SB Nation - Jesus Flores

Washington Nationals' Catcher Jesus Flores "Shut Down" Until February?

Dave at Nats News Network — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:03:49 -0000

7 months ago: Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores catches a pop-up by Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds for an out during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game Friday, May 8, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores has been "shut down" from baseball related drills until February, presumably when pitchers and catchers report for spring training.

Flores is recovering from labrum and elbow surgeries following a 2009 season that saw him get just 106 plate appearances before being shut down with what was originally diagnosed as a fracture in his shoulder, then a torn labrum after he attempted a painful comeback in Triple-A.

Whether or not Flores has already been performing baseball related activities (i.e.,hitting and throwing) is undetermined in the article, but Flores' quotes in the piece seem to indicate that he is building up strength but the team is being cautious in his return.

"I'm doing great," Flores said. "After surgery, I'm feeling much better. My strength is coming along. I'm moving my arm lot better. I'm going to be ready for the season. I'm completely shutdown [for Winter Ball]. I guess I will start to throw a baseball in February."

This news seems to be at least incongruous to the report we got from GM Mike Rizzo last week at the Ivan Rodriguez press conference that Flores should be ready for spring training.

"I can only go by what the medical people tell me," Rizzo said. "They say he should be 100 percent and ready to participate in spring training. Now, we take them at their word, but we all know that specifically shoulders are very difficult to predict."

News from the player himself that "I guess I will start to throw...in February," is somewhat disconcerting. I'm not a doctor, but I know a little about rehabbing a throwing shoulder, and it certainly seems that if he's not even going to start throwing until February, that will not leave him, according to Rizzo on Friday, "100 percent" ready to participate in spring training."

It could take him months to get into throwing shape if he doesn't start until February. It's not like he's a pitcher, with all the stress of throwing off a mound, but he had labrum and elbow surgery since we last saw him.

When questioned about the major league depth at catcher at the Rodriguez press conference, Rizzo responded, "We have three capable catchers on the major league level. We have (Jaime) Burke on the Triple-A level and we have (Derek) Norris—who is an up-and-coming and potential significant contributor for us in the future."

Perhaps the part of that quote that got glossed over at that point was "three capable catchers ." We can only assume now that Rizzo meant Rodriguez, Flores, and Nieves, with Burke re-signed for Triple-A Syracuse.

So maybe we shouldn't have been surprised that Nieves was offered arbitration after all. Rizzo apparently told us as much on Friday. I'm sure this revelation in Ladson's story will get some glossing over, organizationally speaking, in the next day or so. "Shutting down" until February will turn into "part of the doctor's plans all along" and that they expect Flores to be ready, etc.

But expecting in the media and planning for the worst-case scenario are often two different things. And right now, it looks like the Nats are stocking up at catcher.

Hopefully it's just out of an abundance of caution, but it seems, from today's news, that the caution is at least warranted.

Washington Nationals: Tenders/Non-Tenders...Targets?

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:54:03 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

The Nationals tendered contracts to five players, but not Mike MacDougal, who was non-tendered Saturday night and might not return. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

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• Scott Olsen and Mike MacDougal...non-tendered. Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Sean Burnett, Brian Bruney and Josh Willingham...tendered. The Washington Nationals decided to let Olsen and MacDougal test free agency, but already Olsen tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an article entitled, "Nats cut ties with MacDougal, Olsen", "I don't have any plans to go anywhere else," though MacDougal says he's disappointed, and (not to read anything into it....but)...he's already talking about Washington in the past tense when he tells Mr. Ladson, "I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it's a little disappointing. What can you do? I'm a free agent and go from there."

• Bill Shanks at The Braves Show.com mentioned that the Atlanta Braves' non-tendered infielder Kelly Johnson might be a target for the Nationals, so I guess I wasn't the only one who had the thought cross their mind, (though mine was more in a "no thanks" sort of way)...Does the Nationals' newly-hired vice president of player personnel Roy Clark, who served as Atlanta's scouting director for 20-odd years, still like Johnson...who followed up on a .287 AVG, .349 OBP, 39 doubles, 12 HR's and 69 RBI's in 2008 by hitting .229 in 2009 with a .303 OBP, 20 doubles, 8 HR's and 29 RBI's, and saw his WAR value drop from (+2.1) to (+0.7) while his UZR/150 actually improved from (-10.6) to (-0.2), though he played less games (106) than he had in the two previous seasons, (147 in '07, 150 in 108)...on the plus side, Johnson's the youngest free agent infielder out there...

