Weighing in on Estes
Tuesday: Where does Detwiler fit in the rotation? | Wednesday: Wang update | Thursday: Nats sign Dukes, more on Wang | Friday: Expectations high for Nats in 2010 | Saturday: Kennedy official; some on Willingham | Sunday: A little more on Benson
Monday, February 8:
Phil Wood writes on the Nats' minor league contract players: "[T]he Nats have signed [Shawn] Estes, along with big league veterans Miguel Batista, Eddie Guardado, Ryan Speier, Jamie Burke, Eric Bruntlett, Pete Orr, Chris Duncan, Kevin Mench and Jerry Owens to minor league deals. Some will make the opening day roster. Some will go to Syracuse, and some will be released. It's how this business does business. None of these guys were signed in the hopes they'd be big difference makers." [masnsports.com]
Fire Jim Bowden examines Russell Branyan: "The 34-year-old Branyan was reportedly looking for a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $20 million, which explains why he's still looking for work. At this point, he'd do well to get a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $5 million.
Branyan would be an excellent fit on the Nationals' current roster, giving them a true first baseman, backup to Ryan Zimmerman, and a left-handed thumper whom they could platoon with Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham by sliding Adam Dunn back and forth between first base and the outfield. And in the event that the Nationals find a trading partner for Willingham or [Mike] Rizzo finally does away with Dukes (as he's clearly always intended to), they'll need someone.
Branyan has always had great power and patience, and for years he's been underrated by GMs paying too much attention to his strikeouts. Last year, finally given a full time job by Jack "would have been a better choice than Rizzo" [Jack] Zduriencik, Branyan pummeled righties to the tune of .267 / .363 / .542. He faded in the second half, but based on his overall track record, there's no reason to think he won't repeat his overall 2009 line this year." [Fire Jim Bowden]
Dave Nichols weighs in on Shawn Estes: "More than likely, he doesn't show anything in Spring Training and gets cut. But there are so many young starters in camp, why bring in another used up, injury-riddled arm to take innings from guys that you might, um, actually use someday." [Nationals News Network]
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Categories (click for archive)Saying Nationals |
I mean it. I don't ever want to see Adam Dunn in the outfield again. Not two one-hundred loss seasons, not inviting Philly fans to invade our stadium, not Odalis Perez as our opening day starter, but putting Adam Dunn back in the outfield is what will throw me into despair.