The Fonz is still a Nat.
Monday’s trade deadline passed with no announcement that Alfonso Soriano had gone to the Twins, Tigers, A’s, Angels, Yankees, Dodgers, or any other team that cropped up in rumors over the past 72 hours.
So what happened?
It appears that Nationals General Manager — and fellow Examiner columnist — Jim Bowden misjudged the market. Perhaps emboldened by the return on his deal with the Reds two weeks ago, Bowden thought he could do the same thing with Soriano and pillage another club’s minor league system for prospects. Or, if some sources are to be believed, Nationals’ ownership came to believe it can re-sign Soriano to a multi-year extension.
Whichever scenario is correct, the fan’s perspective on this non-transaction seems to be either relief that Soriano is not going anywhere, or dismay no deal was completed. Some postings on various fan sites — and granted, the business of baseball is a total mystery to a lot of these people — claim Bowden “blew it” by asking for too much.
Keep in mind most trade rumors are just that: rumors. There’s not always fire behind the smoke, yet fans leap on these things as gospel. You can be sure that if Soriano doesn’t end up re-signing with the Nationals, there will be fans screaming for Bowden’s scalp.
I tend to think the Lerners, leaning on the expertise of veteran executives Stan Kasten and Bowden, came to regard keeping Soriano as a long-term positive.
At 30, Soriano is in his prime. If he’s truly so enamored of the town and team, perhaps he and his agent will offer some kind of hometown discount in exchange for some limited no-trade provision. He’s a player who displays genuine pride in wearing the uniform and his work ethic is beyond reproach.
None inside the organization, top to bottom, can come up with anything negative to say about him. He’s a legitimate All-Star. You’dbe hard-pressed to name more than a handful of D.C. pro athletes who have made such a positive impression in such a brief time.
All that being said, it was amazing the Nats didn’t make a single deadline deal at all, not even moving a pitcher. Given some of the names that switched teams, I kept waiting to hear Livan Hernandez or Ramon Ortiz had gone somewhere.
But they’re still here — for the moment. Waiver deals for either of those guys may still be on the horizon.
Soriano can expect a hero’s welcome from the fans when the Nationals return to RFK on Aug. 8.
He asked to stay here. His wish was granted. How the story turns out is up to him now.
Phil Wood has covered sports in the Washington-Baltimore market for more than 30 years.