• Just because Chien-Ming Wang is a sinker-baller doesn't mean he's a good fit for the Nationals, and stop trying to impress Mike Rizzo by finding him fast/sinkerballers, he's got a new front office for that...Wang was non-tendered by the Yankees today, after he had surgery on his shoulder last season, (acc. to New York Daily News' writer Mark Feinsand's article entitled, "Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang set for surgery...", it was, "...arthroscopic surgery to repair the capsule (the fibrous membrane that surrounds the joint) in his right shoulder."), though the Yankees say they're interested in bringing the soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander back after an '09 season which saw Wang go (1-6) with an ERA in the 9.00's, a 2.02 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and a 1.53 K/BB. If Rizzo's going to sign a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery, i'd bet it will be Olsen...

• ?'s For The DC Faithful:

Did anyone go on the market last night the Nationals should think about?

Do you like Kelly Johnson or Chien-Ming Wang for Washington?

Will MacDougal be back? What about Olsen?

Will Josh Willingham defy the rumors to remain on the roster?

What's Rizzo's next move...?

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Mike MacDougal.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:41 -0000

by John Amis - AP

The Washington Nationals non-tendered '09 closer Mike MacDougal, though they say they wouldn't mind bringing him back for 2010. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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It's not that the Washington Nationals don't want Mike MacDougal, at least according to what they've said in the press, it's just that they don't want to pay him what he'd be due to earn should it go to arbitration. Whether or not they're serious when they say that they'd like MacDougal back, or when they said they'd consider bringing back Scott Olsen, who was also non-tendered earlier today, who knows...? DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats tender Olsen, MacDougal", that, "...you never know. They'll be free to discuss with all 29 other clubs, but suffice to say I'd be very comfortable if they're wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season."

(cont.)...

No word yet on whether or not the rest of the arbitration-eligible players, (Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Josh Willingham, Sean Burnett and Brian Bruney) have been tendered contracts, though the Nationals have until midnight tonight to make decisions on each...Jason Bergmann played for $439,000 last year, on his fifth-straight one-year deal. Nieves signed for $400,000 as a free agent in '08, and resigned in '09 for $445,000, his fifth one-year deal...Jesus Flores earned $411,500 in his third year in the majors...Sean Burnett, in his 5th-year with the Pirates last season, earned $485,000....Bruney avoided arbitration by signing a 1-year/$1.25M dollar deal with the Yankees in January of '09....Mike MacDougal was in the last of a three-year deal with the White Sox when they bought him out for $3M, ($2.65M salary + $350,000 buyout), making him available for the Nationals, who signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander to a minor league contract...Olsen, avoided arbitration after being dealt to DC and signed for one year and $2.8 million...

While Olsen's labrum surgery is well-documented, less has been said about the hip surgery Mike MacDougal had in mid-October. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling wrote in a Chatter post entitled, "MacDougal has hip surgery" that the 32-year-old right hander underwent, "...arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in Vail, Colo., on Tuesday, repairing an injury that hampered the right-hander during the last week of the Nationals’ season." Mr. Goessling wrote at the time that MacDougal should be ready for Spring Training...will he be brought back to DC? They obviously brought Bruney in in case he's not...and there is that Storen kid...?

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:52:34 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

The Washington Nationals have decided to part ways with left-handed starter Scott Olsen, who is recovering from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, rather than go to arbitration. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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The Washington Nationals acquired Scott Olsen from Florida along with Josh Willingham in a November 11, 2008 trade that sent infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Jake Smolinski and pitcher P.J. Dean to the Marlins. The then-24-year-old left- hander was coming off a 2008 season which saw the the 4th-year starter post an (8-11) record with a 4.20 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 5.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Olsen signed a 1-year/$2.8M dollar deal with the Nationals, avoiding arbitration, but made just 11 starts in 2009 before he was shut down for the season with a tear in his left labrum which required surgery. Faced with the possibility of having to give the rehabbing arbitration eligible pitcher a raise for the 2010 season, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan is reporting in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats will non-tender Olsen", that the Nationals have decided to part ways with the soon-to-be 26-year-old lefty, though Washington hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing him back for (probably) far less than he would have been due...

