Nats and A’s Make Trade, Sun To Set Tonight In The West
For the fourth time this year — and the sixth time since 2011 — Washington and Oakland have consummated a trade. This time, it’s 2013 Minor League Player of the Year Billy Burns headed for the Left Coast in favor of lefthanded reliever Jerry Blevins.
It’s hardly been a secret that the Nats have been pursuing a major-league southpaw for more than a year now, signing the likes of Fernando Abad and Bobby Bramhall last offseason, trading for and promoting Ian Krol, and claiming Xavier Cedeno and Tyler Robertson on waivers during the season. Only Cedeno and Robertson remain from that quintet (sextet, if you want to include the midseason dalliance with J.C. Romero).
As is common with Rizzo trades, Blevins remains under team control for another two seasons — like Doug Fister, who was acquired less than three weeks ago, he’s arbitration-eligible — as the A’s seemed willing to part with the 30-y.o. veteran as a cost-savings measure, despite having made 281 appearances over the past seven seasons for Oakland.
While it may appear that Rizzo has gotten his man, I wouldn’t rule out Washington acquiring one or more southpaws in tomorrow’s Rule 5 draft (don’t forget the PTBNL in the David DeJesus flip was a LHP), even if neither Matt Grace nor Danny Rosenbaum are taken.
Do nats have to clear a body or two
To add Nate and Jerry??
Nats should add guys like burgess and joe
Martinez with burns exiting
No, but the 40-man is full per Zuckerman. Doesn’t preclude someone getting dropped, though picking 19th, they’re unlikely to find much in the MLB phase.
Luke, I think Tyler Robertson is still here, out righted to AAA when he wasn’t claimed?
(Ed McMahon voice) You are correct, sir! Fixed it. As soon as I read your comment, my first thought was “must have happened Thanksgiving week”
I think the reason Rizzo & the A’s find so much comity is that neither side has been perceived as having fleeced the other. These have been all win-win trades.
While Burns was one of those ‘fun to watch’ players, just didn’t seeing him denting the the 25 man roster anytime soon.
Agreed. This ain’t the K.C. Athletics getting [robbed] by the Yankees in the ’50s.
Adrian Nieto already selected by the Chi White Sox … kudos to Peric for calling this one early. Will be interesting to see if he can stick the year on a ML roster.
Nieto is gone. Six can bury him for a season
On bench. Sad team with long rebuild
Open door for Craig Manuel who can flat out catch
A staff
Time will tell
Would have been nice for Nieto to back up
on goon squad down the road
Maybe this means Manuel at burg
Severino at Potnats
If healthy Kieboom at hags with
The German lefty swinger ???
Sandy Leon hit .177 … as Luke rightly surmised that season of good offense was likely a flash-in-the-pan. Now where does he go? Potomac?
Harrisburg 2014 say hello to coleLeonida
His bat will live city isle
Now nats add Michael burgess and that former
Braves and snakes hand Joe Martimez
Kris Watts still in play for Sens ??
Man, I’m disappointed to see Burns go. He was my favorite of a thoroughly underwhelming crop of minor league bats. But he’s basically Beane’s prototypical player. Hope he continues to do well and exceed expectations (except against us).
Excellent job by DK Dan Kolko they guy few follow because he works for Angelos … 😉 still a local silver spring rockville type tho …
http://www.masnsports.com/nationals_pastime/2013/12/assessing-the-state-of-the-nationals-minor-league-system.html
http://www.masnsports.com/nationals_pastime/2013/12/nationals-lose-adrian-nieto-to-white-sox-in-rule-5-draft.html
PK Pete Kerzel reports that they picked up a replacement project for Burns in a guy named Theo Bowe plus another
pitcher named Martiras Arias.