According to Bill Ladson on MLB.com, free-agent bullpen hand Matt Capps has selected the Washington Nationals as a, "finalist." The former Pirates closer, who has collected 67 saves in his five-year career, had been courted by many teams this offseason, and apparently he likes the direction the Nationals are moving in.

He told Ladson over the phone:

"They had a great offensive team [this past season]," Capps said. "If they put some pitching out there, they can play with anybody. I feel it would be a good situation and a good opportunity for me, personally. I already like the moves they already made in trying to be competitive next year and beyond. Ivan Rodriguez is a Hall of Fame catcher. To have the opportunity to throw to him and learn from him, I definitely think that is a big deal.

"It shows the direction the Nationals are trying to go. They signed him to a two-year deal - it's just not a fill-in. It shows that they are investing in the future. They want to do what's right, and they want to win."

Analysis:

To me, it is no surprise that the Nationals are on Capps finalist list, but unfortunately, I don't think it has anything to do with winning. Capps criteria in selecting a team is strongly footed in two factors, the opportunity for a multi-year deal, and the opportunity to close. It seems with the signing of Rodriguez, and the non-tendering of MacDougal, that both of these criteria would be filled with the Nationals.

The pure fact that the Nationals are willing to offer both those things is reason enough for Capps to put Washington on his finalists list. However, Capps can use the Nationals offer to up the anti on other teams, teams he may be more interested in playing for. Just like with Mark Teixiera last year, the Nats can drive up the price, and Capps can ride the wave. This, of course, doesn't mean that Capps has no intention on going to Washington. But the Nationals know they have to pay a premium for players, a Nats tax, and agents know it's good to get them in on the bidding war.

Why the Nationals would want to give Capps a multi-year deal I don't know. Closers tend to have about a four-to-five year shelf life and Capps seemed to hit the wall last season. Of course, there are your exceptions, your Percivals, your Mariano Rivera's, but Billy Beane has showed us that you should develop your closers and let them go. They're just not worth the money.

Each year GM's from across the league come together and meet in one place and talk hardcore baseball, these are the Winter Meetings. It's the Black Friday of baseballs shopping season, and the springboard that leads into MLB's Hot Stove offseason.

The meetings wrapped up last week and to review the action The Nats Blog is going to get reviews from top blogs across the league. Today will be the NL East, here will be the schedule for the rest of the week:

12/16-NL Central, 12/17-NL West, 12/18-AL East, 12/19-AL Central, 12/20 AL West

L.A Dodgers

Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness

Team Name: Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Record: 95-67
Team Needs: Starting pitching. Second base. An entirely new bench. Oh, and new owners. Dear lord, new owners.
Team Moves: Failed to offer arbitration to Randy Wolf & Orlando Hudson. But hey, at least they signed Josh Towers to a minor-league deal. World Series, here we come!
Winter Meetings Grade: I'd be tempted to say "F", but you have to at least participate to fail.
Evaluation: Let me put it this way. You've got ESPN's Buster Olney writing articles about how the Dodgers are "frozen", the Los Angeles Times writing an article about how the Dodgers "are saying it all with their silence", and neither one of those come close to winning "most embarrassing story of the week". How could they, when they're mere baseball concerns? Not having a starting rotation or showing any interest in draft picks can't compete with Bill Shaikin's story in the LA Times about the alleged boy-toy of discraced psuedo-owner Jamie McCourt making a bizarre trip to Asia to present a Taiwanese legislator with Dodger merchandise, can it?

As far as the offseason is going... well, other teams are making big time signings like John Lackey or swapping Cliff Lee for Roy Halladay. The Dodgers are busy not offering arbitration to two Type A guys (Wolf & Hudson) who would have never accepted, and digging in the bargain bin with the Pirates and Royals for guys like Towers. But hey, at least they went out and filled out their pitching staff by getting not one but two Rule 5 guys who they'll have to carry all season.

Going into 2009 Michael Burgess found himself at the top of the Nationals prospect list (#4) after mashing baseballs throughout the 2008 summer. Burgess smashed 24 homers in 2008, and was considered one of the top young power hitting talents in the low minors. 2009 however was not so kind to Burgess, as the 20-year-old found himself struggling just to compete at the same level he was stationed at just the year before.

Spending his entire season in high-A Potomac, Burgess only batted .235/.325/.410. His power remained, as he knocked 19 homers and drove in 71 runs, however his plate patience, the very thing he needed to improve, remained poor as he struck out 135 times to 54 walks. Burgess has moved down this list and will continue to do so if he doesn't start to show improvement. He possesses great athleticism and strength, but if he can't consistently hit minor league pitching than it will do him no good.

Burgess' Bio I wrote on his prospect report last year:

"Coming from Hillsborough High in Florida, Michael Burgess knows he hasn’t accomplished anything yet. A look at the list of notable alumni from the school that shares the same name of its town will tell you why. He has shared the same mound as flamethrowers Dwight Gooden and Baltimore Orioles closer Chris Ray. He has roamed the same outfield as sluggers Garry Sheffield, Carl Everett, and yes, Elijah Dukes. All of these names leave Michael Burgess as currently just a blip on the radar of immense baseball talent to come from the Hillsborough Terriers.

