All about Kennedy
Monday: Nats healthy, confident in 2010 | Tuesday: Could Nats be interested in Benson? | Wednesday: Nats agree with Mench, possibly interested in Wang | Thursday: Nats monitoring Wang | Saturday: More on Kennedy and another signing | Sunday: Analyzing Strasburg
Friday, February 5:
Ben Goessling examines the Nats' middle infield: "Barring an injury or a scenario in which Ian Desmond overtakes Cristian Guzman at shortstop, the Nationals look like they will open the season with Kennedy at second and Guzman at short. Expanding that organizationally, I'd assume Desmond starts the season as the shortstop at Class AAA Syracuse, with Willie Harris, Eric Bruntlett and possibly Alberto Gonzalez as backup options. There's a possibility Desmond makes the big-league club and gets at-bats off the bench, but I think the Nationals would prefer to have him playing every day.
If that happens, here's where it gets interesting: Guzman is a free agent after the season, and [Adam] Kennedy has a $2 million team option for next year. That means both of those guys could be trade bait late this summer (Guzman's $8 million salary would probably mean a trade would involve the Nationals eating some of his salary), or they could both be gone after this season.
Desmond could be in the majors this year, possibly starting at shortstop late this summer if Guzman falters. More likely, though, he's competing for the starting job next year, with Danny Espinosa right on his heels. The Nats like both players, but the sense I get is that Espinosa's ceiling might be a little higher, especially at the plate. They could move Desmond to second base, but they also have 2009 second-rounder Jeff Kobernus moving through the system. For all three of those guys, this is going to be an important season." [masnsports.com]
Ben Goessling reports the Nats have agreed to terms with Adam Kennedy: "Unable to get free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, the Nationals wasted little time moving on to their next option to fortify their middle infield for the 2010 season.
The team agreed late last night to a one-year deal with former A's second baseman Adam Kennedy, who will likely start at second base, keeping Cristian Guzman at shortstop and giving Ian Desmond more time to polish his defensive skills at Triple-A Syracuse.
Kennedy's deal is for one year at $1.25 million, with a $2 million club option option for 2011. It came just hours after Hudson -- the team's first choice on the free-agent middle infield market -- signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Minnesota Twins." [masnsports.com]
Chico Harlan writes on the Adam Kennedy agreement: "Acting quickly after losing Orlando Hudson to the Minnesota Twins, the Washington Nationals have reached an agreement with free agent second baseman Adam Kennedy in an attempt to fill the last major need of their offseason. Kennedy has agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million, with a $2 million option for 2011.
The signing came just hours after the Nationals gave up on inking Hudson, unable to meet his salary demands." [Washington Post]
Bill Ladson has some information on Adam Kennedy: "The left-handed-hitting Kennedy had a nice comeback season in 2009, hitting .289 with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Athletics. The previous two years, he played in just a combined 202 games because of injuries.
Kennedy, 34, is best known for his years with the Angels. In 2002, he was the American League Championship Series MVP after hitting three home runs against the Twins in Game 5.
Kennedy has a connection to manager Jim Riggleman, as the two worked together when both were in the Cardinals organization in 2007. Riggleman was the Minor League field coordinator while Kennedy played second base for St. Louis." [MLB.com]
Mark Zuckerman says Stephen Strasburg has to become an ace for the Nats to contend in 2011: "You can't win without good starting pitching, there's no way around that. And realistically, you can't make a real run without a legit No. 1 atop the rotation. Among those currently employed by the Nats, only Strasburg has a real chance to become that guy. I know it's unfair to put this kind of pressure on a 21-year-old kid who still hasn't thrown his first pitch in the minor leagues, let along the major leagues. But every indication from every talent evaluator and coach who has seen Strasburg pitch leads me to believe he will be as good as advertised ... provided he stays healthy. Assuming he makes his Nats debut sometime in the middle chunk of the 2010 season, he'll have time to take a few lumps, learn what it takes to get big-league hitters out and then return fresh in 2011 ready to assume his place atop the rotation." [Nats Insider]
Bill Ladson tweets the impact of Adam Kennedy: "With 2B Adam Kennedy on the Nats roster, it most likely means that Cristian Guzman will stay at SS." [@washingnats]
Buster Olney tweets the terms of Adam Kennedy's deal: "Heard this: The terms on Adam Kennedy's deal with the Nationals -- 1 year, $1.25 million, plus a club option for $2 million for 2011." [Buster_ESPN]
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