The Nationals selected 1B/3B Matt Whitney from the Cleveland Indians. Quick scouting report.
Bowden’s POV courtesy of Barry …
“This is a Jesus Flores-type draft,” Jim Bowden said. “He’s not ready for the major leagues, but he certainly has tremendous potential.”
He can play both corner infield positions, and could serve as a right-handed bat off the bench if he shows he can handle it. “He got healthy last year for the first time,” Bowden said.
My analysis: This is a curious pick. He’s a RH 1B who at one time played 3B. Not sure how he fits in on this roster. He’s a big power bat from the right side. He was a first round selection in 2002. I am guessing the Nationals see him as a backup at 1B and 3B. Update: This could be a select and trade. No rumors, just a consideration. Update #2: Pointless bit of trivia regarding Whitney. Whitney broke his leg playing basketball a few years back. The trainer who worked with him on rehab was Lee Kuntz. Kuntz is currently the Nationals trainer.
The Nationals selected OF Garrett Guzman in round two from the Twins
from Chris Kline’s preview on Guzman
Guzman missed the entire 2005 season after breaking his neck in a car accident just days before leaving for spring training that year. Now 25, the undersized lefthanded hitter profiles as arguably the best fourth outfielder candidate on the Rule 5 eligible list, drawing comparisons to Orlando Palmeiro. While Palmeiro was a bit better runner and defender, Guzman offers more power and offensive upside. Guzman, who batted .312/.359/.453 at Double-A New Britain in 2007, has solid gap power and the ability to play anywhere in the outfield, though he profiles best in left. “He probably doesn’t run as well (as Palmeiro) but they’re very similar players who can do a lot of things for you,” said one National League scout.
Bowden’s POV per Barry
Bowden said he would compete with Ryan Langerhans for the fifth outfield spot. He hit .312 with 14 homers and 88 RBI at Class AA New Britain last year. “He could be a fourth outfielder in the big leagues right now,”
My analysis: The Nationals have potentially found their lefthanded OF in Guzman.
The Nationals passed in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft. They were at 37, so this was not surprising. And the losses thus far in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5
- Marcos Cabral SS to Toronto
- Juan Cedeno LHP to Detroit
- Brett Campbell RHP to Milwaukee
Cabral played the season in Hagerstown. Cedeno was signed as a minor league free agent this off-season. Campbell made a brief appearance for the Nationals in 2006, he’s a RHRP. None are considered top prospects.
Washington also passed in the Double-A portion of the draft.
Sam | 06-Dec-07 at 9:23 am | Permalink
The people demand liveblogging! Streaming video! Shouting windbags!
Ryan Sullivan | 06-Dec-07 at 9:35 am | Permalink
Brian-
Last minute vibes from you, who or whom do you predict the Nationals take this morning? I am guessing two players: Jamie D’Antona and Evan Meek-
Looking forward to today-
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 9:49 am | Permalink
Last minute? Diory Hernandez makes some sense if the Nationals are interested in a shortstop. D’Antona seems like a longshot since he’s RH and it doesn’t necessarily solve the Nats L/R split preference at CA.
VladiHondo | 06-Dec-07 at 10:03 am | Permalink
Come on, its 10:03 already!!! ;)
Three more months | 06-Dec-07 at 10:05 am | Permalink
Other than MLB trying to charge for video, who is carrying this live in a blow-by-blow aacount?
Three more months | 06-Dec-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
Nobody is talking about the Nats losing anybody during the Major League phase of the draft.
phil dunn | 06-Dec-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
XM Radio, ch 175 is tracking the draft.
Three more months | 06-Dec-07 at 10:13 am | Permalink
Matt Whitney?
Sam | 06-Dec-07 at 10:15 am | Permalink
Whitney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OES_-cjRHiM
Sam | 06-Dec-07 at 10:17 am | Permalink
Right handed, five years of A/A+ ball by age 23.
Sam | 06-Dec-07 at 10:17 am | Permalink
An interview with Whitney:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/264745.html
VladiHondo | 06-Dec-07 at 10:18 am | Permalink
Don’t understand that pick!
Rage | 06-Dec-07 at 10:19 am | Permalink
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/news/top50/y2008/
Do you have thoughts on this? If they’ve been posted and I missed it, sorry! Thanks!
EdDC | 06-Dec-07 at 10:21 am | Permalink
Whitney last year in 128 games at high A: 32 HR, 113 RBI and .347 OBP. Guess this means no more Tony Battista–I was afraid he might come back this year.