Each year GM's from across the league come together and meet in one place and talk hardcore baseball, these are the Winter Meetings. It's the Black Friday of baseballs shopping season, and the springboard that leads into MLB's Hot Stove offseason.

The meetings wrapped up last week and to review the action The Nats Blog is going to get reviews from top blogs across the league. Today will be the NL East, here will be the schedule for the rest of the week:

12/16-NL Central, 12/17-NL West, 12/18-AL East, 12/19-AL Central, 12/20 AL West

St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinal 70 at the Bat

Team Name: St. Louis Cardinals
2009 Record: 91-71, NL Central Champs
Team Needs: Left field, starting pitching
Team Moves: Signed Brad Penny to a one-year deal.
Winter Meetings Grade: B
Evaluation: It's hard to judge the Cardinals winter meetings, because so much hangs on their pursuit of Matt Holliday.  While the Cards talked twice with Scott Boras, they did not tender an official offer until after they were back home in St. Louis.

Penny provides a "lottery ticket", in terms that the front office has used before.  If he's healthy and works well with Dave Duncan, he could be a great addition to an already strong pitching rotation.  If he doesn't pan out, he's only around for one year and at a reasonable contract level.

The Holliday situation will influence the rest of the offseason.  On Friday, the Cardinals made their first formal offer and expected to have a response by the end of the weekend.  There's been no word as we stand here on Monday.  If the Cardinals are forced to move on, there's thought that Mark DeRosa could be part of a Plan B, as well as perhaps more pitching.  The Cardinals have not ruled out resigning John Smoltz to a fifth starter/bullpen role.

The winter meetings were interesting from the Cardinal point of view (especially with former manager Whitey Herzog being elected to the Hall of Fame) but not definitive.  The story of this offseason is still to be played out.

 

Chico Harlan of the Nationals Journal reports that Mike Rizzo was one of as many as 50 MLB representatives to watch defected Cuban pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman:

"The Washington Nationals, just months after signing the most hyped pitching prospect in a generation, now have their eyes set on another untested but prodigious talent. According to two sources, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo on Tuesday attended a workout in Houston to watch the bullpen session of 21-year-old pitcher Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban defector who is sometimes described as the left-handed version of Stephen Strasburg.

According to media reports, representatives from 15 major league teams attended the workout session. Though Rizzo's attendance doesn't mean that the Nationals will become serious bidders for Chapman -- he could command a contract worth $20 million or more -- it suggests that the organization is curious. Unlike Strasburg, who was obtained in the amateur draft, Chapman is a free agent and can entertain offers from any club. He defected last summer from Cuba, and is touted by many in the industry as the best pitcher not already in an organization."

Analysis: Were the Nationals to invest another $20 million in an unproven, young, amateur talent, it would certainly be a statement. While Chapman and Strasburg both are considered the best talents to reach the Majors in a very long time, the Nationals set a dangerous precedent by paying a pitching prospect so much money in the first place when they signed Strasburg, were they to do it again with Chapman, people would consider them insane.

Pitching prospects are a dangerous breed. Arms are so fragile and the mentality that goes into not only being an effective pitcher, but one who can learn and improve is so much more complicated than that of a young hitters. That being said, they could look like geniuses if they do it and it works out. Neither Chapman nor Strasburg are considered far from the majors, and a 2012 rotation of Chapman, Strasburg, Zimmermann, Lannan, and Detwiler certainly could rival that of the Oakland A's staff of several years ago. All be it a lot more expensive.

Interest for former Pirates closer Matt Capps is, "Enormous," according to his agent Paul Kinzer. Capps, 26, was non-tendered by the Pirates after a rough 2009 that saw him grab 27 saves despite a 5.80 ERA and a .324 batting average against. It seams however that many teams, including the Nationals, are willing to overlook his 2009 season, and offer the solid 2006-08 bullpen hand a chance to either set up or close.

Capps in:
2006 - 80.2 ip, 56k/12bb, .266 BAA, 3.79 ERA, 1 sv
2007 - 79 ip, 64k/16bb, .220 BAA, 2.28 ERA, 18 sv
2008 - 53.2 ip, 39k/5bb, .234 BAA, 3.01 ERA, 21 sv
2009 - 54.1 ip, 46k/17bb, 3.24 BAA, 5.80 ERA, 27 sv

According to various reports, it appears the Nationals are among 13 other teams with interest in Capps. Including; the Orioles, Yankees, Tigers, Angels, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Rockies, Marlins and Rangers.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com, Matt Capps would prefer to go to the Cubs, but most importantly, he'd want a multi-year deal:

"The perception that the Cubs have a leg up in signing recently released bullpen pitcher Matt Capps could be just that, a perception. Although the former Pirates closer would love to pitch for the Cubs, upwards of 12 teams have contacted Capps' agent, Paul Kinzer, to discuss parameters of a deal."

