From Barry Svrluga’s chat today …
GTown: What’s going to happen with the Rule 5 picks, Whitney and Guzman?
Barry Svrluga: They are currently trying to make trades with their original clubs — Cleveland and Minnesota — but are not terribly optimistic it’ll work out. Guzman is a bit of a ‘tweener — a good hitter with no pop and not terrific speed. Whitney has some more power and I think they’d like to keep him, but they’re not going to trade a true prospect for him.
This news is not surprising. There isn’t realistically any place on the 25-man roster for either player and it’s nice to read that the Nationals are not willing to trade a true prospect to hang onto either of them. They are solid enough players but in my opinion not necessarily worthy of losing a prospect of note. I’d be hard-pressed to offer anyone who was part of the ADP.
Positively Half St | 20-Mar-08 at 7:41 am | Permalink
Brian-
The transactions section of the paper (apparently) incorrectly stated that Alex Escobar had refused assignment to the minor league camp. I believe Cota did that, and Escobar accepted. Isn’t that right?
Brian Oliver | 20-Mar-08 at 7:52 am | Permalink
The press release I received from the Nationals had Cota refusing the assignment and becoming a free agent. No mention of Escobar refusing it.