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According to Bill Ladson, we have offered Mark Buerhle a contract. He's looking for a no-trade clause.

Latest Ken Rosenthal tweet suggests that the Marlins and Nationals are the two teams left for Mark Buerhle. Marlins, however, have offered Wilson a year contract, so if Wilson accepts, that would assume Buerhle goes to t he Nats.

1. Strasburg
2. Zimmermann
3. Buerhle
4. Wang
5. Lannan

Solid rotation 1-5.

It definitely is looking like that. As always it'll be interesting to see who signs where first, because it'll set a chain of events in motion. No one wants to set the market for anything under their maximized value though.

I hope the Nats trade some of their young pitching depth in this case for a cf. If Mark B. signs...

Buerhle to Marlins, 4 yrs/$58 million. WOW.

That pretty much eliminates the Nats or any other sane team going out and getting starting pitching. Almost 15 million a year? No thanks. It's said the Nats will turn to Oswalt now, no thanks if it's anywhere near this cost.

Guess Detwiller, Peacock or Milone might actually get a chance this year now...

$14.5 million for a guy who would be at best our #3 starter is a lot of coin.

With the way the Pujols saga played out, I really hope the Nats look into extending Zimmermann as soon as possible. If the guy is killing it through June of next season, lock him up.

Rafael122 wrote:With the way the Pujols saga played out, I really hope the Nats look into extending Zimmermann as soon as possible. If the guy is killing it through June of next season, lock him up.

Agreed.

Nats trade Balester to the Tigers for Ryan Perry.

Perry was a first rounder in 2008 and throws hard like Balester. Has control problems though, that I guess the Nats are hoping they can improve upon ala H-Rodriguez. Probably also did it because Balester is out of options, Perry is not.

Lateral move I suppose.

So the Nats are interested in Mike Cameron apparently. He's 39 and about done, but he probably can still play an okay center field.

Although they're supposedly looking at him purely as a bench bat, it shows the Nats might be cooked in their pursuit of a centerfielder.

I suppose Ankiel/Cameron would be a passable combo in center for a year. If they can even sign Ankiel and not give a Lance Nix-type of effort.

Yu Darvish (SP) was posted and I would bet the Nats bid. We will see about that as well.

Just have Bernadina in center, it's not this difficult. Yeah, Bernadina isn't a threat with the bat, but he's fast and plays solid defense. I'm sure we could be OK with Roger there for another year, or push comes to shove, move Werth to center, Morse in right until Harper comes up.

BTW, looks like the Nats didn't even a submit for Yu.

Also discouraging when the Brewers submit the winning bid for Aoki.

For 2.5 million.

The way I see it, at best Yu would have been our #3 starter. You don't pay $100 million for a #3.

Looks like Mike Cameron picked the Nats over the Indians. Yayy Nats.

Hot rumor on Twitter reported by Ken Rosenthal that the Nats are closing in on a deal for Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland Athletics. Lefty, one of the top young pitchers in baseball and best of all under team control through 2015.

I would assume one of Millone/Peacock/Detwiler will be traded, followed by either Flores or Norris.

Rafael122 wrote:Hot rumor on Twitter reported by Ken Rosenthal that the Nats are closing in on a deal for Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland Athletics. Lefty, one of the top young pitchers in baseball and best of all under team control through 2015.

I would assume one of Millone/Peacock/Detwiler will be traded, followed by either Flores or Norris.

What disturbs me about this is apparently a four for one is being discussed. Fine with it, but not sure I want to part with the farm for him, especially if it weakens the pen with Clippard or Storen, or if it involves Desmond, Lombardozzi, or Espinosa.

Really just want a CF.

It looks like Peacock and Norris have been mentioned. Should be interesting what happens.

BTW, team is close to signing Mark DeRosa. He's been hampered by injuries but he'd probably be one of the big bats off the bench, can play 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and I believe left and right field.

Rafael122 wrote:It looks like Peacock and Norris have been mentioned. Should be interesting what happens.

BTW, team is close to signing Mark DeRosa. He's been hampered by injuries but he'd probably be one of the big bats off the bench, can play 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and I believe left and right field.

Sure for DeRosa off the bench, why not?

Boswell today ripped the Nats for standing pat this offseason, blaming the Lerners. I think that's somewhat unfair though, especially after Jayson Werth. Still, I will be disappointed if the Nats cannot acquire one top of the order guy, preferably in CF.

Or else it looks like fourth place, even if they do get Gonzalez.

Nats trade for Gio Gonzalez for Millone, Peacock, Norris and Cole.

Steep price but they had to do it. This is why you build up a farm system to make a trade like this. Gio will be slotted behind Stephen and Jordan, that is a formidably 1-2-3 rotation right there.

Only player I hate to lose is Cole, only because he's 19. Still has room to grow.

Well, nice to have pitching depth to make such a trade, for an established guy. And as someone that wants a good season next year, can't complain.

But the A's got a frickin' HAUL for Gonzalez. Cole, Milone, and Peacock and Norris? Excluding Harper and Rendon, Peacock and Cole are the highest rated players in a top 5 system in baseball.

A's got three major league future starters and a starting catcher. I don't think any of the pitchers will be aces, but I think they'll all end up somewhere in #2-#4 range.