Nationals Farm Authority

The Nationals once again utilized LHP Mike Stanton to their advantage. After last season trading Stanton to the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Yader Peralta and Rhys Taylor, this afternoon the Nationals again turned the veteran LHP into minor league pitching.

The Washington Nationals today acquired 19 year-old right-handed pitcher Shairon Martis from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for left-handed pitcher Mike Stanton. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Who is Shairon Martis? Martis, a 19-year old RHP out of Curacao, was Baseball America’s #28 prospect for the San Francisco Giants. Martis earned some notoriety for throwing a no-hitter against Panama during the World Baseball Classic this spring. The 6′1″ 195lb starter has spent 2006 in Class A Augusta of the South Atlantic League (the same league that Savannah competes). Thus far in 2006, he has made 15 appearances (all starts):

Versus	IP	BAA	OBP	SLG	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9
vs LHP	28.7	0.236	0.296	0.321	1.12	2.2	8.5	0.6
vs RHB	48.0	0.268	0.322	0.368	1.35	2.6	7.3	0.2

According to Baseball America:

Martis has a live arm with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. His curveball shows signs of being a solid pitch, and he throws a slider and changeup as well. While his arm action is relatively smooth and fluid, his delivery has issues in terms of maintaining balance and incoporating his entire body.

Baseball America’s John Manuel ranked him as the the 9th best under-25 prospect. “Martis showed solid-average stuff and above-average pitchability for a teenager in his seven-inning no-hitter against Panama. A scout who saw it cautioned that Panama played with little energy in the game.”

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In other WBC-related news, it appears that two of the higher rated Cubans from this year’s Cuban WBC team have sought asylum in Colombia. The rough translation is (thanks to BTF):

Two Ballplayers may have asked for asylum in Colombia.

Cuban ballplayers Yulieski Gourriel and Eduardo Paret may have asked for asylum in the Colombian Port of Cartagena, where the XXth Central American and Caribbean games are being held, according to local press reports this friday. “One of the members of the Cuban squad which deserted would be the star second baseman Yulieski Gurriel, considered to be one of the best in the world at his position. Apparently, his next destination will be the New York Yankees”, as per El Tiempo de Bogotá. According to the newspaper, “the other deserter of the Cuban team will be shortstop Eduardo Paret”. On tuesday, Cuban athletes Damaris Nay, Julio Acosta y Carlos Castillo asked for asylum in the Dominican Republic, subhost for handball of the XXth Central American and Caribbean games.

Gourriel (22-years old) and Paret (33-years old) played 3B and SS for Cuba in their 2nd place finish this spring. In 8 games:

Player	POS	AB	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB/CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
Eduardo Paret	SS	35	1	5	2	5	3/1	.229	.289	.371
Yulieski Gourriel	3B	33	2	6	3	5	0/0	.273	.342	.515

Of the two, Gourriel is certainly the most coveted. Again from Baseball America:

“For me, he’s a No. 1 guy, and he’s a power hitter who fits the third base profile,” said a scout with extensive international experience. “I think he’s a championship-caliber third baseman in the big leagues. He doesn’t have a weakness. “I had him with a 55 arm, and it seems like he has more if he needs it, and I put him as a 55 defender, though I think he could be a 60. But he’s an offensive player.” Gourriel has a long, sinewy-strong body, comparable to a young Chipper Jones or Ernie Banks, and he produces tremendous power with quick wrists, strong hands and an unconventional approach at the plate that nevertheless allows him to generate terrific bat speed.

Why do I highlight this? Aside from the reference to the Yankees, Gourriel would be a free agent available to the highest bidder. If the Nationals are committed to finding and signing the best available talent, they should be one of the first to make a serious offer to Gourriel in hopes of encouraging him to join the Nationals.