The Nationals announced their current list of non-roster invitations to spring training
PITCHERS
- Ray King LHP
- Mike Bacsik LHP
- Collin Balester RHP
- Mike O’Connor LHP
- Arnie Munoz LHP
- Dennis Tankersley RHP
- Jason Stanford LHP
- Bobby Brownlie RHP
- Tristan Crawford RHP
- Steven Shell RHP
- Jim Ed Warden RHP
- Mike Hinckley LHP
- Rob Bell RHP
- Charlie Manning LHP
- Ismael Ramirez RHP
- Brian Sanches RHP
- Eude Brito LHP
- Josh Smoker LHP
CATCHERS
- Humberto Cota
- Chad Moeller
- Javier Herrera
INFIELDERS
- William Bergolla MIF
- Yurendell de Caster IF
- Luis Jimenez 1B
- Pete Orr MIF
- Antonio Perez MIF
- Eddie Rogers MIF
OUTFIELDERS
- Frank Diaz
- Jason Dubois
- Alex Escobar
- Tommy Murphy
- Jorge Padilla
Marc M | 09-Jan-08 at 1:29 pm | Permalink
What has happened with Larry Broadway? I know that its a longshot for him to crack the Nationals lineup what with the glut of 1B at Spring Training, and he was removed from the 40-man roster last year, but I did not see him picked up by another club in the Rule 5 draft, so I thought he was still with the club.
John | 09-Jan-08 at 1:31 pm | Permalink
Wow. I’m surprised to see Josh Smoker. I wonder if they think he’s ready for Hagerstown at 19.
OT: Brian have you heard if the Nats are going to make a scouting trip through DR and Venezuala like last year? I think it was around this time in ‘07 that they signed some prospects like Sanchez, Leon, and Almonte.
Thanks for all the great work.
Brian Oliver | 09-Jan-08 at 1:41 pm | Permalink
Marc - Broadway is still with the organization from the last time I checked. With Whitesell around, it appears Broadway’s time has passed
John - I can ask about the DR/Venezuela thing
John | 09-Jan-08 at 1:53 pm | Permalink
Thanks Brian. I’m definitely looking forward to that and where you think players will be.
Marcus | 09-Jan-08 at 2:23 pm | Permalink
Got a ? answered in Goldsteins chat on BP thought I’d share it with the rest of yall:
Marcus (Fairfax): Do you consider Chris Marrero a five-star prospect and what do you think of the improvements the Nats have made on the farm?
Kevin Goldstein: Yes I do. The Nats have had nowhere to go but up, but they’ve don’t a good job in the last two drafts and their system looks much better than it did 24 months ago. I just finished the top 100 for BP2008 (Go! Buy! Now!) and there are three Nats on the list.
http://baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=403
Brian Oliver | 09-Jan-08 at 2:46 pm | Permalink
Thanks Marcus. I’m guessing Marrero, Detwiler, and Burgess.
Five weeks | 09-Jan-08 at 3:26 pm | Permalink
I also was amazed to see Smoker get an invite, and I really hoped that somebody might have taken Larry Broadway in the minor league Rule 5. I was also surprised to see that Mike Hinckley still gets an invitation. I bet he falls right out of the Nats’ top 30 prospects in Baseball America’s 2008 book next month.
I immediately thought that other teams have hundreds or players not on the Nats’ roster (but on their own, dagnabit). Want to come to our Spring Training, A-Rod?
Thanks for sharing your bit of conversation, Marcus. I bet Michael Burgess is one of the other in that BP 100.
Bill | 09-Jan-08 at 4:53 pm | Permalink
who in their right mind was going to rule 5 broadway when he’s proven only that he can’t make a lousy NL roster at age 25/26 (then followed that up with a subpar year at AAA) and his own ML team signed several FAs and selected a rule 5 player at his only position. you don’t need to be the amazing kreskin to figure out there wasn’t any market for this (at best) AAAA player.
dd | 09-Jan-08 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
Is Everts still in the Nats system?
Ric | 09-Jan-08 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
The only “new name” on the list is Ismael Ramirez — any information on when he was signed and his background? It looks like he is a former mid-level Toronto prospect who had a rough year last year in the minors.
