The Nationals Enquirer

Mark, Ben: Thank you.

And so, it became official this morning. As expected, the Washington Times Sports Department is done, effective Friday. Mark Zuckerman's farewell post over at Chatter is a must-read. 

We'd be remiss if we didn't offer good luck and best wishes to the entire Washington Times Sports department -- like Steinberg said this morning over at the Bog: DC as a sports town  takes a serious hit in the wake of this news. This is bad news for DC sports fans.

But our most pressing concern here, of course, is the Nats. This is bad, bad, bad, news for Nationals fans who crave smart, credible coverage of the team we love. So, the Nationals Enquirer staff would like to take a moment say a big "Thank You" to Mark Zuckerman and Ben Goessling for what you provided to Nationals fans. Good luck and best wishes. You'll be missed.

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With Everyday Eddie, Nats' bullpen gets older, more rotund.

  

 (AP Photo. Eddie Guardado, above, seen sprinting to catch the early bird special following a Spring Training workout with the Rangers last March. If the Nationals bring back Livan Hernandez, look for Livo, Eddie, and Brian Bruney to be leading the charge to the post-game spread this season.)

It's official: Nationals beef up bullpen with Everyday Eddie Guardado

No prank here: It's a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training with the big club. And since you can't mention the name Everyday Eddie without uttering the term, "workhorse", he's a workhorse.

Here's the official release from the team, issued this morning, in case there's any question about the details:

NATIONALS AGREE TO TERMS WITH LEFTHANDER EDDIE GUARDADO ON MINOR-LEAGUE CONTRACT

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Eddie Guardado on a minor-league contract. Nationals Senior Vice President & General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Guardado went 1-2 with five holds and a 4.46 ERA in 48 relief appearances last season with the Texas Rangers. Over his 17-year big league career, he has recorded 46 wins, 122 holds, 187 saves and a 4.31 ERA in 908 contests with the Twins (1993-2003, ‘08), Mariners (2004-06), Reds (2006-07) and Rangers (2008-09). The 39-year-old has posted a .251 batting average against, including a stingy .227 mark against opposing left-handers.
Guardado led the American League with 45 saves in 2002 and tallied double-digit save totals in six straight seasons from 2001-06. He posted 165 saves during those seasons, 157 of which were posted in the American League. Over those years, only Mariano Rivera’s 248 saves ranked higher in the AL.
Guardado’s 187 career saves rank 10th among active pitchers (second among left-handers) and his 122 holds rank 15th (sixth among left-handers).
Given the nickname "Everyday Eddie," Guardado ranks fourth among active pitchers (tops among left-handers) with 908 career appearances. He has averaged 59 appearances per season during the last 15 years (1995-2009).
A two-time All-Star, Guardado represented the Twins in both the 2002 and ‘03 Mid-Summer Classics. He led the Twins to post-season appearances in both of his All-Star seasons (‘02-03).

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Welcome Matt

 

(AP Photo. Welcome to Washington, Matt Capps.)

"They are giving me an opportunity to close out the ballgame, which was important to me. I feel that is an opportunity I'm going to have. It's going to be a lot of fun in Washington. I'm looking forward to 2010 and beyond. ... If I pitch the way I know I can pitch and the team has the success they should have, it's going to be a lot of fun."
(Matt Capps, via Nationals.com, 12/24/2009)

Capps chooses Nats over Cubbies.

Merry Christmas, NatsTown. It's official, almost: Nats strike $3.5 million, one-year deal with Matt Capps.

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Fifteen Grand Marquis

(AP Photo. Jason Marquis, looking good in the Curly W.)

"I think they need a few more [people with a veteran presence], bring a winning attitude, and pass down lessons they have learned from each team they have played on. It's an exciting time, and it's something I'm proud to be a part of."
(Jason Marquis, via Nationals.com, 12/22/2009)

"Yeah, when he was young he talked too much. You can tell he's a really good talker, really smart. He was mature at a very young age. He would talk, even though we had a locker room full of mature people. There's no question he can talk and is willing to reach out and share."
(Stan Kasten, via Chatter/Washington Times, 12/22/2009)

"I think there's a positive momentum. People see what we're trying to do. People see we're bringing in some veteran presence with a very good core of young players. But they also see these major league players like a Pudge Rodríguez and an Adam Dunn who have the option to go anywhere in baseball [and come here] I think it's a statement of where the franchise is headed."
(Mike Rizzo, via Washington Post, 12/22/2009)

Mr. Marquis goes to Washington.

It's official: Nationals introduce Jason Marquis. $15 million, 2 years.

Meanwhile...

Nationals closing in on Everyday Eddie Guardado, just in case, you know, Matt Capps chooses the Cubbies over the Nats.
 