Analysis: If the Nats want to land Capps they're going to have to pay the, "Washington Premium." That would be the extra-bit thrown into a contract to get a player to come to the worst team in baseball. For example they almost had Mark Texiera last season by offering more money than anyone else, until the Yankees matched it, and this offseason saw a lot of interest in Ivan Rodriguez, however the Nationals were the only ones willing to go out and give him a second year on the contract.

So that is what Washington will have to do if they want to land Capps, offer him a solid deal more than the $3.4 million Pittsburgh did, and possibly as many as three years. Capps has also expressed interest in being a closer, and he would certainly have that opportunity with the Nats.

Its a possible risk that the Nationals could take, but it may not be the wisest. The Nationals do need help in the bullpen, but to be honest is it worth dropping money on a closer when the team isn't going to be all-that competitive in 2010? I don't think so. Paying for closers is almost never worth it, which has been demonstrated time after time. It's one of the bigger principles of Moneyball, closers are cheaper to develop than to attain.

The Nationals may be better off waiting until Drew Storen is Major League ready, and the Nationals are ready to win games for him to close.

Each year GM's from across the league come together and meet in one place and talk hardcore baseball, these are the Winter Meetings. It's the Black Friday of baseballs shopping season, and the springboard that leads into MLB's Hot Stove offseason.

The meetings wrapped up last week and to review the action The Nats Blog is going to get reviews from top blogs across the league. Today will be the NL East, here will be the schedule for the rest of the week:

12/16-NL Central, 12/17-NL West, 12/18-AL East, 12/19-AL Central, 12/20 AL West

Atlanta Braves:

Chop-N-Change:

Team Name: Atlanta Braves
2009 Record: 86-76
Team Needs: 1st baseman, utility infielder, outfielder, several bullpen arms
Team Moves: Extended Tim Hudson; signed Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner; released Ryan Church and Kelly Johnson; traded Rafael Soriano for Jesse Chavez
Winter Meetings Grade: C+
Evaluation: The most noteworthy aspect of the Braves' offseason so far was Frank Wren's miscalculation on Rafael Soriano, who wound up accepting arbitration after Wren had publicly predicted that he wouldn't, forcing Wren to trade Soriano for a scrap arm from the Rays. There was no room or money for Soriano after Wren had already spent $10 million on Wagner and Saito, who are aging but still intriguing, particularly outside the launching pad in Fenway. Money issues also prompted the non-tender of bench OF Ryan Church and IF Kelly Johnson, whom the team might welcome back at a lower price.

Wren and Cox have identified the team's biggest remaining need as offense, but it's not clear where that will come from: Cox has disavowed interest in Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, and the team refused to offer arbitration to 1B Adam LaRoche. The team has no serious internal options for 1B, so they'll need to fill it with a free agent or a trade. Outfield is less clear: Matt Diaz and Nate McLouth will be back, and Cox has indicated Jason Heyward will be given the chance to win the RF job in spring training, though at least one of those positions really ought to be upgraded -- Diaz isn't very good against RHP, and McLouth's CF offense and defense are both average at best. A higher offseason grade will depend on how Wren improves the offense.

New York Mets

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Destin Hood has to be rethinking his life decisions right now. The Nationals 2008 second round pick took a $1.1 million deal from Washington instead of taking a college scholarship to play division one football as a wide receiver.

The team he turned down? The #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, the very team getting set to face the Texas Longhorns in the BCS National Championship Game Jan. 7.

That's good news for us though, and good news for Hoods future, which appears to be much brighter on the baseball field than the grid-iron.

Hood  was the Nationals seventh ranked prospect last season after a short stint in Gulf Coast League towards the end of the summer after he signed. In 25 games in the GCL Hood showed relative promise for a kid out of high-school. Destin batted .256/.333/.349 with seven extra-base hits. Hood also swiped five bags. Not bad for an 18 year old.

Hood excelled again in his second stint in the Gulf Coast League in 2009, as the athletic outfielder batted .330 with an on base percentage of .388. He also slugged an impressive .614 for an OPS of 1.001. Hood however seemed overmatched in the same year at Vermont, where the 19-year-old batted only .346/.302/.333 in 38 games for the Lake Monsters. Hood stuggled to make consistant contact, striking out 45 times in 138 at bats, and only drawing 11 walks.

For Hood, the name of the game is patience and development. At 6-2, 195, hood posses a long and strong body. He's a great athlete for a baseball player and was even clocked running a 4.4 40-yard-dash durign his high-school football days. But while Hood has all the tools to be a very succesful MLB outfielder, he has to learn to play baseball at an advanced level, and get by on more than just his tools. He will need to learn pitch selection, how to work the count, how to swing depending on the count, how to predict what pitch is going to come.

Right now, Hood is completley raw. But the Nationals are hoping that he can project to be a talented athletic outfielder who can play strong defense and hit for power, in the mold of a Torri Hunter or a Mike Cameron. Don't be surprised to see Hood slip down this list before he rises back up, as right now his talent level is graded all on potential. The results will come, just be patient.