Just received this from the P-Nats
The Potomac Nationals hottest hurler, Luis Atilano, was named the Carolina League’s Pitcher of the Week for July 21-July 27. Atilano joins former P-Nats Jordan Zimmermann, Edgardo Baez, Leonard Davis, and Marvin Lowrance to earned weekly honors this season.
While being limited to just five innings while still recovering from “Tommy John” surgery which he underwent in 2006, the Puerto Rican made the most of his limited opportunity, one-hitting both the Kinston Indians and the Frederick Keys in his two starts during the week. The 23-year-old struck out six, including matching a season-high with five punch outs against Frederick, and walked just one. He ran his scoreless innings streak to 12 by hurling 10 shutout frames over the week.
Atilano was a supplemental first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2003, which they received with the departure of Tom Glavine, and was selected 35th overall. The Washington Nationals acquired him on August 31, 2006, 21 days after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery, in exchange for Daryle Ward. He has won each of his last four outings after having to wait nearly two years between victories – having not won since knocking off the P-Nats on July 24, 2006, while a member of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
The starting pitcher for the Southern Division in the 2005 South Atlantic League All-Star Game began the season with Low-A Hagerstown and has pitched at three levels this season including Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg compiling a 4-1 record and 2.60 ERA in 19 games, 10 starts. In 10 appearances with the P-Nats including six starts, Atilano is 4-0 with an ERA of just 2.39.
The Potomac Nationals will begin a seven-game homestand and three-game set against the second-place Wilmington Blue Rocks on Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium. Every Monday is Washington Post Dollar Monday as fans can purchase grandstand tickets and hot dogs for just one dollar. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Positively Half St | 28-Jul-08 at 10:37 am | Permalink
This is great news. I remember when this trade happened, and thought that it was completely consistent with the Plan. An injured high-round pick for a journeyman pinch hitter. Is he due to join the previous weekly award winners as a “former P-Nat”?
I mourn the fact that we don’t have any other Daryle Wards, Mike Stantons or Marlon Andersons that another team would want at the trade deadline for a Luis Atilano, Jhonny Nunez or Shairon Martis. The only player remotely in that vein is Willie Harris, and the team is depending on him in the starting lineup at the moment.
Rocket Surgeon | 28-Jul-08 at 12:27 pm | Permalink
PHS- Along the lines of your message, I did hear a comment on Baseball This Morning on XM that a number of teams of have expressed interest in Tim Redding. He’s had a decent season for the Nats. Maybe we get some prospects for him.
Pilchard | 28-Jul-08 at 1:20 pm | Permalink
Over the 2007-8 seasons, Tim Redding has established himself as a solid MLB-level pitcher. He is 30 and should have at least another 3 or 4 good years left. Unless the Nats are blown away by an offer from another team, I would prefer that the Nats sign Redding to a 2 or even a 3 year contract if he is willing to give the Nats any kind of home-town discount rather than deal him.
I realize that the “plan” is to build through the system, but the Nats need at least a handful of solid vets on the roster and Redding is a keeper IMO.
Sec 204 Row K Seat 1 | 28-Jul-08 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
I agree that Redding is too much a Plan possiblity to let him go now. However, if Harris could get us a player or players of the caliber PHS listed, then he sould be traded as the NATS will not be (Unfortunetly) that much worse off than they are at this moment.
Dick | 28-Jul-08 at 2:52 pm | Permalink
The problem with Redding is that he is a free agent after the season so there is NO guarantee the Nats could sign him for another few years. Brian may know better, but I suspect Redding is not a Type A or B free agent so would probably not fetch a draft pick were he to go somewhere else. The Nats should entertain trades and/or try to resign him like the did with Guzman, it seems to me.
Tofu Dog | 28-Jul-08 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
What is Atilano’s projection now compared to what he was before surgery. Not a lot of strikeouts for a 23-yr old at high-A ball and below. I assume he is building strength back but since he has pitched as high as AA ball for the Braves, doesn’t he need to be putting up gaudier numbers to jump up the organization chart?
MO Nats Fan | 28-Jul-08 at 4:31 pm | Permalink
Redding is also under team control for 2-3 more years (someone want to confirm/clarify his status, please?) so we should expect a pretty hefty return for his services. Given their comments about Guzman bringing experience and stability I think they are very likely to keep Redding and will likely try to work out a multi-year deal to cover his arbitration years.
I doubt any other current player will be traded before the deadline, but I wouldn’t be surprise to see LoDuca or Lopez slipped through waivers and shopped to a contending team decide to fill a need late or a bubble team now play themselves into contention and trying to fill a whole they didn’t address before the deadline.
Post non-waiver trade deadline deals are rarely for any MLB players of consequence, but I can think of a few good prospects that have changed hands post deadline.
Dick | 28-Jul-08 at 9:24 pm | Permalink
MO: How do you figure Redding to be under team control? I thought he signed as a free agent. As you said, will someone please confirm his status?
Brian Oliver | 28-Jul-08 at 9:47 pm | Permalink
Redding only has 3.167 years of service time entering this season. So as of the end of 2008, he will be arbitration eligible.
4.167 end of 2008 - arb eligible/team control
5.167 end of 2009 - arb eligible/team control
6.167 end of 2010 - free agent
He was a free agent for the Nationals to sign in much the same way Chad Cordero will be a free agent at the end of this season. His team did not tender him a contract.