Nationals Farm Authority

Midnight tonight is the major league deadline for teams to tender contracts to players under their control (i.e. somewhere between three and six years service time). Sometimes players of value are uncovered (David Ortiz and David Eckstein were non-tendered).

As of 8:30PM, the following players have been non-tendered (2006 team):

• Marcus Giles (Atlanta)
• Chris Reitsma (Atlanta)
• Alexis Gomez (Detroit)
• Aaron Guiel (New York [AL])
• Jason Bulger (Los Angeles [AL])

Of the five names, two have associations with employees of the Nationals. Not that this guarantees they’ll be signed by the Nationals, but it means they should at least be on their radar.

Chris Reitsma was acquired by Jim Bowden when he was the GM of the Reds in 2000. He has a mid-90s sinker, decent changeup and a four-seam fastball.

Year	Team	Age	Org	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	HR9	BB9	K9
1996	GCL Redsox	18	Bos	Rk	7	6	26.67	1.35	0.94	0	0.34	10.8
1997	Michigan	19	Bos	A	9	9	49.67	2.9	1.41	0.72	2.36	7.43
1998	Sarasota	20	Bos	A+	8	8	12.67	2.84	1.34	0	3.55	6.39
1999	Sarasota	21	Bos	A+	19	19	96.33	5.61	1.53	1.03	2.9	7.38
2000	Sarasota	22	Bos	A+	11	11	64.00	3.66	1.16	0.42	2.39	6.61
	Trenton	22	Bos	AA	14	14	90.67	2.58	1.09	0.69	2.08	5.76
2001	Cincinnati	23	Cin	MLB	36	29	182.00	5.29	1.42	1.14	2.42	4.75
2002	Louisville	24	Cin	AAA	3	3	21.00	3.86	1.19	0.86	3.43	5.57
	Cincinnati	24	Cin	MLB	32	21	138.33	3.64	1.37	1.11	2.93	5.47
2003	Louisville	25	Cin	AAA	4	4	18.00	4.00	1.50	0.5	2.5	5.5
	Cincinnati	25	Cin	MLB	57	3	84.00	4.29	1.32	1.5	2.04	5.68
2004	Atlanta	26	Atl	MLB	84	0	79.67	4.07	1.37	1.02	2.26	6.78
2005	Atlanta	27	Atl	MLB	76	0	73.33	3.93	1.27	0.37	1.72	5.15
2006	Atlanta	28	Atl	MLB	27	0	28.00	8.68	1.93	2.25	2.57	4.18

The other guy with ties to the organization is Jason Bulger. Bulger was a 2001 first round draft pick by Mike Rizzo in 2001. He was an an infielder/closer out of Valdosta State (GA). He combines a mid-90s fastball (with sink) and a curveball.

Year	Team	Age	Org	Level	G	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	HR9	BB9	K9
2002	South Bend	23	Ari	A	20	20	94.67	4.94	1.58	0.5	3.7	8.0
	Lancaster	23	Ari	A+	2	2	10.00	5.40	1.40	0.0	2.7	10.8
2003	Lancaster	24	Ari	A+	4	4	17.33	6.75	1.62	1.6	2.6	10.4
2004	Lancaster	25	Ari	A+	21	0	23.67	1.52	1.01	0.0	3.8	11.8
	El Paso	25	Ari	AA	24	0	25.33	3.91	1.70	0.0	6.8	9.2
2005	Tucson	26	Ari	AAA	56	0	56.00	3.54	1.38	0.5	4.3	8.8
	Arizona	26	Ari	MLB	9	0	10.00	5.40	1.90	0.9	4.5	8.1
2006	Salt Lake	27	Laa	AAA	27	0	34.33	4.72	1.31	0.0	3.9	11.5
	LA Angels	27	Laa	MLB	2	0	1.67	16.20	2.40	0.0	16.2	5.4

Both best project best as relief pitchers, but it might be worth considering them as options to work out of the end of the starting rotation as #4/5 types.