2009 Offseason: Nats-Marlins trade, Hoffman stiffed
In what amounts to a salary dump, the Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham from the Florida Marlins yesterday in return for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean. The Marlins continue their cost-cutting moves, having already dealt Mike Jacobs this offseason. Their plan is to also trade away closer Kevin Gregg to lower their team salary.
2009 Projections for players in the trade
Olsen: 186.1 IP, 10 wins, 28 HR, 137 K, 4.94 ERA and 1.38 WHIP
Willingham: .270/.350/.480 with 20 HR and 72 RBI in 460 AB
Bonifacio: .237/.270/.298
Evaluation
Olsen has been declining steadily, and doesn’t seem to be worth much at this point in his career, but the Nats have precious little experience and leadership in their rotation, if you believe in that. Willingham does still appear to be a decent hitter, and should prevent any more Felipe Lopez and Wily Mo Pena sightings in left field in 2009. I give the Nationals a slight nod, though I wonder if they know they should be rebuilding.
Bonifacio is a young, switch-hitting second baseman with some speed but little power. He is a reserve second baseman at best. Smolinski is a 19-year old without a real position who will probably end up as an organizational player, and Dean is another 19-year old who has a chance to become a fair reliever.
Hoffman stiffed
Pretty unbelievable news item here. After extending an offer to the all-time saves leader that would have almost cut his 2008 salary in half (from $7M to $4M plus incentives), the Padres took it back. The 40-year old Hoffman, a likely Hall of Fame candidate and a long-time Padre, requested a meeting with team president Sandy Alderson. That request was denied. GM Kevin Towers doesn’t look so good right now, and good luck getting players to want to come to San Diego, where they take such good care of their players. Hoffman will now become a free agent.
Trevor Hoffman strikes back at the Padres after being mishandled this offseason. Apparently they suddenly sent him a fax telling him that his run in San Diego was over. The most telling quotes:
“To come home and to hear the comments, and hear how they’re spinning lies to do damage control, I feel like I have to stand up and set the record straight a little bit, and say how things happened…When they drag you through the mud, though, it’s just wrong… Nobody is perfect, but I don’t like to be made out to be a liar.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3703149&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
Doing the park adjustment, Olsen looks a lot more attractive after the trade:
11 wins, 4.46 ERA and 1.26 WHIP
If he does that, he could really stabilize that young rotation.