Archive: January 27, 2008 - February 2, 2008
Rauch avoids arbitration with two-year deal
Jon Rauch, who has become an essential part of the Nationals' bullpen, agreed to terms with Washington on a two-year, $3.2-million contract that avoids arbitration. The deal also includes a club option for a third season, 2010, at $2.9 million....
By Barry Svrluga | February 2, 2008; 12:35 PM ET | Comments (82)
Nats Killers
So we talked earlier about the idea of Nats Killers, those players who have particularly pounded this team since it arrived in Washington in 2005. Miguel Cabrera is the first person who comes to my mind, but I also immediately...
By Barry Svrluga | February 1, 2008; 12:20 PM ET | Comments (64)
Estrada deal done; Flores likely to Class AA
The Nats just announced the deal with free agent catcher Johnny Estrada. One year, $1.25 million -- and that, according to GM Jim Bowden, is a big reason why they did this. Remember: Estrada was an arbitration-eligible guy when he...
By Barry Svrluga | January 31, 2008; 3:26 PM ET | Comments (71)
Winter Ball
Last day of January. Freezing here in Washington. Pitchers and catchers report two weeks from tomorrow. And Saturday ... the biggest games of the winter begin. The Caribbean Series, featuring two teams from the Dominican Republic as well as a...
By Barry Svrluga | January 31, 2008; 10:12 AM ET | Comments (46)
Estrada agent: Nothing's final. Source: Physical is Thursday
David Schwartz, the agent for free agent catcher Johnny Estrada, would not say that a deal with the Nationals is done - yet - in a phone conversation I just had with him. But a source with knowledge of the...
By Barry Svrluga | January 29, 2008; 2:54 PM ET | Comments (0)
Catching help on the way?
MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported early this morning that the Nationals are on the verge of signing catcher Johnny Estrada to a one-year, $1.25-million contract. I just got in touch with GM Jim Bowden, who would neither confirm nor deny the...
By Barry Svrluga | January 29, 2008; 10:10 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lo Duca: Surgery done
Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca had what the team called "an orthroscopic partial meniscectomy for a torn medial meniscus in his left knee." I believe that is doc-speak for "he had some stuff cleaned up." Ben Shaffer, the Nats orthopedist,...
By Barry Svrluga | January 28, 2008; 1:31 PM ET | Comments (0)
Lo Duca: Surgery later today
So if there was any confusion about the injury to Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca, it's cleared up now. Lo Duca saw team orthopedist Ben Shaffer this morning, and as a Nationals official just said, "the exam was consistent with...
By Barry Svrluga | January 28, 2008; 9:40 AM ET | Comments (42)
Quick Lo Duca update
So Paul Lo Duca's agent, Andrew Mongelluzzi, said tonight via e-mail that he understood Lo Duca's MRI on Friday revealed a minor meniscus tear and that Lo Duca would undergo surgery on Monday morning, with recovery expected to take three-...
By Barry Svrluga | January 27, 2008; 9:52 PM ET | Comments (16)
