Color me shocked (what color is that?).
After tearing into the Nats' management for chasing big-money free agents and worrying about their management situation (how does a team have the worst record in the league and not sign their first-round pick?), the Nats go out and make a great trade. Here we are in November, and the Nats' management is giving fans reason for hope.
The deal
Josh Willingham and Scott Olson for Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers; second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean. For the Marlins, this is nothing more than a salary dump. Jeff Loria (owner) is literally stealing from teams in the league.
The Marlins' payroll is lower than their revenue sharing income—that's criminal. I don't blame Mike Hill (GM) or Larry Beinfest (President of Baseball Operations) because Loria is essentially tying their hands with this payroll situation.
For Marlins fans, this has been a consistent cycle—build up young talent, start to compete, sell it off, rinse, lather, repeat. Give a ton of credit to Stan Meek, who continues to scout talent in the draft and trades that works its way up to the majors.
For the Marlins
Emilio Bonifacio
Bonifacio is incredibly fast, but terrible at getting on base. Think Juan Pierre. It’s hard to steal second if you’re not on first. He has a place in the majors as a backup and pinch runner, but he has a very limited upside with a sub-.300 OBP.
Throw-in P.J. Dean is a RHP in low-A ball. His K/9 innings is solid at 7.01, but at 20, he’s nothing more than a project. P.J. was a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft. Jake Smolinski, also included, is a 2B with a .750 OPS. He’s only 19, so it’s way too early to judge, but at this point he’s so far away from the Big Show he doesn’t have a ton of value. He was selected in the second round in 2007.
For the Nats
The Nats acquired two players entering their arbitration-eligible years. These players are still going to be cheap valuable players, especially Scott Olsen, who, if he returns to form, could be a potential front-end LHP.
Josh Willingham
The acquisition of Josh Willingham shows the Nats are looking to address their true weaknesses. The Nats were dead last in OPS behind the Padres, Giants, and Pirates. They ranked 11th in the N.L. in OBP. Josh Willingham instantly improves that situation.
Willingham will get on base, give the Nats some decent pop (20 homers), and plays a solid corner outfield spot. An outfield of Milledge, Dukes, and Willingham gives the Nats a solid young outfield going forward.
Scott Olsen
Olsen is a huge upside play for the Nats. If the velocity he showed at the end of last season holds up, the Nats just acquired a left-handed pitcher who sits in the mid-90s with solid breaking balls. In other words, the Nats just acquired their No. 1 starter next year.
Both players have their risks. Overall, the Nationals just capitalized on the Marlins' financial situation (notably their penny-pinching owner) and acquired two great building blocks. It Olsen returns to form, they can choose to build their pitching staff around him, or trade him after buying-low.
Maybe there’s hope after all.
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