Before midnight, The Post's Mr. Harlan reports, the Nationals must make decisions on what to do with their other arbitration eligible players: pitchers, Jason Bergmann, Sean Burnett and Mike MacDougal, catchers Wil Nieves and Jesus Flores, and outfielder Josh Willingham...

More news when it's available...

No word on how Olsen's rehab was progressing...Did the Nationals make the correct decision here? Is there any chance Olsen will return to DC?

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo On Pudge Rodriguez.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:37:14 -0000

More photos » by Kevin Wolf - AP

9 days ago: Washington Nationals new catcher Ivan Rodriguez looks on during news conference announcing his signing with the baseball team on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at Nationals Park in Washington. The 38-year-old catcher agreed this week to a $6 million, two-year contract (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

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Q: How did the deal come together? What does signing Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez mean to DC?

Mike Rizzo: "Going into the offseason we had a check list of things that we wanted to accomplish," DC GM Mike Rizzo responded when asked what Pudge Rodriguez signing in Washington meant for the Nationals, "to address the catching situation was certainly a priority for us, with the injury and the surgery to Jesus Flores, we thought that we needed a person that could be a significant contributor to the ball club, particulary in 2010, but in 2010 and beyond, and when we made our checklist and our evaluations, and it was very evident very quickly in the process, when we gathered all our evaluators together in one place, that we were no longer looking for "a" catcher to fill that role, we were looking for Ivan Rodriguez to fill that role."

Q: Why Pudge?

Mike Rizzo: "Not only his character, his leadership abilities, his track record and the aura that he brings to a clubhouse, but also for the fact that he threw out 38% of the would-be base stealers, which was fourth in all of baseball last year, has a potent bat and we think that there's a lot left in the tank with this particular player."

Q: The status of Jesus Flores?

(cont)...

Q: The status of Jesus Flores?

Mike Rizzo: "Jesus Flores is still rehabbing the shoulder surgery, it's been passed along to me in a meeting as early as yesterday, that he should be ready to go by the beginning of Spring Training, and we'll go to Spring Training with that in mind. But, we have, we certainly have in the past, specifically with arm surgeries, and labrum surgeries, specifically, we go into it cautiously optimistic."

Q: "The biggest catcher signing of the Winter Meetings, how did it come together?

Mike Rizzo: "It all began before the Winter Meetings with our discussions with our evaluators, and in the Winter Meetings, in the suite, we were putting together our hitlist, our check list, and how to improve the ballclub, and the catching situation, we thought, needed to be addressed, with the uncertainty of where we're at with Jesus Flores, we feel he's going to be healthy for Spring Training, but those injuries are kind of a...you never know. We felt that we had an opportunity to go out and fill the need with a major league catcher, and it wasn't so much as we were looking for "a" catcher, it came very apparent, very early in our room in Indianapolis, that we weren't looking for a catcher to help us, we were looking for Ivan Rodriguez to help us. The sense that I got in the room, it was a unanimous evaluation that this was the guy at this time in this place for this franchise."

Q: How much of a difference will Pudge make in attracting free agent pitchers?

Mike Rizzo: "If you think that didn't go into my thought process when we were talking to Ivan Rodriguez, you don't know me very well, but it certainly doesn't hurt when you talk to prospective free agent starting pitchers that they're going to be throwing to a legendary Hall of Fame catcher, and the 14 Gold Gloves does not go unnoticed by the guys you're trying to court to come to the Washington Nationals. So, we certainly will give them that information, when we talk to prospective pitchers, if they don't know that already, and it certainly is an asset to the ballclub in so many ways..."

What They're Saying:

• SI.com's Jon Heyman, in an article entitled, "Winners and losers from relatively uneventful winter meetings", put Ivan Rodriguez on his list of the Winter Meetings Winners, writing that the 38-year-old catcher, who was, "Thought to be nearing the end of his great career entering last winter...somehow finagled a two-year deal from the Nationals (with Scott Boras' help)."

• Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell notes, in an article entitled, "Nats act like they belong", that the Nationals started to address their needs this winter by bringing in a reliever (Brian Bruney) and a catcher (Pudge Rodriguez), which should help when the Nationals talk to free agent arms:

"What gives a pitcher a sense of security? Why, the catcher in front of him and the bullpen behind him. So, Rodríguez and Bruney came first."

• MLBTraderumors.com linked to an AP report by Howard Fendrich Friday night at SI.com entitled, "Kendall goes to Royals, Putz to White Sox", wherein Mr. Fendrich reports that the Washington Nationals signed free agent pitcher Ryan Speier. An undrafted free agent signed by the Colorado Rockies in 2001, the 30-year-old, right-handed Speier is (7-3) with a 3.99 career ERA in 90 games pitched for the Rockies in which walked more batters per 9 innings (4.8 BB/9) than he's struck out (3.2 K/9).

Washington Nationals Introduce Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, Eventually.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:11:23 -0000

More photos » by Kevin Wolf - AP

9 days ago: Washington Nationals senior vice president and general manager Mike Rizzo shakes hands with new catcher Ivan Rodriguez after a news conference announcing the signing of Rodriguez on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at Nationals Park in Washington. The 38-year-old catcher agreed this week to a $6 million, two-year contract (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

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I have no idea what caused the delay of the Washington Nationals’ press conference this afternoon, in which they were set to introduce their new catcher, free agent signee Pudge Rodriguez, but a 1:00 pm EST starting time became a 2:00 pm EST starting time and at about 10 minutes after 2:00, some might have begun to wonder if Rodriguez had failed his physical, or if Pudge’s agent Scott Boras had discovered that the Mets offered Bengie Molina two years too, and decided to hold out for three from DC...

Then another update arrived...the press conference would begin at 2:30 pm EST. Shortly before 2:30 rolled around the MLB.com feed for the presser closed down, luckily MASNSports.com was streaming live...at least they were playing commercials a few minutes before the re-re-scheduled start...so with three minutes to wait and then scramble to find a feed, it was time to count the seconds...any day now Pudge will be introduced...2:29...2:39...and finally at 2:45 Pudge Rodriguez pulled on the #7 in home white, buttoned his jersey, put the red curly-W cap on his head and introduced himself to the DC Faithful...

"It's an honor for me to be here today. I want to say thanks to the Washington Nationals' organization for giving me the opportunity to be with the Nationals for the next two seasons, and, basically, my goal is just bring my experience into the ballclub, as a baseball player, and be ready to play in the field. I'm a player that I love to win, I love to play hard in the field, and I look forward to my teammates doing the same thing when we play..."

(cont.)....

"I played against (the Nationals) this year when I was with the Astros," Pudge continued, "and there's a lotta good things that we say about this ballclub, it's a team that hits very well, and plays in the field hard 100% of the time, and basically that's what I like to see. I'm a player that I love to play the game hard, 100%, and I'm sure that my new teammates look forward to doing the same thing for the organization and for the team. So, again, I appreciate it, I'm very happy and excited and I can't wait for Spring Training and to be a part of the team. So, thank you.

Asked what it was about the Nationals that attracted Pudge to DC, Rodriguez responded that the Nationals were a team that came to them with the two-year contract he was looking for, "I feel I can play this game for a few, uh, about two or three more years, and basically, you know they came out and they showed interest in (bringing) me to the team, and that was it you know...It's a great team, I love what I saw when I played against them and that's the reason why I decided to come to the Nationals."

Rodriguez says that communication with the Nats' pitchers will be important, "Spring Training is for that, to work with the pitcher. I know that I've never seen, I've never caught them, but at the same time, communication is very important, you know, in Spring Training we want to sit down and first of all, I want to talk to them and see what they like to do, how they like to pitch, and then we go from there. I'm not a difficult catcher, I just try to things very simple for the pitcher, so I just go with what they feel comfortable and we go from there.

