in trade for Soriano, Dmitri, Cordero, Rauch, etc is becuase Bowden's asking price is not serious. He makes it known that you can only trade for a Nat if you're willing to be ripped off in the trade. His asking price starts so high, teams won't even attempt to negotiate with him. Then he comes back and says "hey, we never got any serious offers!" No sane, competent GM will ever trade with him on anyting above replacement level players.
278 agree | 228 disagree
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Norm said:
Trembley has got this team behind him. I like his vision. You can see it in the way this team is playing since he replaced Perlozzo. The Weaver like experience you cite nails it and is a huge bonus. It's precisely what the O's need to get to the next level. The way I see it, NONE of the other current candidates brings anything comparable to the table. With McPhail and Trembley, we are already on the right track.
303 agree | 799 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree in that the Orioles should trade for Teixeira. There will be many teams after him. The "Dallas News" has an article that Boston, Dodgers, and Tigers may be interested. We should offer Cabrera, and two other players. Texas needs a starting pitcher. In the article he says the other teams would offer a pitching prospect. At least Cabrera has pitched in the majors the last three years. The Orioles would be set for the next 8 years at first base. That would be a nice infield. Also, go get Torri Hunter next year in free agency for center field.
350 agree | 262 disagree
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Dan said:
So is MLB saying that the score of a game has no impact on strategy? As far as Jay's comment: "The rules were followed." I don't think I ever read anywhere in the MLB rule book where you can score a run while you are on defense. The apeal was not that the run should not count, but that it is not fair to the Tribe that the run was awarded 3 innings after the fact. Contrary to MLB I beleive that the score of the game is the #1 item that determines strategy. The Tribe was denied 3 innings of basing their strategy on the current situation. my thought is that the game should be continued from the point where the controversial run scored, with Baltimore leading 3 to 1. In every other instance I can recall you must apeal a decision before the next pitch. Runner leaves too early when tagging up. Appeal has to be made before next pitch. G Brett's infamouse non home run? Had to be apealed before next pitch. Same for runner missing a base. O's did not raise issue for 3 inn, but thats O
298 agree | 286 disagree
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Jay said:
The run counted, why are you crying? The rules were followed, and the Indians are tryng to get by on a technicality, shame in them...very unsportsmanlike
387 agree | 300 disagree
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