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Now that Adam Dunn is the regular 1B for the Nationals, Nick Johnson's feeling left out:

WASHINGTON -- With Adam Dunn slated to become the Nationals' everyday first baseman, what does this mean for the Nick Johnson? The team will most likely look to trade Johnson, who said he will not accept a bench role.

There was talk of the Athletics having interest in Johnson after the team asked for his medical records, but a deal is not close between Oakland and Washington.

"I would rather play every day, smell the grass and run around," Johnson said via phone on Wednesday night.

So yeah, obviously I'm trying not to get overly excited about this idea, but the fit is there. Johnson, when healthy, is a phenomenal player. For his career, he rates above average at 1B with a career UZR/150 of 5.9, and his most pessimistic wOBA projection comes from Marcel at .374, which is pretty much what Abreu has to offer.

The injury history is old news at this point, but Nick Johnson missing a fair chunk of playing time still works out quite well for us, since it allows us to give Clement/Wlad/Prospect more ABs.

Gimme gimme gimme gimme.

Edit: In my excitement, I forgot to post a link.

Rocco Baldelli will be signing with the Red Sox.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090107&content_id=3736388&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

I really liked Baldelli as an option for LF next season. I imagine he won't be that expensive and we had the depth necessary to not make me afraid of his fragile body.

And if that weren't enough, John Smoltz is apparently joining him

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090107&content_id=3736434&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

What fantastic news.

Just hit a Grand Slam in the top of the 4th against the Angels.

Texas leads 5-0.

75 words long woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo

Last spot on the roster has basically come down to this. Bullpen is Putz, Lowe, Green, Dickey, EOF, and RRS. Bench is Willie, Cairo (boo!), Burke, and Morse. Are you a 7 man bullpen or a 5 man bench kinda guy? Vote now.

Cha Seung Baek:

Pros & Cons --

Greg Norton:

Pros & Cons --

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