Nats to sign Jason Marquis (updated)
MASNsports.com has learned that the Nationals will sign starting pitcher Jason Marquis. The deal has been reported at 2 years worth $15 million.
The 31-year-old starter went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA with the Rockies last season before becoming a free agent.
The Nationals will host a news conference for Tuesday at 2:30pm (live on MASN) where they will make an announcement regarding a free agent signing, that announcement presumably to be Jason Marquis.
While Nationals representatives would not confirm the signing, one club official did say that they were working out the details on a deal with the pitcher and that any deal would be contingent on Marquis passing a physical.
I spoke with Nationals pitcher Jason Bergmann about the deal.
"I am excited that we are able to add a starting pitcher of his caliber," Bergmann said. "It is a good day for our team and our fan base. It shows the league that the Nats are serious about getting better and contending. Marquis is a top of the rotation starter that can go deep into games. He was an All-Star last year and is a groundball pitcher. He is a veteran presence on our pitching staff and can be a mentor for our younger players."
When I spoke to Jim Riggleman before the Baseball Winter Meetings, he said that Marquis was one of about two or three starters that he and GM Mike Rizzo had targeted this offseason.
"He's a workhorse pitcher who can eat up a lot of innings and a guy that would be perfect at the top of our rotation," Riggleman said.
Nats first baseman Adam Dunn told me that Jason Marquis is good with the bat as well.
"He is going to help our offense. Jason is one of the best hitting pitchers in the National League."
Dunn says Marquis as a pitcher is "a gamer. He has good movement on his pitches."
I compared the pick up of Marquis with that of the Nats signing Dunn before 2009.
"We knew all along that the strength of the Nats down the road would be the pitching staff, whether it is John Lannan, Craig Stammen, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and many others, now including Jason Marquis, it will be good," Dunn said.
"Marquis came into the league throwing 95-plus miles per hour, and now he also knows how to pitch (besides just using his fastball). That knowledge will help Jason be a great teacher for our younger guys."
Stay tuned for more on this breaking story.
(Multiple MASNsports.com staff writers contributed to this story.)
More Marquis
-Check out Jason Marquis' career stats here.
-And for more on the Nationals' pursuit of Jason Marquis, read this recent post from Byron Kerr: Is Marquis the answer the Nats seek?
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This is another great move. Hopefully another starting pitcher(Brett Meyers?)still to come. Bullpen is much better already with Bruney and Capps would really help turn a weakness into a strength.
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you are right on track lefty, these are all names I have heard from Jim Riggleman as guys they are targeting!
One rotation spot goes from unspeakably awful to league average. Hurrah. 65 wins here we come.
31 years old. Career ERA+ of 99! Just a smidge under league average. Coming off a career year with a 4.04 ERA but a FIP of 4.7! IOW, the Nats buy high yet again just like Burnett and Morgan.
As long as this is seen for what it is: a band aid then OK fine. You are better in '10 and that's something.
But if this deal is too long or for too much money that it precludes better moves (signing int'l FAs or going over slot in the '10 draft) then this is really a setback.
Marquis is a very good middle of the rotation starter and he should be a good mentor for the young guys.
I agree with 'Lefty' that Brett Myers could be a good addition as well. He is a risk given his injury last year but he has as high a ceiling as any remaining free agent. I'd love to see the Nats sign him soon.
I also hope the reports about the Nats being in on the Cuban lefthander (Chapman) are true. Adding him to the mix along with Zimmermann and Strasburg could setup the next young "Big 3" in MLB in 2011.
It seems like we are another reliever or two and a very good middle infielder away from being a very competitive team in 2010.
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Myers and Matt Capps too much to ask for? It is the holidays! We shall see!
All right, Rizzo.
My own preference would be *not* to see the Nats sign Brett Myers.
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Well, how about Matt Capps? That would be very good, IMHO.
This is another great move by the Nats and Rizzo. It is a clear indication that the team will be headed in the right direction.
I sure am glad to have renewed my season tickets.
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Bruney, Pudge, Marquis, Riggleman... oh and Strasburg! All good in 2009 so far, maybe even more...look fwd to seeing you at the ballpark. If nothing else, Nats are certainly grabbing some attention!
Its a good signing, will defintely upgrade the starting rotation. I'm hoping for Garland too. Even better, the Nats beat out both the Mets and the Phillies, who were both interested in Marquis. He reminds me of an older John Lannan. Welcome to Natstown Jason!
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I agree Ray, I thought the NY connection would be the deciding factor, gotta give Riz tons of credit!
Wow, they spent too much. They should have been more patient.