The trade deadline is still one month away, but the Washington Nationals should be already eyeing moves. It may be the only way to save 2010.
The Nats hit well enough to contend. And somehow the major’s worst defense must improve if manager Manny Acta has to repeat his minor league fielding drills every day. The starting pitching is showing young life.
But, this team badly needs relievers — short and long.
Washington has an extra first baseman. Nick Johnson is the catalyst for the lineup, but Adam Dunn is the pop. Still, Washington will finish last with both of them. Can the Nats part with one in hopes of moving up in the future? Maybe pry a pitcher from the New York Mets?
It’s a risky move. The Nats opened the season with five outfielders and that suddenly evaporated. Lastings Milledge won’t likely return or if he does it’s a short stay. The Nats could peddle Josh Willingham for a modest middle man, but nobody’s swapping a stopper for an ordinary outfielder.
Who knew reliever Chad Cordero would be irreplaceable? Yet, the only way Washington does, short of a bank-breaking deal in the offseason, is to trade Johnson or Dunn.
The Nats have reportedly been contacted over Johnson, but they’re waiting until the All-Star break when contenders will pay more. Fair enough. Give the crowd something to watch for now. But come July, someone needs to go to help 2010 become the turnaround season.
Attendance is crummy. Team president Stan Kasten recently wandered outside the gates to the ticket office to gauge the walkup crowd, shook his head and walked inside with a scowl. The honeymoon is over. Five years was enough for fans to realize the team has failed to spend effectively to maintain competitiveness while waiting for the farm system to produce. The team might draw one million fewer fans than last year and the recession and former general manager Jim Bowden’s misdeeds can only be blamed so much.
Washington needs a bold move. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo is a real baseball man, not some wheeler-and-dealer like his predecessor. Something tells me Rizzo can make the right deal that, coupled with recent two first-round pitchers, could make next season bearable.
The cost is probably one of the first baseman. The Nats have a spare. It’s time to use it.
Rick Snider has covered local sports
since 1978. Read more at
TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