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Marquis Christmas!

(Photo by Getty Images. Welcome to Washington, Jason Marquis!)

"Just coming to an organization that started making moves to brighten their future, I feel like being part of that could be something special. Strasburg could be something special. Lannan has been great the last two years. Pudge to mentor. I just wanted to be a part of something where they were showing they were going in the right direction, and also something where they wanted you to be a part of it."
(Jason Marquis, via Washington Post, 12/22/2009)

"I am excited that we are able to add a starting pitcher of his caliber. 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."
(Jason Bergmann, via MASN Sports.com, 12/21/2009)

Nats get their anchor!

2 years, $15 million: what a bargain!

It's a start: Jason Marquis #1; John Lannan #2.

Closer Matt Capps: Next!

"[Nationals GM] Mike Rizzo has done an unbelievable job."
(Capps' agent Paul Kinzer, via Yahoo.com, 12/22/2009)

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A four-hour Stan Kasten infomercial!

 

(AP Photo. Stan Kasten will co-host 106.7 The Fan's Mike Wise show from 10-2 mid-day today. No coincidence that the weather forecast is for unseasonably warm weather in DC today - look out for hurricane-force gusts of hot air blowing throughout DC/MD/VA today.)

Stan Kasten takes to the airwaves today on 106.7 The Fan's Mike Wise show from 10-2, presumably to talk baseball and try to sell some Nationals tickets (plenty of good seats still available!).

One question that comes to mind immediately: does anyone at 106.7 The Fan know there's a professional baseball team in Washington, and that Stan Kasten is President of that team? We seem to remember one time, when he was still writing for the Washington Post, Mike Wise wrote a piece in the newspaper about the Nationals. But Wise's recollection of that column is probably even fuzzier than ours.

Regardless, any break from the 24-7 Redskins/Tiger Woods chatter on the DC-airwaves is welcome as far as we're concerned: we'll certainly be tuning in to Stan's infomercial. Apparently Stan's got Adam Dunn and Jim Riggleman lined up as guests, too. We're thinking about trying to keep a running Tweet-log of Stan's biggest on-air whoppers -- if we can keep up -- so check that out over on Twitter.

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Jesus says: "It was like, 'Oh, my God.'"

 

(AP Photo by Nick Wass. Above, Jesus Flores on a stretcher in September 2008 after the infamous "Good School" collision at home plate with Chase Utley.)

See you in September, Jesus?

I believe this is what they mean by burying the lead... The headline over at Nationals.com reads "Flores overjoyed with signing of Pudge". Bill Ladson's story breezes along happily for a few paragraphs, as Jesus Flores reminds us that he is young and Pudge is old... and then, that little topic of Jesus Flores' health comes up...and then, the quote from Jesus Flores that's had NatsTown in a tizzy since late afternoon:

"I'm doing great. After surgery, I'm feeling much better. My strength is coming along. I'm moving my arm lot better. I'm going to be ready for the season. I'm completely shutdown [for Winter Ball]. I guess I will start to throw a baseball in February."
(Jesus Flores, via Nationals.com, 12/14/2009)

Jesus doesn't sound concerned. Should Nats fans be? Of course not! That's why we've got Wil Nieves!

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Welcome back, Scott Olsen.

 
 

(AP Photo. Well, that didn't take long; Scott Olsen is back in the fold in Washington.)

That's more like it!

Nationals re-sign Scott Olsen to 1 year, $1 million, incentive-laden deal.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnik has an unnamed source who says 33 starts is the magic number to get Olsen $4 million:

According to the source, the contract includes incentives that could increase Olsen's salary to almost $4 million if he makes 33 starts for the Nationals.

...while the Washington Times' Mark Zuckerman reports that 25 starts earns Olsen $3 million:

According to a source familiar with the deal, Olsen will earn $1 million in base salary. Incentives, though, would increase the deal to $3 million if he makes 25 starts and nearly $4 million if he makes 33 starts.

According to sources with no knowledge of the situation, the contract does not include incentives to increase Olsen's salary if his fastball registers 90 on the radar gun in 2010.

Re-reading Olsen's comments over at Bill Ladson's blog yesterday in the wake of the non-tender news, it seems obvious now that this deal must've been in the works for a while now: 

"It's not an unexpected move by the organization. We have to see how this plays out. I don't have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington  is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."
(Scott Olsen, via All Nats All The Time, 12/12/2009)

Nice job, Rizzo. Now, how about getting to work on that Javier Vazquez deal?

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Non-Tender is the Night

 

(AP Photos. Scott Olsen and Mike MacDougal: non-tendered by the Nationals today.)

