Updated 11:14 PM, 12/5/2007 - Iguchi is apparently looking for something more along the lines of Kaz Matsui's deal, which was 3yrs/$16.5m. Gross. The Matsui signing is an early candidate for worst idea of the Winter, and while Iguchi doesn't project as badly, that's still a nice lump of cash. Maybe 2yrs/$10m would do the trick? Really not much more than we're paying Guzman, and Guzman/Iguchi wouldn't be a shameful double play combination.
From 10:25 PM, 12/5/2007 - Nothing pressing at the moment, but some of the stuff I've been reading has given me an idea or two. I mentioned earlier that the Nats may be shopping Rauch or Cordero for a middle infielder, but I didn't address free agents, except for David Eckstein. What about Tadahito Iguchi? The 32 year old Second Baseman didn't play especially well with the White Sox last year, but upon being dealt to the Phillies finished out the season hitting .304 in 138 at bats. His Major League line is .276/.347/.768, which is certainly better than the .245/.308/.660 that we got out of Felipe Lopez last year, and would free Ronnie Belliard up to be our utility man. Iguchi made just over $3m last year, and I can't see him costing too much more on a new contract. 2yrs/$8-9m wouldn't hurt the Nationals much, and might shore up the middle of the infield while we wait for some prospects to come along.
Do we even have any infield prospects? The Magic 8 Ball points to "Not Really." Josh Whitesell put up good numbers at AA Harrisburg last year, hitting at a .284/.427/.937 clip, but there's one little problem: He's a first baseman. That doesn't help the middle infield problem at all. Kory Casto's name pops up, and he plays all over the field, but he really failed to produce last year at the big league level, as well as in AAA. Melvin Dorta is another unfulfilling option.
What I'm saying here is that we need to find us some middle infielders.
2 comments:
only problem is whitesell has never seen an at bat above AA...but lets see what he can do. second year in AA went well, but that was his second year which makes it not that impressive. about casto, we all had high hopes and he didnt impress last year but i think he is capable of more. im hoping for a comeback year. whos dorta?
Dorta is just the guy who's playing 2B in Columbus right now. Seems like a leftover from the days of the depressed Expos farm system, because he's never been very good, and doesn't really show any signs of getting there.
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