Working with Jesus Flores? Are you looking forward to it? "Absolutely. We're all teammates," Rodriguez says, "and the goal is winning games. He's a talented player, hits very well, good catcher, and I'm sure that we're going to talk a lot. He's a guy that, I've talked to him before, he comes to me and says hello to me when we (play) against (each other)...and he's a very nice guy. So I look foward to talk to him, and whatever he needs, I'm here for that, but the most important thing is that we're here to win, we're here for one goal, just to win and have a good season and be in the playoffs in October." (ed. note - "Playoffs?")

Asked about how much he'll play this season, Rodriguez says he's ready to play every day. "I'm a player that can still player every day, and I will play every day, and basically the thing is just, do my best for the club. I know that it's hard for me to play 162 games, that's impossible for a catcher, but as long I'm healthy and I'm feeling great physically, I'll be in the field playing." 70-80 games? "Again, I said, I'm ready to play. I look forward to going to Spring Training and do my job and play the game. I'm a guy that I take care of myself very well, keeping myself in good shape, and I'm going to be in Spring Training in February ready to go. So, those decisions are not in my control. My control is just to go into Spring Training in good shape and be ready mentally and physically to play on an everyday basis."

?'s For The DC Faithful...

• Did Pudge get the memo about "mentoring" Flores, or is he just saying the standard "I'm ready to play every day."

• Did you see Dave from NNN at the press conference?

• Do you think a veteran catcher is better for the Nationals' young staff than another player, like Flores, who's still developing?

• Will Jesus Flores stay healthy and develop quickly enough to avoid being passed by? There are some other decent backstops in the system...

Washington Nationals: C Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez And Jesus Flores.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:07:06 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

The Washington Nationals will introduce new catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez tomorrow afternoon (12/11/09) at Nationals Park. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Yahoo!Sports.com's David Brown did not include the Washington Nationals' free agent signing of veteran catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez on his list of the best moves of the recently-concluded '09 Winter Meetings entitled, "Indianapolis Jones and the Winter Meetings: The top 10 deals", but they do earn honorable mention under the subheading, "Best of the rest", where Mr. Brown writes that, "It's easy to knock the Nats," for signing the 38-year-old, 14-time All-Star, Gold Glove-winning catcher to a 2-year/$6M dollar deal to act as a mentor/backup to a hopefully-healthy Jesus Flores, because, at least to Mr. Brown, "...it makes little sense."

Everyone got a good laugh, even Jim Bowden himself...

(cont.)...

Everyone got a good laugh, even Jim Bowden himself, out of the new XM MLB host openly questioning the signing by comparing it to the Nationals signing Paul Lo Duca and Dmitri Young, and praising Rodriguez's agent Scott "Maximum" Boras for getting, "...a two-year guaranteed contract for a 38-year old catcher with an on-base percentage of .280," but what I found humorous, in the transcript of the conversation between Bowden and co-host Steve Davis as it appears in D.C. Sports Bog writer Dan Steinberg's article entitled, "Jim Bowden criticizes Pudge Rodriguez deal", is how Mr. Bowden goes on to describe Rodriguez's motivation in accepting the Nationals' offer:

"Six million dollars at the end of your career, that's all it is. You don't sign there if it's not, because [they're] the only team that came to the table with $6 million and two years guaranteed."

You mean, sort of like the way Mr. Bowden lured Adam Dunn to DC? When Adam Dunn, believing he wasn't ready for semi-retirement as a DH in the AL, was expecting 4-years/$56M, found no suitors, and settled for the Nationals' 2-year/$20 million dollar deal, a little over a week after a "baseball source" let the rest of the baseball world know, in SI.com's Jon Heyman's article entitled, "Nationals still waiting on Dunn", that Dunn had an offer on the table that he would consider if there were no better offers...(Anyone? Anyone? Please?)...even though as Mr. Heyman put it, "...the Nationals' offer sat there so long (he) sent a clear message he'd prefer to go somewhere else."

