SB Nation User Blog: Ed Chigliak

Washington Nationals: Free Agent Chatter: Aroldis Chapman?

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:01:16 -0000

More photos » by Peter Morgan - AP

22-year-old Cuban-born left-hander Aroldis Chapman threw bullpen sessions for MLB scouts and even a few GM's today in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

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The Washington Nationals signed six free agents, or re-signed in three of six cases, but it was the fact that they simply "watched" an unsigned free agent that had some of the DC Faithful talking, and wondering if the Nationals could once again make the sort of splash in the international market that they did when they signed one Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez back in 2006. At the same time the team was announcing, or in some cases confirming the signings of, "...right-handed pitchers Joel Peralta, Logan Kensing and Ryan Speier, catcher Jamie Burke, infielder Pete Orr and outfielder Jerry Owens to minor league contracts," in an official team press release, reports coming out of Houston, Texas identified the Washington Nationals as one of 15 teams in attendance at a bullpen session thrown by Cuban-born left-hander Aroldis Chapman for the sake of the scouts, and in two cases, GM's, of teams the international free agent hopes to sign with this Winter.

ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure, Jr., in an article entitled, "Scouts watch Cuban lefty throw", reports that DC GM Mike Rizzo was one of those there to see the 22-year-old, 6'4'' left-hander in action. According to Mr. Arangure, Chapman's working with a slider, change, and most impressive of all, a fastball that was, "...mostly in the 92-93 mph range and topp(ed) out at 96 mph," (though his heater has hit triple digits in international competition). In addition to the article Mr. Arangure, Jr. wrote, he was tweeting about the story as it broke, and twice tweeted about the Nationals' presence at the throwing session:

• "Had two sources confirm #Nationals GM Mike Rizzo attended Chapman's workout..."

• "Rizzo was the only out of town GM to attend the workout. Wade attended but obviously he lives in Houston."

Are the Nationals serious suitors for the most coveted free agent pitcher still on the market? (Sorry, Ben Sheets). Two problems: 1) The price tag - According to Mr. Arangure, Jr., "...the only team known to have made an offer for Chapman," is the Boston Red Sox, who have had a $15.5 million dollar deal on the table for some time, but Mr. Arangure Jr. also notes that Chapman's agent, "Randy Hendricks confirmed there are offers on the table for Chapman but did not disclose details," which leads us to problem No. 2) Hendricks? Randy Hendricks? The Hendricks Bros.? Hendricks Sports Management? Any of this ring a bell? That's right, Aroldis Chapman and Aaron Crow share agents. Luckily, it will be DC GM Mike Rizzo dealing with them this time if the Nationals are actually interested.

Six Free Agents Signed:

Logan Kensing, Jamie Burke and Pete Orr we already know, and the signings of Jerry Owens and Ryan Speier were already public knowledge, but the one new name among the six free agents the Washington Nationals signed today was Joel Peralta, a 33-year-old right-hander who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Athletics back in 1996, and has since pitched for 3 Major League teams, the LA Angels, Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies, posting a combined (4-11) record with a 4.61 ERA in 221 games and 273.1 IP over which he's allowed 140 runs, 43 HR's (1.1 HR/9) and 76 walks (2.5 BB/9), while recording 213 K's (8.0 K/9) in his 5 MLB seasons.

LINKS:

• Washington Nationals: Official Press Release - "Nationals sign six players to minor league contracts".

• Washington Post - Chico Harlan - "Rizzo in attendance to watch Chapman."

The Nats Blog: Washington Nationals Winter Meeting Review.

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:56:51 -0000

The Nats Blog: Washington Nationals Winter Meeting Review.

Will Yoder of The Nats Blog.com wrote to writers from each of the NL East's teams asking them to sum up their respective franchise's actions at the recently concluded Indianapolis Winter Meetings. I contributed a quick capsule of the Washington Nationals' attempts to improve their roster in advance of the 2010 season.

Washington Nationals On Matt Capps' Short List?

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:09:26 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

According to reports the Washington Nationals are interested in signing free agent reliever Matt Capps, who was non-tendered by Pittsburgh this weekend after 5 seasons with the Pirates. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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• ESPNChigago.com writer Bruce Levine was the first writer out there to link the Washington Nationals to free agent reliever Matt Capps, and he did so in an article entitled, "Capps loves Cubs, but market is hot", in which he talked to Capps' agent Paul Kinzer, who listed the Nationals, Yankees, Orioles, Marlins and Rangers as five of twelve teams who had reportedly expressed interest in the 26-year-old right-handed free agent who was non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend....

