This morning we learned that Mike Cameron has decided to retire after 17 seasons in the majors. The 39-year-old played for eight different teams during his career and won three Gold Gloves. Here's more on the Nats and other notes from around the National League East..
- Last week, the three-way trade the Phillies were looking to send Joe Blanton to the Angels for Bobby Abreu, then flip Abreu to the Yankees for A.J. Burnett, sources tell Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Phillies' thinking was that two years of Burnett would have provided at least a bit of a safety net if they lost Cole Hamels to free agency, Olney tweets.
- Cameron's retirement will force the Nationals to get creative in center field and possibly look for another right-handed hitter at the position, writes Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider. Alternatively, Washington could let either Rick Ankiel or Roger Bernadina take the job outright or move Jayson Werth to center field and put Bryce Harper in right.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com (via Twitter) spoke with Cameron who said Nationals GM Mike Rizzo tried to talk the veteran out of retiring. The center fielder said that he made up his mind last Wednesday.
- Third baseman David Wright's future with the Mets is likely independent of the club's performance, writes Dan Martin of the New York Post. The Mets hold a $16MM team option on the 29-year-old for next season, but Wright can void that option if he is traded.
- Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton isn't worried about hearing his name in trade rumors, writes Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Phillies have reportedly shopped Blanton in order to create payroll flexibility and explored a three-way trade to land A.J. Burnett before he was traded to the Pirates.
Ankiel/Bernadina need a right handed platoon partner, where they’ll find one I have no idea
Bernadina will not make the team out of ST. Mark D. will hit against tough lefties
Bernadina is going to be at least the 4th outfielder
Mark DeRosa has never played CF professionally, he isn’t starting now.
Mets trad Write to Nats 2 play center
Who’s that?
No one said mark would. Werth would obviously play center on days they need him to. De rosa has and can play both corners
I’m still not seeing how you think Bernadina isn’t going to make the team
Let’s assume Harper doesn’t make the team out of ST(the most likely of scenarios)
The Nationals have Morse in Left, ? in center, and Werth in Right
Even if Bernadina isn’t starting over Ankiel, who would you rather have as a 4th outfielder beside The Shark?
I think the abundance of pitching is going to have us carting an extra pitcher out of ST. Assuming Harper is not on the team to start the year Johnson is going to want one left handed CF not two. It’s not a slight to Rodger as much as the fact of the pitching, right handed de rosa and mark (this years versions of nix and Gomes). We also have the roster squeeze created by the solidification that Morse and Adam will be in the starting lineup most of the time.
It isn’t forcing the Nats to do anything. Ankiel and Bernadina are each significantly better than Cameron to begin with, so… no harm done. The Nats would have been foolish to make an unnecessary trade or signing for a center fielder when Harper will be up at some point this season. Ankiel & Berny can platoon until that happens, and then Morse, Harper & Werth can take it from there.
An outfield of Morse, Werth, and Harper is scary to think about from a Nats perspective. Morse is a butcher in left, and Harper’s stats show that he really isn’t much of a defensive improvement than Morse (perhaps worse). Werth in CF, I would be alright with. He’s decent there, but not great. Lastly, I think everyone needs to take a step back, and realize that Harper isn’t a sure thing just yet. The kid is talented, but I would like to see him progress a little more in the minors before handing him a position.
it is not as scary as people are making it out to be. besides harper’s impact in the lineup would be more immediate than having bernie or ankiel on a daily basis. I would be up for having Harper in big leagues from opening day, but I also understand keeping him around for a year longer argument.
anyways, they need a right handed bat for now.
Harper is a great fielder. Fielding stats show nothing. Use your eyes! He’s fast and has a catcher’s arm, much better than any other canidates.
Harper is not a worse fielder then Morse.. even if he hasn’t mastered playing OF(he has only been playing in the OF for one year professionally), RF would be the best spot for him to protect from whatever current fielding deficiencies he still has while not taking away from his cannon of an arm.
I still don’t think he should start the year in D.C. however… Morse, Ankiel, Werth is fine with me to start the year
Agreed, keep him in AAA until at least June. No need to rush, and if he plays well then a playoff push is possible.
Trade kendrick keep blanton
Blanton is more expensive and an FA after the season. It makes no sense to get rid of Kendrick instead. Especially when you consider that Blanton hasn’t been healthy since 2009 and Kendrick has improved every year since then.
David Wright’s future with the Mets will be short, whether the Mets stink or they REALLY stink.
Unless the Mets get an outstanding package of young talent then there’s no point in trading David Wright period.
With the Indians still looking for a better option at #5 to replace the Pitcher formerly known as Fausto The Phillies may be able to move Blanton to the Indians in a money dump if they pick up 1/2 of his contract for a low level fringe prospect outside of the Indians top 20 list.
Might as well keep him, IMO. His contract expires after this season anyway and after Kendrick, there’s no sure thing for that #5 spot if Blanton is moved.
I gotta say I’m not sure about the Phillies logic on that one. Burnett a safety net in case they lose Hamels? Sure Burnett is a passable pitcher but Cole Hamels is wwwwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy more then passable. Dude is gonna get some serious coin this offseason. And he deserves it.
Hamels will regress in FA year
More like ‘scary for the opposing pitchers’.
In that proposed abreu trade… yankees-win, angels-win, phillies-lose…. should have done it
Angels win with joe Blanton? ooofff da no thanks ill keep abreu. At least Burnett actually throws a baseball, Blanton rides the bench all year
Agreed. Would much rather have had Burnett than Blanton.
The Phillies losing out in a trade to the Pirates. Yes, you read that correctly.
Phillies should try Blanton for Floyd from white sox
That makes no sense. Maybe if the Sox kicked in Konerko and Alexei Ramirez. Amaro might listen then…..
Come on, that makes absolutely no sense for the White Sox.
and the Angels should trade Wells for Longoria.
And you should lay off the drugs
Why does anyone want Burnett. Such a waste of space unless ge is in final year of contract. Then he actually pitches well otherwise hw us useless
When both NY teams passed on/traded away Burnett, it’s a sure sign that Burnett has issues with performance pressure.
The only time he actually was worth that Yankee contract was back in 2009. His minor numbers with the Mets pretty much sealed that trade for Al Leiter back in 1998.
Because his ERA / Record is a poor indicator of future success. Burnett’s expected FIP was just 3.86. To expect him to sit in the 3.75 – 4.50 ERA range next year is pretty reasonable. 200 innings on that is a decent #4/5 starter. If he’s only going to cost you $7m/season then that is a decent value. Not great … but decent.
At worst he is a +1.5 WAR starting pitcher, hardly a useless waste of space at $6.5 MM/yr (AAV).
Wells for shields