Roster Limitations
- International League (Columbus): 24 active
- Eastern League (Harrisburg): 24 active from Opening Day through the 30th day of the season and from August 10 to the end of the season; 23 active from 31st day of season until Aug. 10
- Carolina League (Potomac): 25 active
- South Atlantic League (Hagerstown): 25 active
My 24-man rosters will have 13 bats and 11 arms. The bats will include the starting nine (including a DH), one backup catcher, one backup middle infielder, one backup corner infielder, and one backup outfielder. In the cases where the rosters are 25, I’ll add an infielder or an outfielder. Pitching will include five starters, two long relievers/spot starters, one closer (if possible), and three short relievers (trying to make at least one a lefthander). There are going to be quite a few guys left unassigned (especially when you get to Columbus), but keep in mind that minor league teams can control more players than they can have active. This means the players can be accounted for on a given team but not be in uniform. Some of these players will often travel with the team (like a third catcher).
And now Harrisburg…
- Catchers. Jesus Flores (R) & Javi Herrera (R). I’m in the camp of allowing Flores to play full time in Harrisburg vice serve as a back-up in Washington. Even if Johnny Estrada isn’t ready for the start of the season, I’d prefer to see Flores start in Harrisburg as the regular starter. The Nats can fill in with Humberto Cota, Wil Nieves, or Chad Moeller until Estrada is ready. The Nationals could choose to place Luke Montz here instead of Herrera but I’m going to go with Herrera.
- First baseman. Brett McMillan (L). There are plenty of people who expect to see Chris Marrero here. I’m going to be patient and let McMillan start the season here and if Marrero produces early in the season, he can be moved to Harrisburg then
- Second baseman. Ofilio Castro (R). Castro is in the Accelerated Development Program (ADP) and I believe he’ll be the starter at 2B here. The options beyond Castro are limited at this level of the organization.
- Third baseman. Leonard Davis (L). Davis might start back in Potomac but I think the Nationals will challenge the 24-year old Davis at this level.
- Shortstop. Ian Desmond (R). This is his second take at Double-A, but in my opinion, he is much more prepared this time.
- Utility infielders. Seth Bynum (R) & Yurendell de Caster (R). There are quite a few organizational types that could fill in here, guys like Ed Rogers, Antonio Perez, or even Larry Broadway.
- Left fielder. Edgardo Baez (R). I’m giving him the starting role based upon his presence in the ADP.
- Center fielder. Justin Maxwell (R). I think it makes sense to give Maxwell the challenge of top Double-A pitching instead of playing him against the major league spot starters he’s more likely to face in Triple-A.
- Right fielder. Mike Daniel (L). As I have mentioned before, Daniel is favorite of mine. I expect him to play pretty much full time, splitting time between LF and RF.
- Designated hitter. Steve Mortimer (L).
- Fourth outfielder. Frank Diaz (R). He can play all three OF positions
- Starting pitchers. Ross Detwiler (L), Garrett Mock (R), Shairon Martis (R), Brad Meyers (R), & Marco Estrada (R). The rumors are that Detwiler will start out in Potomac, but I have him slated for Harrisburg along with four other arms the Nationals have high hopes for. If Detwiler or Meyers are assigned to Potomac, do not be surprised to see Mike O’Connor or Carlos Martinez or Bobby Brownlie or Levale Speigner get a shot at starting here.
- Long relievers. Devin Perrin (R) & Mike O’Connor (L). Carlos Martinez would also be an option here.
- Closer. Adam Carr (R). I believe Carr is going to get the majority of the save chances but he could share the role with Zinicola.
- Short relievers. Zech Zinicola (R), Jack Spradlin (L) & David Trahan (R). There are several guys who could get roles here. Omitted here were Alex Morales (R) and Mike Hinckley who might be transitioning into a LOOGY.
Here is where there are a few more names unassigned. CA/1B/DH Luke Montz, OFs Dee Brown & Sheldon Fulse, RHP Carlos Martinez & LHP Gerald Plexico don’t make it do to roster limitations.
