Bill Ladson has the news …
The Nationals added pitchers Garrett Mock (RHSP) and Justin Jones (LHSP), first baseman Josh Whitesell and center fielder Roger Bernadina to the 40-man roster on Tuesday
Mock was acquired in 2006 from the Arizona Diamondbacks along with LHSP Matt Chico in exchange for RHSP Livan Hernandez. After being shut down in late 2006 with a knee injury (one that required surgery), Mock had a disappointing 2007 battling a sore shoulder. The righthander was a combined 2-7 in 15 games (14 starts) split between the GCL (7 2/3IP), Potomac (6IP), and Harrisburg (51 1/3IP). He had a 5.79ERA and 1.83WHIP in Double-A. Mock is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League where he has no decisions over three appearances (7IP) allowing three unearned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. The 24-year old Mock will likely be given an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Nationals rotation in 2008.
Jones was added by the Nationals in December 2006 as part of the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Minnesota Twins. Jones spread his season between Hagerstown (2G - 12 2/3IP), Potomac (17G - 91IP), and Harrisburg (3G - 17 1.3IP). He was a combined 11-8 with a 3.72ERA and 1.40WHIP. The 23-year old lefthander should begin the season in Harrisburg and could very make his major league debut some time in mid-2008.
The 25-year old Whitesell had a break out season for Harrisburg in 2007, hitting 284/425/512 with 21 home runs and 74RBI. He has surpassed Larry Broadway as the top 1B in the Nationals organization. Whitesell should begin 2008 in Columbus but depending upon the health of Nick Johnson and the free agent signings, Whitesell could possibly have an outside shot at the backup 1B role as he was tabbed by coaches as the top defensive 1B in the Eastern League.
The 23-year old Bernadina split his season between Harrisburg and Columbus where he hit a combined 259/338/356 with 40/54 stolen bases. He is still developing as a hitter and should begin 2008 as the starting center fielder for the Columbus Clippers.
The Nationals currently have one open spot on their 40-man roster.
Update: My best guess of players who might still be removed from the 40-man roster:
- RHP Joel Hanrahan
- LHP Mike O’Connor
- LHP Billy Traber
- RHP Ryan Wagner
- 1B/OF Robert Fick
- OF Ryan Langerhans
- OF Nook Logan
An additional note, GM Jim Bowden stated that Justin Maxwell will be given an opportunity to compete for the starting center fielder role (though they project him to Double-A).
VladiHondo | 24-Oct-07 at 9:30 am | Permalink
Who are the other guys who are Rule 5 eligible that might be added to the 40 man?
Brian Oliver | 24-Oct-07 at 9:52 am | Permalink
VH - This is what I pulled together earlier this year (guys like Frank Diaz, Mike Hinckley, and a couple others need to be added). My guess is those four are the only ones who will be added to protect them from the Rule 5.
Louis J. | 24-Oct-07 at 11:32 am | Permalink
Brian
You thought that Ryan Wagner, Joel Hanrahan, Nook Logan, Ryan Langerhans & Robert Fick could still be eliminated from the 40-man roster. Wagner is to valuable to gamble that teams will not claim him because of his injury. Hanrahan has some value because he’s a starting pitcher who looked good at times and the Nats don’t have a great supply of starting pitchers. As Bill Walsh of the 49ers once said, “if he did it once, it’s our job to teach him how to do it consistently”. While I agree with everybody’s evaluation of Logan and Langerhans offensive short-comings, the only alternatives as a #4 outfielder are Rog Bernadina (AA) or Abraham Nunez(AAA). Are they ready for the ML? Fick does a lot of things: security as the 3rd catcher, backup at 1B & OF, LHH-PH and great for team chemistry. Should we give him a pass for 2007 because of his personal problems concerning his mother and judge him by his pre-2007 stats?
Brian Oliver | 24-Oct-07 at 11:46 am | Permalink
Louis - You are putting alot of faith in Wagner actually remaining healthy. He’s still recovering from labrum surgery from June. It’s probably going to take him some time well into 2008 to be ready. It could be worth the gamble since I doubt other teams would want to burn a 40-man spot on an injured guy (and pick of the costs).
Hanrahan - Eh. You see more in him than I do. They could keep him around but I also can see him losing his spot to Hanrahan v2.0
Langerhans/Logan - Why both? I can see the value in keeping one but since both are out of options, why hold a spot that could be used for a guy with options? I don’t see many teams chomping at the bit for either guy. While there might not be anyone in the farm system, there still are other minor league f/a
Fick - Honestly, he’s a waste in my opinion. There is no need to keep him around. He’s a third catcher? How many times does a team have the immediate need for a third catcher during the season? He plays 1B better defensively than Young but that is damning with faint praise. The Nats already have an overabundance of corner OFs. I just don’t see the need to keep him around.
