Right idea about trading prospects but you have the wrong ones. If your going to trade good prospects, thing big! Thing John Lannan, Collin Balester, Justin Maxwell, Chris Marrero, Ian Desmond, Zech Zinicola & Saul Rivera. Thing of Big Deals! Think of putting together two (2) trade packages of the above stated players for Dontrelle Willis & Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins and Lance Berkman of the Astros. Impossible? Maybe and Maybe not!

The Marlins 2007 payroll was $30.5M which they can’t afford and both Willis ($6.45m-2007) and Miguel Cabrera ($7.05M-2007) are eligible for arbitration for the 2008 season and will get hugh increases. Also, both Willis and Cabrera are eligible for arbitration again for the 2009 season for another increase and are free agents after the 2009 season and will leave the Marlins for better teams. Also, Ramiez, Uggla, Willingham, Nolasco, Sanchez, Josh Johnson, Olsen, Jacobs, Hermida, etc will become eligible for arbitration next year too!! More increase in payroll. With their poor attendance and under-financed owner (the same owner as the former Expos), the Marlins can’t afford the $$$ it will cost to keep these players and may be very interested in another group of young and inexpensive players.

The Astros are getting old and need to rebuild. Their owner is a very wise businessman and will see that there isn’t enough talent in the free agent market to turn his team around. So why spend more $$$ when the result could be the same as 2007. Berkman’s salary is $14.5M for the next 3 years with a $15M team option in 2011. That’s $58.5M for 4 years for one player for a team that may not make the playoff, again. Put together the right package (without cash considerations to the Nationals) and the Astors may also interested in few young prospects.

Oh, by the way, sign free agent pitcher Carlos Silva (Twins) who is listed as a TYPE C free agent (no lost of draft choice to Nats) and the rotation really looks good.

And, after those trades, etc, the Nationals would have Guzman and Johnson available to trade AND would still have all of their 2007 prospects left plus Willems, Gibson, Englund, King, Esmailyn Gonzalez, Van Allen, Adam Carr, Hassan Pena, Garrett Mock, Justin Jones, Whitesell, Daniel, Bernadina, etc. AND, the Nationals would have one damm good team for 2008 and thereafter with Wily Mo, Church, Kearns, Berkman, Lopez, Ramirez, Zimmerman, Schneider, Flores, Young, Belliard, Patterson, Willis, Silva, Bergmann, Redding, Chico and the bullpen. I would be willing to make those deals for that lineup.

I like the way you think. Some edges to be filed (e.g., would you really want to start the year with both Patterson and Willis? Maybe Hill really will be ready by the one or both needs to be DLd…), but good fuel for the stove.

Great comments on the trading and thinking big. The only one on your list I would want to hold onto is Marrero (if he can develop defensively at 1B). I saw him play LF a few times this summer and it wasn’t pretty. However, he has a sweet swing with power - a special combination. The question is will he only be a DH in the AL.

Trading from strength, the Nats have young arms. In addition to what you listed, the Vermont rotation must be desirable to some teams. Gibson, for example, is a LHSP that should carry some weight. The Nats can afford giving him up since the 2007 draft brought in 3 more LHSP prospects. Also, the Nats bullpen is crowded and either Cordero or Rauch will likely go.

I wonder what Houston would want for Berkman. Care to suggest a package?

1. The farm cupboard, while not as bare as at the Minaya/MLB-run nadir, is hardly stuffed to overflowing.

2. What contribution will the big names be making two or three seasons from now, when the Nats presumably will be ready to contend? (And who will be coming up behind them?)

3. We don’t really know how Nats Park is going to play. We will this time next season. Between that and having had (we hope) another good draft, the FO will be in a better-informed position to make bold moves than they are now.

I share your desire to see the farm develop. It is why I enjoy Brian’s website so much. However, the “writing seems to be on the wall” that Jim Bowden will be making some trades involving prospects.

Stan Kasten indicated in recent interviews that the Nats are willing to discuss prospects in trade talks. He prefers not to go the high priced free agent route. Jim Bowden and Manny Acta have identified a middle of the order big bat plus number 1 and 2 starting pitchers. Some would agree that a leadoff hitter with a high OBP is also on the list. Also, there is a perceived need to put an improved ML product on the field in 2008 with the opening of the new stadium.

Additionally, the Nats are building for two or three years down the road. So, the age of player to be traded for is a factor.

The only way I can think of to satisfy all the above would be to target big bat or leadoff prospects who played AAA or AA in 2007 and are ready to move to the majors. The likely scenario would be a team with a ML player at that position. For instance, the Nats would trade a strong 3B minor league prospect because Zimmerman has that covered.

If you assume that you need to trade something of value to get something of value and you trade from your strength, the Nats would offer ML bullpen arms and minor league LHSP. That is why I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cordero/Rauch plus Gibson/Lannan combo being shopped around.

Scott
I understand your concern about Marrero BUT you have to trade value to get value back! Trade for an already talented Hanley Ramierz or keep a projected talented Chris Marrero, you have to answer that question. Wily Mo could be as talented as Marrero. Would you object to trading either Lannan or Balester plus projected Maxwell, Marrero, Desmond and Solano (CA) for a proven and young Willis & Hanley Ramierz? Heck if they trade Ramierz & Willis to Nationals, instead of Solano, I’d been willing to throw in Guzman (who will be a free agent after 2008) to handle the shortstop duties for 1 year and they can get the draft choice for him when he signs with another team.

The Berkman trade package depends on who you have to trade to get Willis & Ramierz from the Marlins. The Astros have changed GM and changed their scouting director because of their poor drafts the past 3 years. They need quality prospects. One package I would consider is: either John Lannan or Collin Balester plus Zech Zinicola & Josh Whitesell (or Jhonathan Solano-CA) with no cash consideration back to the Nationals. The waiver of the cash consideration would eliminate the need for the Astros of paying a part of Berkman’s salary and would be a good deal incentive for the Astros.

Of the catchers that played in Hagerstown this year, I maintain that Patrick Nichols is the best. But he rarely caught, usually sat on the bench, and when he played was typically the DH. Still, Nichols seems to have a good grasp of calling a game, has a great arm, and has the potential to be a very good hitter.

My guess is Souza is tabbed for Vermont. He seems a likely candidate to begin in extended spring training.