The Nationals convinced John Stearns to accept a demotion of sorts in 2008, from Triple-A Columbus to Double-A Harrisburg. But in actuality, the Nationals see more value in Stearns overseeing some of their top prospects. The fans on City Island should be in for some above average players and ideally, a pretty good overall team.
Chris | 07-Mar-08 at 2:29 pm | Permalink
That would be a really good looking rotation and back end of the bullpen
Positively Half St. | 07-Mar-08 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
One of the fascinating aspects of watching your team’s minor leagues over several years is watching dreams die. I am not enjoying this with some evil schadenfreude. I don’t know the guys that are on the decline any more than those on the way up.
It’s just that Zech Zinicola as a short reliever sounds like a real bump in his road to the majors. Being a LOOGY on a AA team seems a desperation play for Hinckley. Long relief in AA is a problem for Mike O’Connor, but he is someone who should be amazed that he got the whole pot of coffee, never mind a cup. Let’s not even think about how close poor Larry Broadway got.
The other thought is what the AA clubhouse dynamic must be like. Organizational guys are probably considering post-baseball options. Justin Maxwell must be loose among teammates, but feeling the pressure of being one of the few really being watched. Recent prospects coming off an off-year must have an air of desperation.
Finally- Have you been to the Harrisburg stadium? I would love to bring my family up for a weekend and see a game there. I would have to suffer Hershey Park for the kids, but it could be worth it.
VladiHondo | 08-Mar-08 at 10:52 pm | Permalink
Sort of puzzled by Frank Diaz’ plight. Was he available to everybody as a minor FA over the winter? He did have a good winter in Venezuela, but now he’s just a 4th OF in AA.
I liked him - saw him the ADP last spring, but it didn’t really help him like it helped Lannan. That might be due to Diaz’ normal winter ball experience, the ADP just added a bit to it.
hartmanbirge | 09-Mar-08 at 3:00 am | Permalink
Here’s one for you Brian…. from the Washington Times. It’s like an exciting prospect descended from the heavens or something. A 99mph fastball. With that kind of arm he could land just about anywhere in the system…
“The most intriguing pitcher, though, was Jaime, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder who starred in the Dominican Summer League last season. In 14 relief appearances over 26 innings, Jaime had a 1.35 ERA and struck out 34 batters while walking 14. He was the star of the team’s championship run in the league playoffs.
“Everybody was talking about this kid in the playoffs,” said Jose Rijo, special assistant to the general manager. “People came out just to watch him pitch. A lot of scouts would come, too, and [general manager] Jim Bowden got a lot of phone calls about it.”
Bowden acknowledged there has been excitement about Jaime throughout the organization.
“Sure, there is a buzz,” he said. “Anytime teams win championships and guys blow the ball by everybody and dominate and other teams are calling me from the Dominican saying, ‘Where did you get this guy?’ there is going to be a buzz.”
Yesterday was his first appearance in a game in accelerated camp, and the buzz fizzed a little bit as Jaime, though throwing hard, struggled with control, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk.
But they didn’t bring him here to accelerated camp because they think he is some gimmick. This is the best of the Nationals farm system, and Jaime is the first pitcher from the Dominican program to be brought here. He was clearly nervous, but someday he won’t be, and when that day comes, Jaime’s career could take off fast.
“Jaime came out of nowhere and opened everybody’s eyes with his work in the Dominican Summer League,” manager Manny Acta said. “He was pitching 99 miles per hour. It was eye-popping. We are paying close attention to him. When you have that kind of talent, things can happen quick in baseball.”
Senatorsfansunite | 09-Mar-08 at 9:40 am | Permalink
VladiHondo,
I have Frank starting in Triple-A this season. I really don’t see him in Double-A for a 3rd season. You are correct, he did play well in the winter league. He is a streak hitter (either hot or cold) but always a solid defender with a plus arm.
It’s really a numbers game though. With the talented young outfield the Nationals have, someone has to be assigned to AAA and others to AA. It is possible for guys like Bernadina, Diaz and Sheldon Fulse who played with Harrisburg to return simply because there are only a few outfield roster spots available in AAA. My guess is Bernadina could start the season in Harrisburg.