But back to Yahoo!Sports.com's David Brown's opinion that the signing of "Pudge" Rodriguez makes no sense for DC...MLB.com's Bill Ladson cites an anonymous source in an article entitled, "Pudge deal with Nats awaiting physical", who says that the signing of a catcher capable of playing everyday and providing solid defense, if not much offense any more, makes sense with Jesus Flores recovering from a stress fracture in his shoulder, the result of a foul-ball direct-hit and a torn labrum which was discovered when Flores attempted to return to the lineup late in '09 just to hit though he wasn't healthy enough for full-time action. So this time around, according to Mr. Ladson's "source":

"[The Nationals] want to go slow with Flores...By June, Flores and Rodriguez may split time, or [Riggleman] may go with the hot hand. We know this -- Rodriguez is not going to play 100 games."

In 2007, Flores, who had to remain on the 25-man roster since he was a Rule 5 pick, proved to be a little more advanced than expected, playing 79 games as a backup for Brian Schneider, who started 129, and hitting for a .244 AVG with a .310 OBP, .361 SLG and a .671 OPS. In 2008, Washington brought Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada in because they were unsure Flores was ready for the full-time job, but he outplayed both veteran catchers and was the clear-cut starter when he was injured in a collision at the plate with Chase Utley that ended his season in early September. 2009 was a wash for Flores, as he was injured in early May by the foul ball that caused a stress fracture in his right shoulder, which effectively ended his season, before the torn labrum officially ended it after three games in the second week of September.

With Flores on the DL in 2009, the Nationals were left with Josh Bard and Wil Nieves splitting time behind the plate. Bard hit .230 with a .293 OBP, .361 SLG, a .655 OPS, 18 doubles, 6 HR's and 31 RBI's. Defensively, Bard made 5 errors, allowed 3 passed balls and posted a .988 FLD%, while throwing out 27% of the runners who attempted to take bases on his arm. Nieves provided pretty much the same thing he had in the previous season, putting up a .259 AVG, .313 OBP, .299 SLG and a .612 OPS with 6 doubles, 1 HR and 26 RBI's in 72 games, over which he committed 6 errors, allowed 4 passed balls and had a .986 FLD%, with 28% of stolen base attempts turned back...

Rodriguez's projected stats for 2010 according to the Bill James Handbook 2010? (Over 113 G): .266 AVG, .302 OBP, .397 SLG, .699 OPS, 20 doubles, 8 HR's and 40 RBI's, .22 K/BB. Defensively in '09, even in his "declining years", Rodriguez had a .992 FLD%, with 5 errors in 115 games, over which he threw out 22 of 53 runners who attempted to steal, (32%)...The Bill James Handbook has Jesus Flores hitting .265 in 116 games and 431 AB's in '09, with 22 doubles, 13 HR's, 75 RBI's, a .323 OBP, .415 SLG and a .738 OPS. (0.33 BB/K)...and over his career, he's caught 161 games, with a .990 FLD%,10 errors, 13 passed balls allowed, (12 of which were thrown by Daniel Cabrera, just kidding), and a 31% career CS%, having thrown out 38 of 123 runners who have dared...

Clearly the Nationals will be going into 2009 with the best catcher tandem, in Rodriguez and Flores, they've had since moving to Washington ? (Sorry, Schneider!)...And they're much better off than they were last season with Bard and Nieves...as long as Flores can stay healthy...Still don't think it make sense?...WAR? According to Fangraphs.com: Pudge was worth (+0.8) in '09, and the Fangraphs.com Fan Projections have him at (+0.6) in 2010...Jesus Flores in '09 (+1.0)...(+0.7) in '09 for Bard...Nieves in '09 (+0.3)...How's DC GM Mike Rizzo's approval rating after the Winter Meetings?

• Washington Post writer Alexa Steele put up a post at the Nationals Journal Thursday night entitled, "Free agent signing set for Friday", which announced that the Nationals would introduce their new catcher in a press conference Friday afternoon (12/11/09) at 1:00 pm in Nationals Park.

Poll

What Is DC GM Mike Rizzo's Post-Winter-Meeting Approval Rating?

Washington Nationals: Winter Meetings Day Two - Bruney, Pudge And Smoltz?