• Monday night, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's report, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Olsen, Capps, Kasten", confirms Mr. Levine's reports of the Nationals' interest in the right-handed reliever, and Mr. Harlan goes on to state that the list of 12 teams ESPN Chicago.com's Mr. Levine mentioned has already been halved according to Capps' agent, Paul Kinzer, who tells Mr. Harlan, "...that the Nats are in a group of six or seven finalists. Within a few days, Capps wants to further narrow his list, perhaps to three teams -- and the Nats are likely to be on that list too..."

(cont.)...

• After going (9-1) with a 3.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 6.2 K/9 in his first full season in Pittsburgh in 2006, Matt Capps, an '02 7th Round Pirates' pick, then 23, saved 18 games for the Pirates in 2007, posting a (4-7) record with a 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 64 K's (7.3 K/9) in 79.0 IP, over which he walked just 16 (1.8 BB/9). In 2008, Capps was (2-3) with 21 saves, a 3.02 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 39 K's (6.5 K/9) in 53.2 IP in which he allowed just 5 walks (0.8 BB/9) and 5 HR's. Last year, however, the 25-year-old Capps (who turned 26 in September) was (4-8) with 27 saves, a 5.80 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 46 K's in 54.1 IP, (7.6 K/9), having walked 17 (2.8 K/9) and allowed 10 HR's...

• In explaining the decision to non-tender Matt Capps, Pirates' GM Neal Huntington told MLB.com writer Jennifer Langosch, in an article entitled, "Capps surprised by Bucs non-tender", that there was no way they would have non-tender Capps if he was, "...what he was in '07 and in the first half in '08,":

"'While we believe Matt can be a bounce-back candidate for next season, we just weren't willing to go through the arbitration process and risk losing. We got to a number that was our final offer, and when they rejected it, we felt like this was our only option.'"

In explaining his struggles in 2009, Capps told the MLB.com writer Ms. Langosch that, "There were a lot of things that contributed," to his statistical decline, including the rotator cuff bursitis that forced him to the DL in 2008:

"It was the first year coming off an injury. I dug myself into a little bit of a hole early and felt like I had to save it with each pitch. Still, you take away three games and my games are pretty good. But unfortunately for me, you can't do that."

?'s For The DC Faithful:

• Is Capps worth the risk at an estimated $3-4M a year? He also wants a multi-year deal of course...

• Do the Nationals stand a chance when the Cubs, Yankees and Rangers are mentioned as the competition?

• If Capps were he signed, would he close with DC? Capps tells Washington Post writer Chico Harlan he wants to close.

Washington Nationals' 2010 Middle Infield Update.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:30:29 -0000

by Tony Dejak - AP

What are the chances that the Nationals could get free agent infielder Mark DeRosa to make the same decision Pudge Rodriguez did? (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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• After Saturday's midnight non-tender deadline there were 266 free agents on the market, with just 22 middle infielders amongst them. Here's the current list, (according to MLB Trade Rumors.com):

2nd - Ronnie Belliard (Type B - Not offerred arbitration), Jamey Carroll, Craig Counsell, Mark DeRosa (Type B, Offered arbitration), Nick Green, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Orlando Hudson (Type A), Kelly Johnson, Adam Kennedy, Felipe Lopez (Type B - Not offered arbitration), Mark Loretta, Pablo Ozuna, Juan Uribe.

SS - Alfredo Amezaga, Eric Bruntlett, Orlando Cabrera (Type A - Can't be offered arbitration), Craig Counsell, Chris Gomez, Nick Green, Khalil Greene, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Miguel Tejada (Type A - Not offered arbitration).

• The last word from DC GM Mike Rizzo was in a Washington Post article by Chico Harlan entitled, "Rizzo Day III Briefing", where Mr. Harlan wrote that in Mr. Rizzo's opinion, he saw, "...the signing/acquisition of a 2B as being more likely," since, as he was quoted stating, "I think there's certainly more second baseman available of interest than there are shortstops of interest," on the free agent market.

Which infielder should the Rizzo regime sign?

