First, here’s hoping that everyone had a joyous and Merry Christmas. I was raised an atheist during a time when teachers led a prayer and blessing over our lunch in the Fairfax County school system and today am a believer in a world where it is almost illegal to mention religion in school.
You’d think there would be some happy medium out there. Regardless, I hope all sides enjoyed their day yesterday.
Phil Wood of masn.com reported this morning that negotiations are “pretty close” between the Nationals and first baseman Derrek Lee on a one-year contract. The Orioles, however, are still in pursuit.
Wood also said that the Orioles are continuing their negotiations with Adam LaRoche, but didn’t say whether Washington also remained interested in the former Diamondback. My guess is the omission means that—at this point, at least—the Nationals are unwilling to give LaRoche anything more than a two-year contract.
Were LaRoche to sign with Washington, I could guarantee you that by the end of the season, he would have numbers very close to .260-25-90 with minimal deviation. He’s that consistent.
Lee, however, is another story. After averaging .300-.384-.534 with 33 home runs and 102 RBI over the last six seasons, he slumped to .260-19-80, .347 OBP last season with the Cubs and the Braves.
Either his injured thumb—he suffered a torn ligament early in September and had restorative surgery last month—or his advancing age turned his once potent bat soft. If it was the thumb, he is expected to be 100% this spring and the Nationals will have added another middle-of-the-order bat.
But if he’s just getting old—he will be 35 next season—then another .265-20-80 season is about all that can be expected.
It’s hard to say if a healthy Lee will return to his old self. My guess is—and it is just a guess—that he will surpass LaRoche offensively in 2011, while playing better defense. In the long term, however, LaRoche has more to offer a prospective team.
At least that is what general manager Mike Rizzo is hoping if he is able to sign him.
Wood also reported that the Nationals tried to trade for the Dodgers’ first baseman James Loney, but were thwarted when Los Angeles signed catcher Dioner Navarro. Apparently, a Nationals’ catcher was to be part of the package heading westward.
Loney, still just 26, is a four-year starter and has averaged .288-14-92 for the Dodgers. However, his numbers slipped last season and the Nationals don’t have enough offense at the other positions to be able to support Loney in the lineup. Sure, he is an RBI guy but he just doesn’t hit enough home runs to be an end-the-game-with-one-swing kind of player.
It looks like it’s going to be Derrek Lee, but it was just a week or two ago that reports had Adam LaRoche signing a multi-year deal with Orioles.
We’ll just have to wait a little longer, I guess.
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