"I certainly wouldn't be opposed to bringing either guy back. There's nothing wrong with the way they conducted themselves in the clubhouse and on and off the field. They were good teammates and good people."
(Mike Rizzo, via Chatter/Washington Times, 12/12/2009)

Nats say so long to Olsen, MacDougal.

For now.

Sounds like Rizzo is confident about his chances of bringing back both of 'em at bargain basement prices down the road, but it seems a little surprising for a team that needs all the help it can get at both the front and back ends of the staff. Were the potential paydays through arbitration really all that risky -- assuming Olsen (at $2.8 mill  last year) would take a pay cut and MacDougal ($2.65 mil in 2009) would get a raise? Two separate cases, yes. But thinking optimistically for once, and perhaps reading into these decisions more than necessary: maybe Rizzo is feeling good about his chances of upgrading both the front and back ends of the staff through outside acquisition(s), where those millions saved on Olsen and MacDougal might come in handy. We wouldn't complain about that. At the very least, Rizzo will be watching the scrapheap around baseball once the non-tender deadline clears tonight at midnight.

MLB dot com's Bill Ladson got reactions from Olsen and MacDougal... Olsen doesn't seem surprised by the news and indicates he's expecting to return; MacDougal, disappointed.

"It's not an unexpected move by the organization. We have to see how this plays out. I don't have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington  is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."
(Scott Olsen, via All Nats All The Time, 12/12/2009)

"I'm disappointed. I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it's a little disappointing. What can you do? I'm a free agent and go from there."
(Mike MacDougal,via All Nats All The Time, 12/12/2009)

Finally, Mark Zuckerman of the Washington Times reports that the Nats decided to tender contracts to Josh Willingham, Jesus Flores, Brian Bruney, Sean Burnett, and Jason Bergmann. Okay, no surprises there, really (except, maybe Bergmann). But hold on -- Zuckerman says the Nats tendered a contract to Wil Nieves after all. Who? Yes, that guy. What? Why? Another sign the team is not feeling good about Jesus Flores in 2010? Maybe Pudge is actually the bridge to Derek Norris?

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Pudge says: "I will play every day."

(AP Photo by Kevin Wolf. Mike Rizzo can't believe Scott Boras didn't tell his client that the Nats wanted him to be a mentor and backup catcher in Washington. But look on the bright side, NatsTown: they'll have two years to figure Pudge's role out.)

Uh oh!

How do you say "backup" en español?

"I'm ready to play every day. We discussed that. I'm a player that I still can play every day and I will play every day. And basically the thing is just, you know, to do my best for the club. I know that it's hard for me to play 162 games. That's impossible for a catcher. But as long as I'm healthy and I'm feeling great physically, I'll be in the field playing."
(Ivan Rodriguez, via Chatter/Washington Times, 12/11/2009)

Since the announced signing of Ivan Rodriguez by the Nats earlier this week, every word out of Rizzo et al. has pointed to Jesus Flores as the starter, Pudge as his backup (and mentor, whatever that means).

But at his introductory press conference today, Pudge emphatically declared his desire to play every day. Actually, more than that: he emphatically declared he would be the starter. Not that we expected Pudge to come out of the gate saying: "Great! I'm looking forward to riding the pine and getting a start or two a week! That's why I signed with Washington!" but his comments at the presser were surprising, to say the least, based on the way the deal was spun by the Nationals all week.

But Bill Ladson (sort of) shed a little light on the situation over at Nationals.com, with help from a shadowy, unnamed source (whose name rhymes with Kan Stasten?):

However, a source told MLB.com that Rodriguez most likely will be the 2010 Opening Day catcher for Washington because manager Jim Riggleman does not want to rush Flores back on the field.

The Nationals want to go slow with Flores, the source said. "By June, Flores and Rodriguez may split time, or [Riggleman] may go with the hot hand. We know this -- Rodriguez is not going to play 100 games."

So, Pudge is likely the starter for Opening Day: but are we to believe the "cautiously optimistic" Rizzo, that Jesus Flores will be 100% by Spring Training? Or does Ladson's source mean "Rodriguez is not going to play 100 games", because he is going to play 130 games?

Guess this is Jim Riggleman's problem to sort out now.

Finaly, Pudge will be wearing #7 in DC, a number worn proudly by:

• Brad Wilkerson CF (2005)
• Wiki Gonzalez C (2006)
• Felipe Lopez 2B (2006) [updated 11:25pm, thank you SBF]
• Nook Logan CF (2007)
• Roger Bernadina CF (2008)
• Emilio Bonifacio 2B of the future (2008)
• Josh Bard C (2009)

There's a punchline in there somewhere about Pudge, Wiki, and Nook, but we'll leave it alone.

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