I have spoken at length about Chien-Ming Wang in the past, but I wanted to comment on and commend both the Nationals and Wang for coming to an agreement late last week on a 1-year deal for $4 million dollars plus incentives for 2012. It was said that Mike Rizzo really wanted a club option for 2013 included in the contract, though Wang did not agree to that demand, likely in exchange for not testing free agency or holding out for a multi-year commitment. Most expected Wang to re-sign with the Nationals but I was surprised he received $4 million guaranteed, I anticipated he would command closer to $2 million in base salary, with more tied to incentives.
Still, the Nationals are making an educated gamble with Wang as he returned last season and pitched fairly well, especially his last few starts- if he stays reasonably healthy next season but does not increase his velocity or find some additional sink to his pitches, he should more than earn his salary eating innings at the back-end of the starting rotation. However, if Wang can find an addition 1-2mph and/or two to three more inches of downward sink on his sinker this winter with additional strength training and recovery, he immediately becomes an impressive middle-of-the-rotation caliber pitcher and would be worth two to three times his salary. That is a gamble any team would make from their 5th starter and a nice wager for $4 million dollars. This is a good signing for the Nationals by only making a 1-year commitment, and good for Wang to receive such a healthy guarantee – excellent deal by both sides.
Overall Grade: B to B+
Also late last week, the Nationals exposed bench player Brian Bixler to waivers, in an attempt to free up a spot on the 40-man roster, but unfortunately he was claimed in the process by the Houston Astros. There go my chances at perfectly predicting the National’s moves this off-season. I thought Brian would stick with the organization throughout this winter and find his way onto the roster next season with his defensive versatility, speed, and cheap salary. Bixler is a nice asset off any National League bench, as he can capably play five positions and is a valuable pinch runner, but Davey Johnson has expressed a desire for more offensive firepower from his bench next season, something Bixler does not provide. I will never be critical of any organization exposing and losing a utility infielder, but I expect Bixler to earn a job somewhere next season as a bench player.
Overall Grade: C-
While the focus will consistently be on the Washington Nationals here at NatsGM, from time to time I will comment on some of the hot stove trades and signings this off-season. One deal that caught my attention occurred Monday when the San Francisco Giants traded LHP Jonathan Sanchez and a LHP prospect Ryan Verdugo to Kansas City for OF Melky Cabrera. I have long been a fan of both Sanchez and Cabrera far more than the general consensus, and found this trade rather interesting.
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San Francisco traded from their starting pitching surplus in order to fill a need in their outfield by trading for Melky Cabrera. Cabrera has been a bit of an enigma in his career, having stretches of terrific play with the Yankees and Royals but has severely underachieved at times as well, most specifically for Atlanta in 2010 . He is a below-average defender in center field but makes up for it with a solid left-handed bat. I do not think Melky is a great fit in center field for the Giants, as their home ballpark AT&T Park has one of the biggest outfields in baseball and his below average range and speed are not ideal. In fact, the projected outfield of Aubrey Huff in Left, Cabrera in Center, and Nate Schierholtz in Right would be one of the worst defensively in recent memory. However, the Giants desperately needed to improve their lineup this winter, and Cabrera is a nice upgrade offensively over Andres Torres. Still, I am surprised Giants GM Brian Sabean was forced to include a reasonable pitching prospect, LHP Ryan Verdugo, in the deal as Sanchez should have been more than adequate. Thus, I disagree with this trade from San Francisco’s prospective and as much as I like Melky Cabrera, I would have continued searching for a better offer.
Overall Grade: Kansas City -> B- San Francisco -> C-
This “Tip of the Fedora” goes out to Mike Axisa, Tim Dierkes, and everyone at MLBTradeRumors.com – thank you for including my 2-Part series last week into your weekly Baseball Blogs Weigh In column last Friday. This is a must-read piece every Friday for me, as it highlights the best writing on the various baseball blogs on the internet. Also, this website is the best baseball rumors site on the internet, so if you are interested in keeping up with the Hot Stove rumors of your favorite club this winter, I recommend bookmarking their website, and following them on Twitter @MLBTradeRumors. Thanks again!
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Ryan/NatsGM,
I liked the flow of this piece and hope to continue to weigh in on the various moves around baseball this winter, not just with the Nats. You have been doing great work recently, keep it up!
Andy
When I first heard that a CF had been moved, my first thought was wondering if the Nats should have been involved in the trade. Just curious if you have an opinion on whether Cabrera would have been a good fit for us.
@Andy… been a long time since I’ve seen you, thanks for the kind words. Keep reading and I will keep writing, I promise-
@Tom… Melky would have been a clear upgrade from what the Nats had in center field last season and what they currently have on the roster , but I don’t think he would be the perfect fit… he is only signed through 2012 so he is not a long-term solution unless signed to an extension (a major reason I did not think BJ Upton was the right choice this off-season either), his below-avg defense isn’t what Rizzo has trended towards since taking over and his range is center would further expose Morse and Werth’s lack of range in the corners next season and most importantly, while Cabrera has a solid bat, he is not the leadoff hitter the Nationals desperately need this winter. Melky has a career .331 on-base percentage in over 3,000 at-bats, so it is unlikely that number will greatly improve.
If I/Mike Rizzo wasn’t such a snob for defense in center field or if the club didn’t so desperately needed a leadoff man, I think Melky would have been a sneaky way for the Nationals to fill their gap in center field next season. Thanks for writing and great thought!
I enjoyed you analysis of the trade. I also thoguht what you posted in the comments was very accurate as far as Melky being a fit here in DC. At first I thought he should have been a target but he is coming off a career year and KC was definitely selling high on him, which is actually one of the smartest Drayton Moore has made in his tenure.
Moore has done a tremendous job building their farm system but his major league moves have been quite suspect. Now though he seems to be making some smart moves (ie. Trading Melky, picking up Felipe Paulino for next to nothing last year, not trading Alex Gordon when he was struggling.) and they look like they have a good shot coming up in the weaker AL Central.
@PDowdy… Well said, GM Moore was somewhat shaky with some of his early signings and trades but he has been on a hot streak in the past year or so. I still do not understand his love for Jeff Francoeur, but he has set up the Royals to be the sleeper pick to win that division in 2012, and likely the favorite in that division in 2013 – 2015(?). He’s done a nice job building up that franchise and deserves more credit for some of the moves he has made. Great point, thanks for writing!
I wonder if Bradley Meyers will be given a shot in spring training? Has to be one of the pitchers Rizzo keeps showering accolades on … saying that there are pitchers that could pitch in the majors today.
I am not the biggest Meyers fan but he could certainly find a place on a major league staff next year, likely in middle relief rather than as a starter. I would assume Mike Rizzo will add him to the 40-man roster shortly, and give him an opportunity in Viera next February.
Just another solid arm the Nationals have drafted and developed in the past few years, nice work!
Looks like Rizzo agrees and he was left off of the 40-man roster and so is unprotected in the rule 5 draft.
Peric-
Probably a solid gamble, though I think he could help a team next season, as an 11th or 12th pitcher.
I was surprised that Solano was protected, though I do not know him like most prospects in the system. Obviously this leads to speculation that Jesus Flores might be included in a trade this winter.