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:32:16 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Don't Stare At "Pudge" It Only Makes Him Angrier...Is Pudge Rodriguez coming to DC to start? Or is it Jesus Flores' job to lose? (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Brian Bruney's name was all but forgotten as the DC Faithful and the national press turned first to the story of the Washington Nationals signing 38-year-old catcher Paul L...uh, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, and then to the three-way-deal between the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, which of course dominated the headlines once it was announced. But that trade holds little interest for fans of the Washington Nationals, who were still naval-gazingly introspective as they pondered the significance of signing Rodriguez, and the effect it would have on Jesus Flores' future in the nation's capital. Oh, and Bruney, (while he said all the right things yesterday to the Washington press, telling Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, as quoted in a Nationals Journal article entitled, "Bruney wants a chance to close", that he, "'...felt like New York was a good stepping stone with lots of pressure-filled situations. But to be honest, I had talked to my agent and I said, 'I can't wait to get to the place where I can try and close somewhere.'")...Bruney struck a slightly different tone in the New York press with New York Daily News' writer Mark Feinsand, in an article entitled, "New York Yankees trade Brian Bruney to Washington Nationals for draft pick", quoting Bruney saying that he believes, "...the opportunity is going to be better for me over there," with "there" of course being Washington, but, "Going from winning the World Series with the Yankees to playing for the Nationals," Bruney continues, "...that's going to be different." ...(ed. note - "And I know it will be "different", I wouldn't deny that, it's just that five years after the promise of change once the team was taken from Montreal, the Nationals are still talked about in such a condescending tone by everyone in baseball, even their own fans...")

BACKPAGE:

• Nationals And Lo D...uh "Pudge" Define The Word Backup.

• Ken Rosenthal: "Nats are Smoltz's Last Resort"

BACKPAGE:

• Nationals And Lo D...uh "Pudge" Define The Word Backup.

I wasn't the only one who wondered exactly what signing catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez said about the Nationals' plans for 2010 when I heard Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras on XM's Home Plate Update all day repeating the same assessment of his client's role in the nation's capital as the Nationals' newest backstop:

"Certainly in Washington, Pudge has an opportunity, particularly this year to play at a number that's well above that of a backup catcher, so he's going to be a significant contributor..."

Define "significant contributor"? According to Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling, that means Jesus Flores, "...could lose significant playing time to Rodriguez, who the Nationals expect to play 70-80 games." Not quite the mentor/teacher role everyone was talking about when the deal was first announced, and Mr. Goessling goes on to report that, in fact, "Washington had interest in Rodriguez since late this season, and he was their No. 1 option for a backup catcher." Is Flores not recovering as quickly as they had hoped? Will Flores be ready for the start of the season? Is Pudge Rodriguez still an everyday catcher? And if Flores isn't ready, who backs up Pudge? Please don't bring up Josh Willingham as an emergency catcher, or tell me about how Robert Fick is somewhere practicing...

How do the Nationals make a significant signing (pending Pudge passing his physical) and end up with more questions than they began the winter with?

• Ken Rosenthal: "Nats are Smoltz's Last Resort"

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal sent a Tweet out late this afternoon concerning the fate of 42-year-old free agent pitcher John Smoltz:

"Smoltz still possibility in STL. J. Garcia might not be ready to be No. 5. Smoltz could start and/or relieve. Nats are Smoltz's last resort."

Smoltz is still on the list of pitchers the Nationals are interested in according to former DC GM Jim Bowden, who put out a Twitter post today which read in part:

"Nats in on Garland, Pineiro, Padilla, Smoltz but not Lackey."

MLB.com's Bill Ladson said in a Tweet that, "The Nationals see Smoltz as a starter" and Mr. Ladson adds one name to that list with his own Tweet on the Nationals' targets:

"The Nats have interest in free-agent pitchers such as Jon Garland, Vicente Padilla, Joel Pineiro, John Smoltz and Jarrod Washburn."

The Meetings aren't over yet...

BtB Analysis: Cardinals Sign Brad Penny; Nationals Sign Ivan Rodriguez

Tommy Rancel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:41:24 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Chiu - ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Thanks to the big Yankees, Tigers, Diamondbacks trade, a few deals slipped through the crack that are worth noting. First, the Washington Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal believed to be worth a total of $5 million dollars. And second, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Brad Penny to a one-year deal worth at least $7 million, but could reach $9 million if he hits some incentives.