VladiHondo | 06-Dec-07 at 10:22 am | Permalink
Guzman at least could be the #5 lefty swinging OF, but there is just no place for Whitney as a corner guy. Bizarre.
Alan | 06-Dec-07 at 10:45 am | Permalink
Whitney’s scouting report suggests that he might have some power - and the strike outs to match - maybe Bowden sees him as a poor man’s Adam Dunn.
VladiHondo | 06-Dec-07 at 10:55 am | Permalink
If you want the list of all the picks, go to www.milb.com and click on the “Folow every Pick in the Rule 5 Draft” story. (actual link is a mile long so I didn’t include it here).
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 11:04 am | Permalink
All - Thanks for the links
EdDC - Good point about Whitney vice Batista
Joe | 06-Dec-07 at 11:10 am | Permalink
So where does this leave Josh Whitesell? He’s better fit to be a back up than a guy who hasn’t even played AA! Maybe he will get traded?
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 11:12 am | Permalink
Whitesell still has options. He seems likely to hang around in Columbus.
Ryan Sullivan | 06-Dec-07 at 11:16 am | Permalink
Brian-
This Whitney pick makes no sense to me at all. Assuming we have Zimm, Guzman, F-Lopez, and NJohnson, with Dmitri and Belliard on the bench, I see no room for this kid….
Plus the one position we have plenty of backups at currently is 1B, with Belliard, Dmitri, and Dukes all capable there… just doesn’t add up-
What are your thoughts?
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 11:20 am | Permalink
Ryan - It’s an odd pick. I’m going to wait to make sure this was a select & trade thing where the Nationals picked him for someone else. If that’s not the case, I do have a hard time figuring out how he fits in. Perhaps this speaks to the health concerns around Johnson.
Marcus | 06-Dec-07 at 11:37 am | Permalink
Here’s what BA had to say about Whitney:
“First baseman Matt Whitney, whom the Indians selected 33rd overall in 2002, hit very well in 2007, his first fully health season since breaking his left leg while playing basketball in 2004. He batted .299/.364/.545 with 32 home runs in 512 at-bats. The caveat: He did his damage at the Class A level as a 23-year-old. The Nationals made him a Rule 5 pick.”
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?cat=18
Seems like a sleeper pick to me. We know Bowden loves guys with power 32 HR’s this guys must have some
Chris | 06-Dec-07 at 11:38 am | Permalink
I had the same idea about Johnson and it was aided by the accquisition of Milledge and Dukes. If they really thought Young would be in LF they wouldnt be picking up all these OFs. Not a good sign for Johnson
EdDC | 06-Dec-07 at 12:24 pm | Permalink
Maybe the Nats are making these moves without looking at immediate need.
In Whitney, they get a guy with maybe more power than anyone they have had in their minor league system in years (Tony Blanco came close one year before he was selected, as Chris points out).
Nats go for former blue chippers with an injury history. They have done this before (like the sore-armed former 1st round pitcher) without anyone panning out yet, but someone could.
Guzman from the Twins (hey, that sounds familiar somehow) is more of a need guy that you put in the mix to see if he can stick and offer him back if he doesn’t. But Whitney seems like a talent stockpile, who for the short term could help at PH and maybe at 1st and 3rd in limited innings–and then see if he can make his way from there.
VladiHondo | 06-Dec-07 at 1:24 pm | Permalink
The signing of Aaron Boone seems to make the Whitney pick more bizarre, plus spells an end to Tony Bats coming back, since Boonie is mainly a corner guy now, but in a pinch can do 2b.
And Langerhans just signed a minor league deal with us.
Ryan Sullivan | 06-Dec-07 at 1:33 pm | Permalink
Pardon my ignorance, but in the case of Langerhans, can we send him to the minors without him passing through waivers… he seems like a nice spare part to stash in the minors in case of injuries or a Dukes meltdown-
If this is dumb, I’m sorry, but I can never keep the waiver rules straight- thanks…
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 1:34 pm | Permalink
Boone seems like a really good move especially given the investment ($1M min with a max no higher than $1.5M) but you’re right the Whitney move is really odd now. Maybe the Nats look to make a deal with Cleveland in order to trade for him and send him to the minors. IMO, anything that prevents Tony Batista from returning is good by me.
Langerhans remains on the 40-man. LH defense first CF. He could easily be dumped but he cannot hurt
Brian Oliver | 06-Dec-07 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
Ryan - Langerhans still has to pass through waivers to be sent down. He did it already last season