On the eve of Strasburg's debut, the Nats will have the first pick of the 2010 Amateur Baseball Draft. Bryce Harper, the 17 year old catching superstar, will likely be that pick. Some reports have Harper as one of the best raw power guys in the draft. He obviously has work to do as a mere teenager, but the Nats could use some power behind the plate.
And then there is Roy Oswalt. (I knew I'd get around to a post on this guy soon enough.) After his 3rd inning ejection against the Nats on Memorial Day, Oswalt got to talk to the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore about his no-trade clause. Oswalt cited Stephen Strasburg's rising as a reason to come pitch in DC, saying "They've been playing well. They've got a good offensive club. I saw where they have Strasburg coming up. He should make an immediate impact, especially, because no one's seen him in the league, early. There's always a little adjustment period there." He said he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to pitch for the Nationals. ESPN's Buster Olney added to the speculation this morning, saying about a trade with the Nats, "on paper, this is the best fit for the Astros for a possible deal."
Imagine if you will, in an ideal world, this pitching rotation:
- Stephen Strasburg
- Roy Oswalt
- John Lannan
- Livan Hernandez
- A healthy version of: Scott Olsen/Jason Marquis/Chien-Ming Wang
I am trying to stay calm, but the prospects make it difficult. Stay tuned for exciting Natstown news for a few more weeks. If GM Mike Rizzo has shown anything, it's that he knows how to make a deal.
The question would then be How much would Rizzo have to give up to land Oswalt? It's not like the Astros are going into a "fire sale", where they'd take reduced value for him.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to include Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler in your dream rotation list.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I find it really hard to believe that the Nats would keep Harper at catcher. He is perfectly suited to play Right Field and besides, he hasn't even finished growing yet!
If we get Oswalt, I would imagine some of the glut we have at starting pitcher would head down to Houston in return. If both Detweiler and CMW can prove their health before the trade deadline I find it hard to believe that Lannan might be the 5th guy in the rotation!!
ReplyDeleteMock and Maxwell to Houston for Oswalt!
ReplyDeleteMock and Maxwell, eh Mac? Interesting. I feel like Chris Marerro might be a part of any transaction that's made, but maybe not. I wouldn't oppose giving up Maxwell or Mock. And I haven't forgotten Zimmermann and Detwiler, i'm just talking about this season. The future is a whole different thing to consider.
ReplyDeleteAnd Markfd, you're probably right, but I'm not completely confident that Wang will make a recovery.
The Nats may have to give up 2 or 3 good prospects and eat some of Oswalt's contract, but for a team that's this desperate for pitching, I don't think that's an impossibility.