The signing of Pudge marks the second strange move of the winter meetings for the Nationals. It seems a little bit much to be giving the 38-year-old Rodriguez a guaranteed two-year deal at an annual salary of $2.5 million dollars. Catcher is some what of a question mark for the Nationals as promising starter, Jesus Flores, has yet to play over 90 games in a major league season. However, when healthy Flores should be the clear cut starter. Sure, Pudge is still a solid defensive catcher, and he brings "veteran presence," but paying $2.5 million dollars to a guy you're rather see a back-up seems like a waste of money.

Offensively, Rodriguez is a shell of the hitter he was in the late 90s and he hasn't had a .330 wOBA season since 2006. As for his mentor skills, his approach at the plate is not something you want your younger player to pick up on. He's earned less than 5.5% walks for five straight seasons and carried an O-Swing% around 40 the past three. Like Brian Bruney, it's not a terrible pick-up, but it's not something that really improves this team a whole lot.

The other deal that went down involved Brad Penny, who signs a one-year deal for the second straight offseason. However, unlike last season, he decided it was best to stick to the National League and that's probably the smartest thing for all parties involved. Like former teammate John Smoltz, Penny comes to the Cardinals after a disappointing half season or so with the Boston Red Sox that lead to his release, and ultimately a resurgence in the senior circuit.

You can easily make the argument that the Red Sox may have cut bait a little too soon with Penny as he was plagued by a high BABIP (.336) during his tenure in Beantown. However, you could make the same argument that his success in San Francisco was also do in part to a low BABIP (.211) and an unsustainable LOB% over 80% (SSS all the way around). I did notice that once he went bay side, Penny started throwing his change up, something he forgot to do in Boston. The slight change in pitch selection led to more ground balls, which makes him a perfect fit for Dave Duncan. Salary-wise, Penny should easily be worth the $7 million dollar tag, if not the entire potential $9 million. Even with a sub-par performance in Boston, he still earned a 2.0 WAR for his time there and a 2.5 overall for the season. He should be good for at least that in 2010, if not more, which puts his estimated value at over the $11 million mark.

Does Pudge Rodriguez Know His Role With The Washington Nationals?

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:37:35 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

Now that Pudge Rodriguez is signed, what happens if Washington Nationals' catcher Jesus Flores is healthy?(AP Photo/Matt York)

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In explaining to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan what it was the Washington Nationals were looking for in a free agent catcher this winter, DC GM Mike Rizzo told Mr. Harlan, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats sign free agent Ivan Rodriguez", that though the team expects Jesus Flores to be, "...ready to go in the Spring," they'd learned their lesson last season and wanted to have a legitimate backup, "...that could fill in as an everyday guy in the short-term but that could morph into a mentor/teacher for Flores."

At 2-years/$6 million dollars, that's one expensive backup catcher/mentor/teacher the Nationals signed in "Pudge" Rodriguez...(cont. after the JUMP)...

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At 2-years/$6 million dollars, that's one expensive backup catcher/mentor/teacher the Nationals signed in Rodriguez, especially as Mr. Harlan's colleague at the Washington Post, Dave Sheinin notes, in another Nationals Journal post entitled, "Why Pudge? Why Two Years", that Rodriguez had to wait until late in Spring Training last March to find a home (and a one-year deal at half what Washington's giving him), and in 121 games with the Astros and Rangers, the then-37-year-old catcher produced, "...the worst offensive season of his Hall-of-Fame career (with) (career-lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging)."

But a bigger problem than his decline in production and defensive skills, is the fact that his agent, Scott Boras, is talking like he has no intention of being relegated to the bench, as he's quoted on XM's MLB Homeplate Update explaining:

"Certainly in Washington, Pudge has an opportunity, particularly this year to play at a number that's well above that of a backup catcher, so he's going to be a significant contributor..."

and:

"He's won a World Championship in his career, and he took on a situation like this in Detroit, a few years ago when a club was building and it worked out rather well for him..."

Of course, that's his agent speaking for him, but at least through Mr. Boras, it doesn't sound like Rodriguez will be content with a backup role...So what if Flores is healthy? Is Washington ready for the second coming of Paul Lo Duca?