I’m not saying all of them will be gone. I just think that if the Nationals identify a player in the Rule 5 worth a shot, those are the guys who would be first on the firing line
John | 24-Oct-07 at 12:28 pm | Permalink
Brian,
Who are the candidates for lefty reliever. I know there’s Traber and I think Munoz, but who else? Could Ray King be back?
I can’t find anything on the intructional league. Do you know who all did well? I heard Marrero played first base. Do you think they’ll move Rhine hart back to the OF?
Brian Oliver | 24-Oct-07 at 12:31 pm | Permalink
Any or all of them are options as LHRP. I could also see them grabbing a free agent this offseason not listed.
There typically are not many releases from the Instructional League since it’s not like regular season (or even spring training) games. They will play until they are done teaching what they want to teach.
You are correct that Marrero saw time at 1B. Though I wouldn’t necessarily move Rhinehart off of 1B just yet. The Nationals will need 1B in Hagerstown, Potomac and Harrisburg and Rhinehart should be an option at one of those levels.
Ric | 24-Oct-07 at 12:37 pm | Permalink
Fick is a lock to be removed, unless he’s re-signed. He will automatically be removed as soon as the free agency period begins.
John | 24-Oct-07 at 12:38 pm | Permalink
Do you think LeFave will be at AA? They seem really high on him. Where would MacMillan play if Marrero’s at Potomac and Lefave is at Harrisburg?
Brian Oliver | 24-Oct-07 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
LeFave seems most likely in Potomac to me. McMillan to Harrisburg along with Marrero. I’d imagine that with Marrero playing some DH and LF, McMillan will see some regular playing time. Guessing Rhinehart ends up in Hagerstown to start the season.
NatsInNC | 24-Oct-07 at 2:13 pm | Permalink
Brian, given that Jones did not make your top 10 Potomac prospect list, how do you feel about protecting him on the 40? This came as a bit of a surprise to me….
Brian Oliver | 24-Oct-07 at 2:53 pm | Permalink
NiNC - While I cannot say I would have guessed Jones, he’s a lefthanded SP so it’s not that much of a shock. I’d think this might make it tough for Mike O’Connor to stay on the 40-man
Pilchard | 24-Oct-07 at 5:38 pm | Permalink
No reason to keep Ryan Langerhans, Fick or Hanrahan on the 40 man roster.
Tom | 24-Oct-07 at 9:51 pm | Permalink
Brian,
Do you expect Larry Broadway to request his release so he can find another team?
Scott | 25-Oct-07 at 9:59 am | Permalink
The Nats went through quite a few pitchers in 2007. I wouldn’t hurt to have him in Columbus. Hanrahan would likely be the last on your list to be removed from the 40 man roster. He also might come into his own as a middle relief pitcher, where he doesn’t try to pace himself.
Tom | 25-Oct-07 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
Hanrahan was a 1st round draft choice with a good combination of pitches.
He will get a couple more shots as a starter before he becomes a reliever.
Scott | 25-Oct-07 at 4:29 pm | Permalink
Tom - You are probably right. However, he may have to prove himself at AAA first. If the Nats pick up a veteran or two, the chances of making the Nats rotation in the spring would be a challenge. He seems to have some stuff but is inconsistent.
VladiHondo | 25-Oct-07 at 4:32 pm | Permalink
From Brian’s 2nd comment, the link he provided shows who is Rule 5 eligible this year, Larry Broadway is one of them. So are Alexi Morales and Devin Ivany, but they are playing in Arizona now, so I would think would probably be retained.
With Broadway not playing, I don’t see him being placed back on the 40 man, but he will remain a Nat if not picked in the Rule 5 by another team. After next year (I think, Brian please correct), he is a 6 year minor league free agent.
Scott | 25-Oct-07 at 4:33 pm | Permalink
By the way, the home plate area and pitchers mound were marked off yesterday - a bit of a milestone for the park taking shape. Check out the webcam if you have time.
Louis J. | 25-Oct-07 at 10:46 pm | Permalink
Before anybody throws away Hanrahan, etc, remember the Nationals went through 13-14 different starters in 2007! When you go that deep, Hanrahan, Enrique Gonzalez, Mike O’connor, etc start to look good. Also, I believe that Broadway already has his 6 years and can become a minor league free agent. And if Whitesell is going to move up to AAA, I assume he will start @ 1B. Morales has not had a good Arizona Fall League(7.76 ERA). I would have kept Chris Booker before I protect Morales. Also, Ivany is no Jesus Flores who has made Ivany expendable. He was in the HWL last year and is in the AFL this year only because Jesus Flores was prevented from playing.
Suns Fan | 26-Oct-07 at 5:17 pm | Permalink
LaFave is a better player than McMillian, in my view. They got a really good deal from the Brewers on LeFave. Maybe McMillian to AA, LaFave to AAA, and Jacobsen to Potomac.
Suns Fan | 26-Oct-07 at 5:19 pm | Permalink
Or both LaFave and McMillian to Harrisburg where they alternate 1B and DH.