• As a Type B free agent who wasn't offered arbitration, Ronnie Belliard would cost the Nationals nothing if he were brought back, and since they were reportedly considering Orlando Hudson at times this winter, why not get the guy who beat Hudson out for the starting spot at second after he joined the Dodgers late last season in a trade. The Nationals expressed interest in Mark DeRosa earlier this offseason according to two of MLB.com's Bill Ladson's baseball sources, who were cited in an article entitled, "Nats show interest in DeRosa, Gonzalez", where Mr. Ladson wrote that the Nationals, "...mostly likely see DeRosa as a second baseman and right fielder." (ed. note - "Playing second and backing up Dukes in right...can DC overpay DeRosa like Pudge?") Giving up a 2nd round pick for the aforementioned Orlando Hudson doesn't make much sense for a team committed to building through the draft. Kelly Johnson, we discussed last night...Felipe Lop...next...Anyone else on the list the Nationals should consider?

Washington Nationals Re-Sign Lefty Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:07:05 -0000

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

If Washington Nationals' starting pitcher Scott Olsen is healthy, he'll be one of two left-handers in the twenty-ten rotation, as he signed a 1-year incentive-base deal to return to DC Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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• Scott Olsen was on the free agent market for less than twenty-four hours following the Nationals' decision to non-tender the 25-year-old left-hander last night, but they quickly decided to re-sign Olsen at a discounted rate, giving the 5th-year pro a $1 million dollar incentive-laded deal which, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick's "baseball source", could earn Olsen as much as $4 million next year should he make as many as 33 starts. Acquired in a November '08 deal with the Marlins, Olsen started just 11 games for Washington before a torn left labrum abruptly ended his first season in DC. Told of his non-tendering, Olsen was quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article last night entitled, "Nats cut ties with hurlers MacDougal, Olsen", stating that he didn't, "...have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."

• Last season, in 11 starts and 62.2 IP, Olsen, a Kalamazoo, Michigan native, was (2-4) with a 6.03 ERA, 42 K's, (6.0 K/9), 25 walks, (3.6 BB/9) and a 1.72 WHIP, following four seasons with the Marlins, over which he posted a (31-37) combined record with a 4.63 ERA combined ERA and an average of 9.4 H/9 and 3.6 BB/9 allowed and 6.7 K/9 inning recorded...

• After non-tendering Olsen and '09 closer Mike MacDougal Saturday, DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in an article entitled, "Nats non-tender Olsen, MacDougal", that he'd, "...be very comfortable if they're (both) wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season," so there's still a possibility that MacDougal, if he wasn't as insulted as he seemed in some articles, could return to DC, where the 32-year-old right-hander last season recorded his first major league save since July 16th 2006, and converted 20 of 21 save opportunities, all after June 17th.

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

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:11:59 -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 00:22:52 -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 19:28:50 -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 Times: Washington Nationals Chat.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:20:00 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

Will pitchers like Joel Piniero be more likely to sign with the Nationals now that they know they'll be throwing to a promising young catcher in Jesus Flores and a 14-time All-Star in Pudge Rodriguez?. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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I submitted two questions to Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling's "Live Nats Chat" Friday afternoon, asking first if he had any sense at the recently-concluded Winter Meetings that free agent pitchers were seriously considering the Nationals as a destination and then inquiring about the status of one pitcher already on the DC roster whose name surprised me recently when it was brought up as an option for the 2010 Nationals' staff.

• Check out the Full Chat Transcript HERE.

• If you aren't following Washington Times' Writers Ben Goessling and Mark Zuckerman on Twitter, you should be:

Twitter.com/washtimesbb

My two questions and the answers from Mr. Goessling after the JUMP...

Federal Baseball (FB): Did you get any feeling about whether free agent pitchers are considering DC as an option at the Winter Meetings?

washtimesbb: I didn't hear anybody say anything definitively, but my guess is, the Nats will have to pay a bit of a premium for anybody they sign. I'd assume any of the second-tier guys (Garland, Padilla, Marquis, Pineiro) will go for between $30-$36 million over three years.

FB: What was the last you heard about Matt Chico? I was somewhat shocked when Rizzo mentioned him a little while back as an option?

washtimesbb: You know, I kind of was, too. I don't see how he's better than most of the young guys they have (Balester, Mock, Stammen, Detwiler, Martis, etc.). But he has pitched a full major-league season, so I think he scores points for that. I think ultimately he could be the long guy they want in the bullpen.

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo On Pudge Rodriguez.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:03:55 -0000

More photos » by Kevin Wolf - AP

4 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).