| Rank | Hitters | Pitchers |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Matt Whitney | Brad Meyers |
| 14 | Garrett Guzman | Jhonny Nunez |
| 15 | Roger Bernadina | Zech Zinicola |
| 16 | Kory Casto | Marco Estrada |
| 17 | Andrew LeFave | Adrian Alaniz |
| 18 | Leonard Davis | Cory VanAllen |
| 19 | Dani Arias | Martin Beno |
| 20 | Bill Rhinehart | Hassan Pena |
| 21 | Mark Gildea | Yader Peralta |
| 22 | Aaron Seuss | PJ Dean |
| 23 | Edgardo Baez | Federico Tanco |
| 24 | Garrett Bass | Jack Spradlin |
| 25 | Alejandro Hodge | Marcos Frias |
| Francisco Soriano | Juan Jaime | |
| Yeurys Tejeda |
Matt Whitney was another Rule 5 selection from Decmber. The soon-to-be 24 year old Whitney (Wednesday is his birthday) is a righthanded first baseman/third baseman selected from the Cleveland Indians organization. Power is his calling card, exhibited by his 32 home runs in A-ball last season. Scouting reports have concerns with his propensity to strikeout and while he has been listed as a third baseman in the past, the belief is he is not quick enough to play there, limiting him to first base. Like Guzman, he’ll need to stick on the 25-man roster all season or have the Nationals work out some sort of deal with Cleveland to allow him to go to the minors. Based on his power, he is an intriguing option but faces long odds on remaining with the organization past spring training.
Brad Meyers was a 2007 5th round selection by the Nationals out of Loyola Marymount University. The tall righthander has a four pitch repertoire (fastball, curveball, slider and changeup) that he can throw for strikes. He is adept at getting groundballs but has a low strikeout total. Presently, he projects as another back of the rotation starter or long reliever. He ended his 2007 in Potomac and it seems most likely he’ll start there in 2008. Though a quick promotion to Harrisburg is certainly possible.
Louis J. | 11-Feb-08 at 8:37 am | Permalink
I’m very interested in Brad Meyers performance in 2008. He’s big, mature and knows how to get outs. The new phrase is “pitching to contact” and Meyers does that well. In 2007, he moved from the draft up tp Class A Hagerstown. In 2008, he could move from Potomac to Class AAA Columbus. A No. 4/No. 5 pitcher can still get 27-30 starts a year and still an important part of the rotation.
Brian Oliver | 11-Feb-08 at 8:46 am | Permalink
Louis - Meyers could very easily be John Lannan 2008 (putting aside the arm with which they throw the ball).
Louis J. | 11-Feb-08 at 8:56 am | Permalink
Brian;
The Nats have a number of C type of players on the 40 man roster (Costo, Whitesell, Whitney, G. Guzman & Bernadina) plus marginal players in the minors like Estrada, LaFave, Davis & Nunez. Colome could be a one year wonder. Can these players be traded for anything of value or even for another C type player who would fit better with the Nats such as James Shelton (CA)(L/R) with Tigers, Ryan Koury (INF)(R/R) with Boston, David McKae (RHP) with Giants, Eugenio Velez (INF)(S/R) with Giants, Mike McKenry (CA)(R/R) with Rockies or Tommy Baumgardner with the Rockies.
Brian Oliver | 11-Feb-08 at 10:32 am | Permalink
It takes two teams to make those sort of deals (obviously) and while the Nationals might be willing to move on deals like that, I’m not sure whether the partner teams would. Most of these #35-40 guys on the 40-man can be viewed as interchangeable but there would need to be a reason for the partner team to want to make that sort of move. I’m just not sure whether any team is anxious to trade for a guy who they can already find within their own organization.
Louis J. | 11-Feb-08 at 10:59 am | Permalink
Brian
I agree on it takes two teams to make a deal and we’re dealing with players currently in the 30-50 range. However, the players/teams that I mentioned may have a need that the Nats could help with. For instance, the Giants could use bullpen help (Colome), depth at 1B (Whitney or Whitesell) and 3B current or depth (Casto 3B/1B/OF). The Rockies could use bullpen help (Colome), depth at 1B (Whitney or Whitesell) and #4/#5 LHH-OF (Guzman or Bernadina). Fianlly, the Tigers can use another young pitching prospect (Estrada) after their trade with the Marlins. There’s no need to answer my posting, I was just thinking out sound of how to “rearrange the chairs on the Titanic”.
Louis J. | 11-Feb-08 at 11:03 am | Permalink
Brian
Grammer correction: should have been “thinking out loud”. I guess I don’t think as well “out loud” as I thought!!!!
Hendo | 12-Feb-08 at 7:03 pm | Permalink
Good thinking out loud, Louis J. Kind of a shame that we’re stacked at first, but I don’t see how we can justify hanging on to Whitney (or overpaying to get him back from Cleveland).
I don’t see any need to hurry Meyers along. Circumstances, or a breakout as a P-Nat, may do the job soon enough.