6:36pm: Rizzo told reporters, including Zuckerman, that the Nationals' "Plan B" after missing out on Buehrle could involve Oswalt or other free agents and trade candidates. He has talked to the Athletics about Gio Gonzalez.
5:20pm: The Nationals had hoped to sign Mark Buehrle, but their offer to the left-hander fell short in both years and average annual value, tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. With Buehrle off the board, the Nats will switch their focus to Roy Oswalt, says Kilgore.
Kilgore reported in November that Oswalt was Washington's "Plan B" if the club couldn't land Buehrle. GM Mike Rizzo told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman) today that the Nationals aren't interested in other free agent pitchers, though Zuckerman clarifies that was before news of Buehrle's agreement broke (Twitter link). Oswalt is said to be seeking a three-year commitment.
wickedkevin
Good move.
nats2012
Dont overpay, this market isnt great for starting pitchers. There is no way Buehrle should get 4 years 58 mil, but there arent alot of options. We still have Strasburg, Zimmermann, Detwiller, Peacock, Lannan, Wang, and Milone so no need to overpay.
hallwagner
do it rizzo, you let buehrle fall off the table. get it done. also, i agree, dont overpay him. 2 years 20 mil maybe?
nats2012
You would pay Buehrle as much as he got?
hallwagner
look over the math again. buehrle got an average of 14.5 MM
GoAwayNow
The Nationals got Nationaled
Dan
Nationals, King of the Phillies sloppy seconds.
nats2012
Like Laynce Nix?
Diablo 2
Nats want to trade for all these player’s but have done nothing.. Do they even have anything to trade? Besides all these old guys..Because i’m pretty sure if A’s trade Gio they would want to get 3 very good prospects
nats2012
Are you serious? We only have young players, Strasburg, Harper, Rendon, Espinosa, Desmond, Ramos, Storen, Zimmermann, Peacock, Purke, Meyer, Norris, Clippard, Detwiller, Goodwin, Cole, Solis, Morse, Marrero, Moore, Lombardozzi, Kimball, Rodriguez, Milone all we have are young players.
Diablo 2
Ya it came out wrong i guess i was trying to say ..Are they willing to trade Strasburg? or Harper? or Clippard? Or Espinosa?or Storen?..Being the A’s they would love to rebuild and they would love to get atleast 2 of these players mentioned plus another guy
nats2012
I think pitching prospects that could move are AJ Cole, Sammy Solis, Brad Peacock, Robbie Ray, Tom Milone. Outfield prospects Destin Hood, Michael Taylor, Eury Perez and catching prospect Derek Norris could be guys named if they want outfield, catching and pitching prospects like they said they wanted. I just didnt know who you meant by old players because the only old players we have are Werth, Laroche, and Wang.
Diablo 2
some of those guys you mentioned seemed good but i still would like Storen or Cliippard with Espinonsa and maybe one of those OF..I really don’t even see Nats contending next year..I would rather just keep those young guys and wait 2-3 more yrs and Nats could be a pretty solid ball club
nats2012
Werth and Wang are our only two older players and Werth is 32.
nats2012
I think you are confusing us with the Angels.
Diablo 2
And Angels aren’t Old..IF is young Trumbo,Kedrick,Aybar,Callaspo,Conger,Iannetta,..Only pretty old guy is Izzy..and the OF will be young starting 2013..Away from Wells..all we have this yr is Abreu,Hunter,Wells that are old and our pitching well it’s one of the best and still pretty young..and it’s not the age that’s the factor for Abreu,Wells,Hunter but there price
nats2012
I was only joking about the Angels, I really like your team.
LUWahooNatFan
If the Nationals could trade for Gio I’d be ecstatic.. Wouldn’t mind Oswalt either, at the right price.
Strasburg, Zimmermann, Wang, Lannan, Peacock is not that bad of a rotation if Nationals don’t end up signing any of the remaining SP
squadwagon6
Trade for gio! Rizzo
chee1rs
don’t worry , overpaying is the name of the game