2008 Free Agents

[GnarlsOakley]

which 2008 free agents do u see the nats going after?

here's a full list http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/10/2 ... ree_a.html

[SportsWorld]

I see a majority of players on that list retiring because there are so many veterans on that list.
If you have the money...try Andrew Jones or Adam Dunn or Westbrook

[jefbo_80]

If the Nats really plan on spending money in the coming years after last offseasons purge I could only see the Nationals going after a couple guys on that list...

Andruw Jones and Jason Jennings...

[GnarlsOakley]

yeah Andruw Jones was the guy that i definetely see them going hard after. i think he fills some huge holes on that team; centerfield, right-handed power hitter, gold glove-caliber defense.

and i also think they're gonna stick with the Atlanta connection and possibly go after John Smoltz. there are already enough inexperienced guys on that pitching staff, Smoltz would bring great balance to it with his consistency, veteran leadership and experience. he's 40 but he could prove to be invaluable to young guys like Balester and Willems when they come up in a couple years.

[lpsevier]

yeah Andruw Jones was the guy that i definetely see them going hard after. i think he fills some huge holes on that team; centerfield, right-handed power hitter, gold glove-caliber defense.

and i also think they're gonna stick with the Atlanta connection and possibly go after John Smoltz. there are already enough inexperienced guys on that pitching staff, Smoltz would bring great balance to it with his consistency, veteran leadership and experience. he's 40 but he could prove to be invaluable to young guys like Balester and Willems when they come up in a couple years.

I highly doubt John Smoltz finishes his career as a National, or any other team not named Atlanta for that matter.

No way Andruw comes to the Nats either.

[Ed Wood]

Jones will almost certainly be overcompensated for his services by whichever team it is that bids highest for them, he might also be over valued by the Braves out of fear that allowing him to leave might mean his Hall of Fame Plaque might not depict him wearing the Hotlanta blue and red.

It's my guess that Adam Dunn might never play another game in the outfield after the end of this season, barring his moving to a team with another hitter who is even more utterly incapable of any sort of swiftness of foot. Nick Johnson is only slightly older than Adam, and while much more fragile, nearly as effective a player, if not his equal. Dunn could well ramp up either his average or his power (even more) but I'm content with Johnson currently and I certainly wouldn't sign Dunn to a deal of the length he'll probably command. He has old player skills and he's already slowing down considerably, players with his skill set do not tend to age very well.

Taking into account the contracts I believe the players listed by that link will require (and those who I don't believe are really potential Nationals regardless) those I think might possibly be worth consideration are Jennings, Westbrook, either Guillen or Giles if they're allowed to reach free agency, Zambrano if for some reason Chicago doesn't lock him up to a long term deal, and either Bradley or Rowand if the price is right.

[Rafael122]

Carlos Guillen signed an extension and Zambrano is close to one as well, so cross them off the list.

I also think Abreu got his option picked up as a result of being traded to the Yankees.

Some of these guys are also arbitration eligible. Out of that list though, if the Nats were serious about spending money go after the following:

Jake Westbrook, Andruw Jones or Torri Hunter, Freddy Garcia, Scott Linebrink, and Jason Jennings. Fix the pitching first, as they have a respectbale offense, more or less.

[jmrosenth]

I agree with Raffy. They need pitching more than anything else. Btwn Kearns, Lopez, Snelling, Church, and Zimmerman they have some good young hitters who have upside. Sure, they could use a big bopper, but the team will never even be an average team without some more arms. I'm not sure who's on the farm, but they definitely need to address the rotation heading into 2008 and the new ballpark.

I'd also dump Dimitri and any other veteran for prospects at the deadline. I'm rooting for Dimitri to play well so he'll net us something nice in July.

[jefbo_80]

I agree with Raffy. They need pitching more than anything else. Btwn Kearns, Lopez, Snelling, Church, and Zimmerman they have some good young hitters who have upside. Sure, they could use a big bopper, but the team will never even be an average team without some more arms. I'm not sure who's on the farm, but they definitely need to address the rotation heading into 2008 and the new ballpark.

I'd also dump Dimitri and any other veteran for prospects at the deadline. I'm rooting for Dimitri to play well so he'll net us something nice in July.

There's also a good chance Chad Cordero gets dealt for prospects...

[WashWiz54]

I'm rooting for Dimitri to play well

so he'll net us something nice in July.

[Ed Wood]

I'm rooting for Dimitri to play well

so he'll net us something nice in July.

That's really just the nature of the beast at the moment, and with Bowden at the helm any trade value at all shall not go unused.