Harper Not Among The Next Set Of Cuts
Nats announce the next set of players headed to minor-league camp
As expected, the Nationals have made the next set of cuts today, the details of which are coming across in fits and starts. Bryce Harper will not be among them, according to Washington Post beat writer Adam Kilgore.
Most of the names you’ll see below are not unexpected, with the possible of exception of Adam Carr. I write “possible” because of the results — 1-0, 1 SV, 4IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K — fully understanding that decisions are not made solely on stats, but it’s difficult to reconcile the disconnect between the decision and the performance. All the names below are being assigned to Syracuse (Mock & Carr are technically being optioned).
Luis Atilano
Michael Aubrey
Kevin Barker
Adam Carr
Jeff Frazier
Carlos Maldonado
J.D. Martin
Garrett Mock
Jhonatan Solano
Jonathan Van Every
Josh Wilkie
UPDATE: Reliever Cla Meredith has been released outright.
glad that we aren’t holding onto Mock any longer than we need to. i feel for any guy with tantalizing talent that can’t put it together (J. Max, I am looking at you here), but it is time to cut ties. maybe his development can be accelerated with some new coaches in a different organization, but it certainly doesn’t appear that it is going to happen in DC. Moreover, the pitching staffs are full in Syracuse and Harrisburg with guys that are either more consistent (though not spectacular) or have more upside. Time to clear another spot from the 40-man and DFA Mr. Mock.
One has to assume that this is Mock’s last chance. If he can’t make Syracuse’s starting rotation do they convert him into a reliever? Then again he might be better off with a change of scenery?
Frazier was having a great spring offensively just looked less than adequate defensively and he does feature a right handed bat where Ankiel, Nix, and Stairs are lefties. But Bixler also made this cut … and that I find interesting … he has Hairston and AGonz in front of him … Cora has the left-handed bat so you have to assume he makes it.
How much time did Atilano get in actual Grapefruit League games? I have a hard time remembering him doing anything significant. I was also interested that Solano saw more at bats during Maldonado in grapefruit league games as well. They are going to have to decide who gets backup catcher at Syracuse. I’m assuming that’s Maldonado. What do you think is happening with Solano at this point?
Much like Sue_D, I’m a little suprised that Carr was sent down in this round; I thought his overall numbers looked very good this spring. Perhaps the braintrust just felt he would get more work in the minor-league camp.
On the field-play side, Frazier was hitting, but apparently has a disconnect with his defensive responsibilities. He should be a steady contributor in SYR, if he decides to stay with the orginazation. Solano could be an interesting case as a catcher – He could land anywhere between SYR & POT, imo. Decent glove, but a mediocre hitter at best. Also, I wouldn’t be suprised to see Barker end up with SYR over Aubrey as a 1B-DH behind Marrero, despite the age difference (Barker is 35, Aubrey is 29).
Perhaps the braintrust just felt he would get more work in the minor-league camp.
Bill Ladson’s blog post hit that nail on the head.