Should the Nats chase after Giambi? Smoltz?

Written by William Yoder

Friday, 07 August 2009 17:12

jason_giambi_mustache
Jason Giambi was released by the Oakland Athletics today. The 38-year-old first baseman was batting just .193 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI this season.

While it isn’t clear whether Giambi has any offers, it wouldn’t be too outrageous for the Nationals to make a push to sign him for a minimum deal for the rest of the season.

While Giambi has certainly had an abysmal 2009, the former MVP has played on a club with no protection, in a park that hates hitters.

Just one year ago Giambi batted .274/.373/.502 for the Yankees, not a bad mark for a 37 year old.

The likleyhood is that Giambi will never put up numbers like the ones he had in New York again, however it is equally likely that his terrible numbers this season for the A’s were more a result of circumstance.

The Nationals currently have a hole at first base. Why not bring in a former MVP who still gets on base and can fill the slot? At worst it’s a waste of a minimum contract and the Nationals still finish in last place. At best he proves that he’s worthy of a one-year extension and the Nationals have a place holder until Chris Marrero is ready for the big leagues.

While his future isn’t certain, it is clear that any veteran slugger can hit behind Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn.

JOHN SMOLTZ

p1_smoltz_ap John Smoltz was released by the Red Sox today after a poor start of the season.

The Hall of Fame bound starter was only given eight starts before getting the axe from Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein. Smoltz was 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA in 40 innings pitched.

While the righty’s performance may not have been acceptable for the Red Sox, who are in the midst of a pennant race, his services may still be appreciated by a variety of other teams.

Smoltz started the season late as he was recovering from surgery. While eight starts is a solid sample size, it could very well be that Smoltz just hasn’t found his rhythm yet after his time off.

The Nationals would do well to take a chance on him, if just for the rest of the 2009 season. A veteran starter in the club house with those young pitchers may be more valuable than even his pitching potential. That pitching potential shouldn’t be knocked itself however. While Smoltz’s record and ERA were not appealing, the 42-year-old was still throwing hard, and still had a great strikeout to walk ratio 33/9.

Whether he be inserted in the bullpen or the rotation, Smoltz would be a great addition to help the Nationals finish their year up.

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written by Section 221, August 08, 2009

Not smart. We are better defensively with Dunn at first and both Willingham and Dukes in the outfield. You don't gain anything new offensively with Giambi in the lineup and you lose speed and ABs for Dukes who still can be a very important piece of this team going forward.
At this point in his career Giambi is no different a player than what Nick Johnson was and there is a reason we got rid of Nick Johnson.

Smoltz is a classy guy but if we wanted a mentor for our young pitchers we would have picked up Glavine when he got cut by the Mets. There is no point in taking away starts from Stammen and Balester and giving them to Smoltz just so we can find out if he has a few more wins left in him. We need to find out if those two guys really have the stuff to make it on the team for the next few years.

As a fan at this point I don't care if we end the season with 50, 60 or 70 wins. Let's get our heads on right, we aren't playing for anything except to be spoilers so let's round out our individual stats and learn who needs to get cut for next year.

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written by YardYoder, August 09, 2009

There is a reason we got rid of Nick Johnson...value. He had value, we capitalized on it. We didn't get rid of him because he wasn't contributing, wasn't helping, wasn't good enough. Of course the man had flaws in his game, but at the end of the day we traded him to get prospects out of an expensive (for the Nationals) contract.

Giambi isn't a different player, you are right. The big difference right now is that he will be dirt cheap, minimum contract value. Why not plug him in as a replacement Nick Johnson for the rest of the year? Why play Dunn at first base when clearly if he does have any future with this team, its in the outfield. Why not bring in a guy who will play the position every day, appreciate being there, and hold a spot until next season?