Comments on: Minor League Transactions

By: One more month

One more month — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:24:11 +0000

Zach Baldwin, Greg Bunn, Devin Drag, Coby Mavroulis, Buzz Vargas, Joe Welsh, Gene Yost, Lindon Bond, Erick San Pedro -

If you are hoping to catch on with another team, and to continue your baseball careers, good luck, and I hope to see you play in the majors some day. If this is the end of that part of your life, good luck in all you do next. In either case, thanks for playing in the Nats' organization. We hoped that each and every one of you could play above and beyond your draft position.

By: Ryan Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:32:28 +0000

San Pedro- our 2nd pick in the 2004 draft is sent packing, at a position of need in the organization… it doesn’t get much worse than that- someone REALLY dropped the ball on that one-

By: natsfan07

natsfan07 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:10:50 +0000

How can Baldwin be released? He was one of the better true pitchers in the low levels? I saw him shut several teams out. That is a move i dont agree with..

By: Joe From Montana

Joe From Montana — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:11:35 +0000

Catcher is always a position of need no matter what. San Pedro was the guy that dropped the ball here, IMO. He is a career .181 hitter with a .237 slugging percentage. For a second rounder he never payed off.

By: Suns Fan

Suns Fan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:08:10 +0000

San Pedro I agree with. He was the oldest guy on the team, and he still wasn't hitting well. He was also injury prone. Pat Nichols is all around in my view (calls a better game, has a very good arm, and hits better). Last year, Nichols mostly rode the bench while Solano (decent potential), San Pedro, and later John Poppert split time. Nichols only started at catcher in games Baldwin started (college teammates). Why they did that was beyond me, as Nichols should've been given the chance to play every day, especially after a late season injury to Solano.

Baldwin is a good pitcher. He could make the major leagues, and potentially be a long reliever or fifth starter. He was clearly the best of the full season bunch in Hagerstown last year. That alone may cloud my judgment, as the bunch wasn't too great here. (Brad Meyers was the best pitcher to come through Hagerstown; he has some serious potential).

Bond is a nice guy, and was one of my favorite players last season. He has a great attitude. He's very fast. He hit well at the start, but cooled off at the end of the season. He was some power. He could improve his defense--especially his arm. I was hoping he'd get another year to play in Hagerstown. I hope he continues his professional career and succeeds.

Mavroulis is also a nice guy. He was never the same after he got hit in the face by a line drive. It can take major league players several years to recover from that. But the cold reality of the minors is that players don't have several years to recover from injuries. He played Center Field at the end of the season for a few games, and he is a good hitter for a pitcher. I hope he finds a spot elsewhere and continues his career.

I didn't see much of Bunn or Yost, so I can't comment on their skills.

Best wishes to everyone.

By: Ric

Ric — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:57:32 +0000

According to Baseball America, OF Richard Hidalgo also was released.

By: Freda

Freda — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:23:26 +0000

Wow - two of last year’s draft guys! Never even got to experience Spring Training. That hasn’t happened since Kenny Beck back in 2002.

By: Ryan Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:40:50 +0000

I may be overthinking this, but to me, something just doesn't add up with releasing Baldwin and to a much lesser degree, San Pedro. Baldwin was drafted this year, is left-handed, and had some reasonable numbers in Low A this past season. I realize that he will be 25 in May, so that contributes to it, but I am shocked that he was simply released.

Fairly similar argument with San Pedro; the numbers don't lie, but he still is 24 and a catcher, and was our 2nd pick three years ago.

Anyone else feel the same way, or do I just have too much time on my hands?

By: Brian Oliver

Brian Oliver — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:44:59 +0000

Baldwin was drafted in 2006 not 2007. His is probably the more puzzling move.

As for San Pedro, I am not sure he ever completely recovered from the broken leg he suffered in 2005

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:03:58 +0000

Baldwin is a surprise as he finished the season pretty well on a horrid team.
San Pedro kinda seemed like he was mailing it in.
Not a poor attitude,more of a disinterested one.
It would not surprise me to never see San Pedro play again….

By: Ryan Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:19:25 +0000

Brian-

Have you heard anything about Baldwin (bad attitude, makeup, etc) that would explain this move, because he seems like a potential lefty bullpen arm that would have a place in most organizations?

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:40:12 +0000

Baldwin had a great attitude. Good Kid, very effective “pitcher”, commanded 5 pitches he can throw for strikes. He has got to catch on elsewhere. If he doesn’t, it is crazy.

By: theword

theword — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:04:17 +0000

I was in vermont when baldwin was there and he was a terrific kid. Kept his nose clean on and off the field. was always generous to the fans and always seemed to have a smile on his face. To release such a great kid is absolutely horrible. He is a hometown hero in WV and im sure everyone in that state is wondering what happened.. I know he had solid numbers in vermont and started on a tear in hagerstown. His finish was down but he showed that he could do anything for the suns. I know tommy herr loved him along with paul menhart. This is a move i do not understand as he was on the verge of getting called up (inside source in VT). Upper managemnet never gave the player a chance. He is 6′6 230 and LEFT HANDED also a strike thrower.. What is this organization doing… Sorry for just talking about baldwin but he is the only one i really ever knew or followed… Brian do you have any reasoning on why something so idiotic could occur?