Nationals Notebook
Rizzo Promises to Deal Only if Offers Are Right
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Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Washington Nationals have baseball's worst record, a stockpile of tradable veterans and a regular lineup with six of eight position players aged 29 or older. But acting general manager Mike Rizzo said yesterday that he feels no obligation to conduct a fire sale, and downplayed the notion that the weeks leading to the July 31 trading deadline would result in team-altering player movement.
"A big transition period? I don't think that," Rizzo said. "We'll make deals based on good baseball decisions. 'Fire sale' means you want to dump people. We don't want to dump people."
Among those on Washington's 40-man roster, only two players -- third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Jesús Flores -- have the entrenched status where you can assume they'll be starting in 2011. Adam Dunn's two-year, $20 million contract expires at the end of 2010. Cristian Guzmán's two-year, $16 million expires at the same time. Nick Johnson, currently earning $5.5 million, will be a free agent at year's end. Another veteran in the group drawing trade interest, corner outfielder Josh Willingham, is under club control (and arbitration eligible) for two more years.
"Why would you want to dump Willingham? We control him for two years, he's [30] years old, and he's a good hitter," Rizzo said. "I still think it's a young team. Willingham and Zim, those are guys in their primes or entering their primes. Including Dunn."
Asked specifically if Johnson was most likely to be dealt, Rizzo said, "Nick is probably the one with the most trade rumors, but we're not looking to move him. We'll only move him if we have the right opportunity. I don't want to put names as to who's most likely [to be traded], because we don't really know."
Back to Bergmann
Three times this year, the Nationals have demoted pitcher Jason Bergmann to the minors. In every instance, the move forced them to rely on lesser pitchers than Bergmann. And so the right-handed reliever keeps coming back.
After yesterday's game, the Nationals again made room for Bergmann, designating Jesús Colome for assignment. Colome, who had an 8.40 ERA in 15 games (15 innings), must be traded, released or placed on waivers within the next 10 days. If he clears waivers, he can report to the minors or become a free agent.
Bergmann, in his latest venture with the Chiefs, allowed just one earned run in seven games. His Class AAA ERA this year is 1.16.
