The Washington Post finally ran the Barry Svrluga article on the Nats player development within the minor leagues that everyone was waiting for (well, at least I was). Nate over at Nats Triple Play captures my feelings on the article spot-on … “not exactly hard hitting.” He also presents a pretty good review of what has been lost from the farm system over the past few years. Needless to say, the MLB ownership of the Nationals has negatively impacted the foundation of the Nationals’ player development.
The article does not really provide any idea of a blueprint for the future besides Senior Director of Player Personnel/Assistant General Manager, Bob Boone’s mission to “make it better.”
For the second time, we are told that the Nationals are focusing on a philosophy of “not going to the next level until you command this level.” This is nice in theory but given the lack of depth at the lower levels of the minor leagues, it will difficult to put into action. The Nationals signed 43 minor league free agents in the off-season, most are organizational types (i.e. lifetime minor leaguers). Every team needs these players, but the problem that I see is how many of these guys (typically mid to late-20s) are going to be willing to fill roster spots all the way down in Potomac or Savannah. The problem this then creates is the promotion of players from Vermont/GCL to Savannah to fill out a complete roster. These players are often times not ready for this level and spend too much development time sitting on the bench. We can hope that a larger preponderance of the 43 signed as minor league F/A are undrafted players from the 2005 pool of availables.
Minor league rosters should be determined some time within the next week. This is something I will be watching as the Nationals do not have a press release detailing who is playing where. It is a catch as catch can search of the various minor league sites.
Scott M. Collins | 27-Mar-06 at 8:31 am | Permalink
If you go through the offseason transactions on nationals.com and count everyone who signed a “minor league contract”, the number is very close to 43. This includes all the guys who were already in our system, but eligible for free agency and re-signed back with our system.
Chris | 27-Mar-06 at 9:05 am | Permalink
I’m not quite sure I’m following what you’re saying…. you’re saying that the minor league Free Agents aren’t going to be willing to play at Single-A so that that’s going to force the Nats to promote their youngest prospects just to field a roster?
GoTerp | 27-Mar-06 at 9:27 am | Permalink
Your Big Board is great and I applaud it, but there are still several changes to be made to it over the next couple of weeks. It still has several players at the wrong level and players no longer property of the Nats. I really don’t see too many “organizational” players at the A level this year or at the AA level - at least as starters. Maybe some bench players. There will be several “organizational” players at AAA, and I see nothing wrong with that. Sometimes these players can make the big league as “late bloomers”. I feel the organization has made big strides in quickly rebuilding the system. I really expect the organization to climb to the “middle of the pack” this year after being dead last the last couple of years. IMO, the system has more prospects than most give it credit. “Bowden’s Boys” have pickup up several “free agents” that could help the club this year, including Traber, Watkins, Denny, Good and Grbowski. If these are considered “organizational” players then I say sign more of them. I feel the Nats are going in the right direction.
Brian J Oliver | 27-Mar-06 at 9:46 am | Permalink
Scott- Thanks for checking those signings.
Chris - what I was trying to say (badly) is that the majority of the 43 minor league free agents are guys who have most recently played at AA/AAA. Odds are they would not be willing to be demoted to Potomac or Savannah. If this is the case then in order to fill out the Potomac/Savannah rosters, the Nationals may be forced to assign guys who best fit in Vermont in Savannah and guys who should be in Savannah in Potomac. It’s not the end of the world but ideally the Nationals will over-assign guys they view as roster filler in those positions.
Go Terp - I’m not saying they are going in the wrong direction. What I’m saying is that the are going to need at least one if not two more drafts to get a solid player development foundation set. While Traber, Watkins, and Gryboski are nice pieces, they are really end of the 25-man roster type of guys. That’s not bad for a team that has premium propsects in the pipeline. The problem is that the Nationals honestly don’t have premium players in the pipeline. They have good players but a large number of their players right now project as solid complementary pieces. While they need to continue signing the Traber/Watkins types, keep in mind that these are more of the 1-2 year stopgaps present to allow the younger guys to develop.
Brian J Oliver | 27-Mar-06 at 9:52 am | Permalink
Also, with regards to the Big Board, thanks for the heads up. Scott and I will be updating it this week as the roster assignments are announced. We will clean it up, but it didn’t make alot of sense from a workload standpoint to do it prior to that.
Scott M. Collins | 27-Mar-06 at 10:54 am | Permalink
GoTerp-
Please give me the names of any players that the Nationals do not have under their control. They need to be removed ASAP. As far as I know, there are none listed.
Please name some players that are listed at incorrect levels. Where I currently have them listed is simply where I am personally projecting them to start the year. Projections won’t matter in a week or two when all of the teams have set rosters. At that point, the Big Board will no longer be projecting and will simply be reporting the rosters.
GoTerp | 27-Mar-06 at 7:09 pm | Permalink
Scot:
I beleive the following are no longer with the Nationals:
AAA: Melo, Kuzmic, Bowers, Powell
AA: Bridges
A: Belcher, Chop
As for placement, we will soon see where everyone is assigned, so no need to specualte at this time. The Nationals may change plans on their pre-camp “assignments” based on how the players have looked the past few weeks.
Again, I just want to say the “Big Board” is great and I appreciate you doing it. It is the best thing available on the Nats Farm System.
Heatchucker | 28-Mar-06 at 11:30 am | Permalink
There are many guys not around any longer.
Juan Melo (AAA) signed with the Rockies
Craig Kuzmic (AAA) contract expired
Drew McMillian (AAA) retired
Hector Ortiz (AAA) was released
Jason Bowers (AAA) contract expired
Brian Powell (AAA) retired
Ed Yarnall (AAA) signed with the Royals
Ramon Castro (AA) contract expired
Billy Martin (AA) contract expired
Donnie Bridges (AA) contract expired
Shaun Norris (A+) retired
Jason Belcher (A+) released
Chad Chop (A+) released
Stockton Davis (A) retired
Samuel Martinez (A) released
Mike Kabow (A) released–i believe
David Thorne (A) retired
Dermal (Dee) Brown contract expired - believe he signed with Royals
Scott M. Collins | 28-Mar-06 at 10:01 pm | Permalink
That’s some AWESOME info! Can you get us any links on that? Retirements are nearly impossible to find out about.
GoTerp | 29-Mar-06 at 9:29 am | Permalink
Scot:
My info is from citings/statements that I do not have links. The rosters for all teams will be available shortly and we will know who is where. I have always enjoyed “tracking” the guys in the minors. I really see a big improvement this year at all levels. N.O. is loaded and Potomac could be specail with their pitching. Curious to see how the Potomac alums do at Harrisburg.
NatsGal49 | 31-Mar-06 at 11:51 am | Permalink
I also think Price left the team, due to the Nats telling him he’s going to Potomac.
NatsGal49 | 31-Mar-06 at 11:55 am | Permalink
Also, about the board, word is O’Conner is going to AAA and Kip Bouknight going to AA. It makes no sense… Why O’Conner is jumping from A to AAA is beyond me!
Tom | 03-Apr-06 at 1:16 pm | Permalink
Lefty v Righty. They finally feel the need to groom some lefties for the big club and Mike is on of the most healthy lefties in the organization. This move give them 2 lefties on the AAA team Billy Trabor and Mike.