Two years at $28, third year option.

The Nationals signed Rafael Soriano today. The Nats have the 2011 closer (Storen) and the 2012 closer (Clippard) still on the roster. If they can get 6 good innngs from their starters, the bullpen might be as shutdown as anything I've seen.

You know how sometimes teams go through the motions of trying to pretend they are going to contend in their division? Congrats to the Nats; they are trying to build an over 100 win club, and theyand it looks like they will suceed! They could use left handed pitching help, but they've, thanks to high draft picks in the past. are really going to be a tough team looking forwahead.

They have definitely improved. Even with the loss of Jackson and Lannen they still have one of the best rotation in all of baseball. Wouldn't surprise me if they are considered the favorites to win the NL Championship.

I think we all know here how 2 year contracts for "closers" doesn't exactly work out well. Here's a list I compiled while discussing the signing with others today at work:

2010 MLB Saves Leaders:

1. Brian Wilson (SF) 48 (2011 = 36)
2. Heath Bell (SD) 47 (2011 = 43)
3. Rafael Soriano (TB) 45 (2011 = 2)
4. Joakim Soria (KC) 43 (2011 = 28
5. Matt Capps (MIN/WSH) 42 (2011 = 15)
6. Francisco Cordero (CIN) 40 (2011 = 37)
6. Neftali Feliz (TEX) 40 (2011 = 32)

2011 MLB Saves Leaders:

1. Jose Valverde (DET) 49 (2012 = 35)
2. John Axford (MIL) 46 (2012 = 35)
3. Craig Kimbrel (AT) 46 (2012 = 42)
3. JJ Putz (ARI) 45 (2012 = 32)
5. Mariano Rivera (NYY) 44 (2012 = 5)
6. Heath Bell (SD) 43 (2012 = 19)
6. Drew Storen (WSH) 43 (2012 = 4)
8. Joel Hanrahan (PIT) 40 (2012 = 36)

2012 MLB Saves Leaders:

1. Jim Johnson (BAL) 51
2. Fernando Rodney (TB) 48
3. Rafael Soriano (NYY) 42
4. Jason Motte (STL) 42
5. Craig Kimbrel (ATL) 42

Once per year a pitcher repeats as a 40 save man. Soriano does it every other year, though. Yes, he was a setup man in NY, however he posted a 4+ ERA and 1.25+ WHIP the year after being the workhorse of the bullpen. Well, how will he respond again?

Regardless, Hanrahan was the only one who followed up with an OK season that didn't reach 40 saves this past year, however his WHIP skyrocketed.

Also, Soriano is now the highest paid closer in baseball. More than Mo, more than Papelbon (though Mo made $15 million prior).

IMO, this is one of the grossest overpayments of a player in baseball history. Consider the cash and loss of draft pick.

I'm not denying it improves their club, the cost is just astronomical and unnecessary.

Did he cost them a draft pick?

DiscoJamal wrote: Did he cost them a draft pick?

Yes! They had the 29th i believe.

UGH to bad it does to Yankees + they probably get one for swisher too

They do get one for Swisher. Think it's a 2nd rounder.

I'm not too worried though. They don't have a scouting department do they? I thought they just used the rest of the league to do their scouting?

Nats trade Morse to the Mariners in a three team trade with the A's.

stephenjames1979 wrote: They do get one for Swisher. Think it's a 2nd rounder.

I'm not too worried though. They don't have a scouting department do they? I thought they just used the rest of the league to do their scouting?

You say that jokingly, but some their best players have been their own.

14 mil a season is high but more power to them.

DrBNic wrote: Nats trade Morse to the Mariners in a three team trade with the A's.

And another name the O's were associated with is off the boards. Would this free up SMOAK with the MARINERS for the O's to go after?

It's musical first basemen and the O's are getting the last chair

overpaying for 'closers' seems to be a cottage industry in MLB--and its risky indeed.
However, as much as I hate the Nats, they appear to be trying to improve every year. I worry that the O's could be left behind this season. I guess we'll have to wait and see. The O's have good personnel making the decisions so they have to know that a slip back to the basement after last year would be a disaster.

insagt1 wrote: overpaying for 'closers' seems to be a cottage industry in MLB--and its risky indeed.
However, as much as I hate the Nats, they appear to be trying to improve every year. I worry that the O's could be left behind this season. I guess we'll have to wait and see. The O's have good personnel making the decisions so they have to know that a slip back to the basement after last year would be a disaster.

Players who will be in spring training that were not on the playoffs roster include Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold and Brian Roberts. Whether they prove healthy and effective is one thing, but those are pretty significant additions to a roster that was bounced in the first round.

They also will add Tsuyoshi Wada as a SP.

OsMagik wrote:

stephenjames1979 wrote: They do get one for Swisher. Think it's a 2nd rounder.

I'm not too worried though. They don't have a scouting department do they? I thought they just used the rest of the league to do their scouting?

You say that jokingly, but some their best players have been their own.

Well sure guys like Jeter and Rivera and some underrated talent like Gardner and Robertson have been drafted but players like Cano and Cervelli were not. The last two were just signed.

OsMagik wrote:

insagt1 wrote: overpaying for 'closers' seems to be a cottage industry in MLB--and its risky indeed.
However, as much as I hate the Nats, they appear to be trying to improve every year. I worry that the O's could be left behind this season. I guess we'll have to wait and see. The O's have good personnel making the decisions so they have to know that a slip back to the basement after last year would be a disaster.

Players who will be in spring training that were not on the playoffs roster include Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold and Brian Roberts. Whether they prove healthy and effective is one thing, but those are pretty significant additions to a roster that was bounced in the first round.

They also will add Tsuyoshi Wada as a SP.

I'm on board with Nick--he was sorely missed. Reimold and Roberts are much bigger 'ifs' IMO. Especially Roberts who has not put in a legitimately good season in quite awhile...plus he is no longer a youngster whose body can bounce back like it used to. (I'll ignore any reference to PED's in his case) Reimold has also not been able to be a full timer...so thats why Ithink the O's need some 'insurance' in case the very real possibility of those two not being able to play a full season comes to pass. If all 3 are healthy, and perform to their standards--it will be a huge plus for the O's. I'm just not sure that will be reasonable to count on.

You brought signing foreign players; im surprised the Orioles did not sign any foreign players this offseason. Would liek to know the status on the Cuban OF who has had a tough time getting his visa. Another question; where will Wada start out in 2013?

sczepp wrote: You brought signing foreign players; im surprised the Orioles did not sign any foreign players this offseason. Would liek to know the status on the Cuban OF who has had a tough time getting his visa. Another question; where will Wada start out in 2013?

I think it's still up in the air where Wada will be playing.

stephenjames1979 wrote:

sczepp wrote: You brought signing foreign players; im surprised the Orioles did not sign any foreign players this offseason. Would liek to know the status on the Cuban OF who has had a tough time getting his visa. Another question; where will Wada start out in 2013?

I think it's still up in the air where Wada will be playing.

i read that it would be about June before Wada would be ready to pitch.

There are no more 2nd round comp picks.  Whether the Yankees get compensation depends on if they put that $14 million offer on the table for him. It's only a sandwich round pick at least. It's not like in the old days when they would get a sandwich pick and the former team's first rounder.