Thanks
Senatorsfansunite | 09-Jan-08 at 6:02 pm | Permalink
Everts is still in the system. Spent last season at Potomac
Steve | 09-Jan-08 at 7:49 pm | Permalink
Smoker must have impressed someone to be invited. I would guess 19 yr olds are pretty rare in Spring Training. Wow! This will be interesting.
Gary | 09-Jan-08 at 7:51 pm | Permalink
Saw Marrero @ Potomac last summer. Is the plan still for him to make the big club as a OF, or perhaps as a utility player?
Also, where’s that top-50 prospect list? Hey, you promised us it would be up Monday…just asking.
Pete Orr’s good. Nice that the Braves gave him a shot last year in the bigs; let’s hope the Nats do the same.
Spring training, and I can NOT wait!!!
Louis J. | 09-Jan-08 at 8:00 pm | Permalink
Ric
At one time, I thought Ismael Ramirez was going to make the Blue Jays as a starter after good Class A & AA performances. The scouts thought he was strictly a middle reliever and last year may have iced t for him and he left. He’s going to Spring Training for a “lookie-see”.
Steve
Smoker’s invite may be one of those promises made to sign him.
Mark | 09-Jan-08 at 8:51 pm | Permalink
Brian -
Pitchers and catchers report when?
Position players report when?
Accelerated minor league camp opens when?
Minor league camp opens when?
Thanks!
VladiHondo | 09-Jan-08 at 10:12 pm | Permalink
From the Nats MLB site:
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Viera on Feb. 15, while position players will do the same five days later. Washington’s first full-squad workout will take place on the morning of Feb. 22.
Since they DID have the Fall Instructional League, they may not have the Accelerated minor league camp this spring. Its a pity, loved going to it last year!
hoagie | 10-Jan-08 at 12:22 am | Permalink
according to the story on nationals.com, the only person invited that wasn’t guaranteed an invite contractually was balester. that means one of smoker’s perks in his contract was an invite each year to ML camp.
Pilchard | 10-Jan-08 at 10:33 am | Permalink
I thought the Nats let Mike O’Connor go.
As for Larry Broadway, MLB has no place for a 1st baseman with no power and does not get on base that much.
hoagie | 10-Jan-08 at 12:04 pm | Permalink
O’Connor was released off of the 40-man and resigned to a minor league deal, just like Jones was.
Hendo | 10-Jan-08 at 12:19 pm | Permalink
After struggling back from TJ as a starter for what seemed like forever, Everts looked awesome as a reliever last season at Potomac. Think he can keep it up at Harrisburg?
Brian Oliver | 10-Jan-08 at 1:14 pm | Permalink
Hendo - I think the bullpen is his best chance at making the majors. While it feels like he’s been around for a long long time, Everts is still only 23. While the window may be closing, it’s still not shut.
Louis J. | 10-Jan-08 at 10:39 pm | Permalink
Brian
Will the Nats attempt to convert Mike Hinckley into a reliever or do they still see him as a starter.
Louis J. | 10-Jan-08 at 10:57 pm | Permalink
Brian
I saw Everts a number of times last year at Potomac. He is not very big in the shoulders and he’s not very strong in his lower half where he needs to drive off the mound. This weak physical makeup may lead to more arm problems, lack of consistency and durability concerns in the future. Also, he appeared to lack maturity and a passion for the game. He gave me the impression that he has convinced himself that he won’t make the ML and he’s only going thru the motions
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 12-Jan-08 at 9:20 am | Permalink
With a similar body type, I’ll agree with Louis J that Everts has less margin of error in terms of biomechanics, but that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily weak or non-durable. There are several guys his size (I’m willing to bet the 6-2, 170 listing is outdated, I noticed it on scouting reports that are 2-3 years old) already in the majors.
I’ll also agree with Louis J about Everts’s demeanor while he was a starter, but once he adjusted to relieving, it seemed to suit him well. Admittedly, Knorr tended to put him in when the PNats were way ahead or way behind… but towards the end of the year, you’ll note that he was put in more critical situations and he started to have some success.
http://firstinning.com/players/Clint-Everts-a/?s_y=2007&s_t=Potomac&s_ll=A+