Contrary to reports, that is not any member of NFA
The Washington Post unveiled their 2007 Baseball Preview section today. Included is a column from Boswell with his perspective on the rebuilding of the Nationals.
Boswell’s overall point is that while the rebuilding of the farm is an important, the Nationals need also spend money in free agency to “use your advantages to crush middle- and small-market teams.” He recommends the Nationals “buy their way back into playoff contention at the major league level.”
While his thought has merit, Boz neglects a key aspect of such a strategy. The Nationals should not just spend in free agency, they need to spend wisely in free agency. What Boswell failed to address is the compensation issue with regards to free agents. A Type A free agent cost the signing team their first round pick. The Nationals will likely have the luxury of a protected first round pick in 2008 (given a record in the bottom 15 in MLB). But the Nationals need to realize there is value lost in surrendering top 100 picks. Type B free agents, on the other hand, do not cost the signing team one of their own selections. They only add a pick to the supplemental first round. In the near term, the Nationals need to focus on bringing in the Type B free agents. There is value in such players in the upcoming season (Juan Pierre, Miguel Batista, and Frank Thomas were all Type B this off-season).
Please don’t misread me, I’m not suggesting they forego signing any Type A free agents. There is definite value in bringing in premium free agents in areas of need (read, starting pitching). What I am recommending is the Nationals look at what teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics have done … take advantage of the current compensation environment to maintain multiple top 100 picks in the draft, while still signing Type A free agents. I wrote about this a few months ago when the Nationals made the decision to not offer arbitration to Ramon Ortiz.
My point at the time (and still is) that by signing middle of the road Type B free agents to one or two year deals, the Nationals provide themselves with a few opportunities. They can trade these players during the season for prospects, or, at worst, get the opportunity to stockpile draft picks with rebuilding in mind. And additionally, the draft pick compensation for Type B players provides a safety net for the Nationals player development efforts when they surrender their own picks signing Type A free agents.
The final point Boz raises is
Lots of ardent fans in traditional big league cities make midsummer pilgrimages to the minors to see what’s “down on the farm” at Pawtucket, Tucson, Nashville or Toledo. Meet a Mud Hen. See the future. In Washington, that won’t be necessary. The elite draft picks such as Willems and Marrero are still too young to judge. The high picks of ‘07 and ‘08 haven’t even been made. The Nationals’ most important farm team will be playing at 2400 East Capitol St. this season. Just take a vacation to RFK.
I could not disagree more with Boz on that.
Now, my bias is worn proudly on my sleeve. I really enjoy the process of player development. And in the case of the Nationals, I get to watch firsthand and up close, a team rebuilding from the foundation on up. Players like Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns, Brian Schneider, and when he returns Nick Johnson are key pieces for the future of the Nationals. But if I were a fan of the Nationals, I would not classify the big league club as the most important farm team. There are pieces for the future at RFK, but more importantly there are efforts underway in the farm system that should not be relegated to second class citizens.
I’d strongly recommend following the players in Columbus and Harrisburg and Potomac and Hagerstown and Vermont and the Gulf Coast League and the Dominican Summer League. Most of the teams broadcast their games over the internet (for free).
If it’s possible, drive down to Woodbridge or out to Harriburg or Hagerstown. The tickets are affordable and you can get up close access to the next generation of Nationals.
And if all else fails stop by here and read about what the Nationals are doing to rebuild the franchise.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 28-Mar-07 at 8:44 am | Permalink
Has Boswell not noticed that this strategy has not worked for the Orioles? Ordinarily, I think this guy is a worthy successor, but this is lazy writing (notice the chimera about the Braves winning 14 straight titles, when in fact, it was only 11 — 1995 does not follow 1993 in succession) and completely glosses over, if not ignores the fact that the Nationals farm system was essentially on autopilot from 2002 to 2006.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 28-Mar-07 at 8:50 am | Permalink
[to the likes of Roger Kahn and Roger Angell]
VladiHondo | 28-Mar-07 at 12:23 pm | Permalink
Couldn’t agree more, I am definately going to Hagerstown to see Marrero and Esmailyn play, and am looking forward to seeing the rest of that team, too. Harrisburg would also be a good weekend trip, want to see the ballpark on the island.
Tom | 29-Mar-07 at 2:30 pm | Permalink
When was the last time Boswell was seen in a minor league ballpark?
Jeff | 04-Apr-07 at 11:52 am | Permalink
If Boswell thinks I’m not excited to go down to Hagerstown and watch two of our top young prospects(Marrero & King) play, on a beautiful day, drinking $1 beers, he’s crazy as hell…
Eric H. | 14-Apr-07 at 11:00 pm | Permalink
This BOZ piece I frankly found to be very puzzling. It seems more than intuitively obvious that spending ones way to fielding a competitive team is a fool’s game. Yet this is precisely what BOZ suggests. I look no further than the Orioles, Yankees of a few years ago, and Mets. They are forever in a mode of having to pay huge sums to bring in replacement parts and those parts tend to be old. I find it far preferable to having a strong system and players who are inculcated in “The National’s Way” from the time they arrive as youngsters. Oakland has done it this way and instilled a philosophy in their players from the very beginning. The Braves do it that way. The only difference I would suggest is that when our players become free agent eligible THEN spend the big bucks and keep them! Nothing more infuriating as a fan than following a guy from the draft and through the system, then to stardom, only to see the traitor walk out the door and play for the Yankees… Look no further than Giambi or Tejada or Zito who bolted Oakland. Oakland would be a perennial world series team if they could afford to pay their developed talent. That’s where I hope the Nats are different.. That we keep our talent once developed and only use the FA route for some key parts.