NationalsProspects.com

Nats Make Second Annual Spare IF Trade to Angels for Two Pitchers

Pognophiles weep, N.L. infields a little less breezy in 2017

strictly-businessIn a move that seems a little too neatly timed, Nats Winter Fest no-show Danny Espinosa was traded to the L.A. Angels for two minor-league RHPs.

Kidding aside, as the headline suggests, it’s the second time in as many years the two teams have swapped an IF for a pair of “northpaws.” And it would appear to be the same return: one marginally major-league ready reliever, one roster-filler for AA/AAA.

Austin L. Adams is the former, and much will be made of his K rate (12.8 in ’16, 11.6 career) and velocity (95-97), while his BB rate (4.9, 6.4) gets overlooked, his age (turns 26 in May) is ignored, and inexperience (3⅔ career IP at AAA) is downplayed. He was just added to the 40-man ahead of the Rule 5 draft last month, so no space cleared on the 40-man.

Kyle McGowin is the latter, and likewise, folks will immediately gasp at the pitcher’s slashes in the PCL (6.11/5.09/1.62) but even if you’re inclined to write that off as the league, he’s had similarly subpar production at AA and lower (4.77 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, no FIPs lower than 3.53).

As folks smarter than I am about trades have noted, trading Espinosa after he had been replaced took away some leverage (counterargument: such a trade might have given opposing GMs a hint that the Eaton trade was in the works), and now leaves Wilmer Difo as the primary MI backup.

Next up (barring another trade, natch): BA will unveil its Top 10 Nats prospects, then we’ll vote on the Top 10 Nats arms.

17 Commments

  1. This is the classic trade where the return was a ‘bag of baseballs’.
    We got the #20 prospect and the #44 (or something) from the worst farm system in baseball.

    The good news is the parent club lost a whiner who was a whiff machine.
    Have to admit, I have no idea what a pognophile is.

  2. “neatly timed” trade; you don’t suspect the Winterfest no show led to his immediate jettison? That’d be pretty funny actually. Rizzo walks into Winterfest, Espinosa isn’t there, rumors spread that he’s miffed about being demoted and Rizzo speed dials LA and goes, “Whatever you’re willing to give up, we’ll take. Lets make a deal! Two pitchers i’ve never heard of? No problem!”

    🙂

    1. A narrative that doesn’t square with the facts that the physicals are apparently already done – the trade seems to have already been in the works

      1. The bizarre part of that timeline, which I don’t dispute, is why Danny felt compelled to gripe to the Post when he likely already knew something was afoot. I can understand why he wouldn’t want to face Nat fans and the media even if a deal wasn’t moving, but if he’d just stayed quiet, most people would have understood. Instead, they’re left saying “typical Danny.” Was he that cocky, or whatever you want to call it, when he was coming up through the Nat system?

        Austin Adams, meet Spin Williams. Are we above our quota of pitchers named Austin now? Or is “Austen” different from the Austins?

        1. I’m not sure if Espinosa, his representation, or someone in the Nats FO was the source; Castillo did do a good job of attributing it while remaining opaque, as he should. Let me be clear about that.

          We can play parlor games about who it was, but it really doesn’t matter. Espinosa got a better shot at a starting job and near his hometown, no less. Rizzo unloaded a potentially expensive backup player while avoiding larger ruckus in February/March. Ultimately, it’s a win-win for the most part.

      2. What actually bothers me is that Jorge Castillo’s story and the trade breaking seemed a little too coincidental. While some folks might chalk that up to good reporting, it doesn’t pass the sniff test to me. The Nats FO usually keeps a lid on trades very, very well. That this one seems to have been telegraphed says to me that Castillo was fed the info so his story could come out ahead of the trade and lead to inferences like KW’s.

        FWIW, the Godfather .gif was a reference to how Rizzo can be cold and calculating when it comes to players — especially ones he didn’t draft.

        1. It all does seem terribly coincidental, which was my point. However it worked out, and whoever was responsible, it ended up making Danny look bad in the eyes of Nats’ fans one last time. He gets to go “home,” though, so he should be happy; regardless of his relationship with Rizzo and the front office, and the “just business” approach, Rizzo got him close to home AND a starting gig in his contract year, which is as good as Danny could have ever hoped.

        2. Luke, were you watching Potomac when Danny came through there in 2009? I was just looking back at his stats. First of all, they skipped him completely over Hagerstown, so in his first full pro season, after half a season post-draft in Vermont, he was in Potomac. Then he hit 18 HRs there and became convinced that he was a “home-run hitter.” He’s been swinging for the fences from his heels ever since.

        3. Wow Luke. I feel like the village idiot
          Getting intrigued by a switch hitting player in DSL who ends up getting released Franklin Sierra
          But the nats did sign a lefty swinging guy on DSL who is being handed the tools of ignorance .

  3. The problem with Espinosa as a backup is that he needs to play every day if he’s going to have a chance to catch fire at the plate like he did this past June (let’s give credit where credit is due: Espinosa’s six week stretch hitting like Babe Ruth enabled the Nats to go from tied with the Mets at the end of May to 6 games up at the AS break). His whole offensive value is tied to such streaks, but I don’t see how he would have much value as a reserve who doesn’t hit often enough to get on a hot streak.

    1. I have moved on FrI’m the other trade last summer but Schrock
      would have eased up in brass minds
      After this trade .
      Luke Santa Claus cannot bring more happiness to your meijia paradigm .??
      Merry Christmas everyone !

    2. True true
      Danny needs playing time
      Long term look. Nats awaiting those bonus babies from last summer signing to come along ..

    3. The 0-for-4 or 4-for-4 player has always intrigued me. You seem them more often than you might think, and invariably they tend to be infielders whose defense compensates for that madness at the plate.

    1. Thanks, KW, for the link. More disrespect for Drew Ward.

      They have Luis Garcia, who signed 20 minutes ago, but not Ward. Unbelievable!

      Stevenson at #5 seems about right. Spiderman is going to have a exciting 2017.

Comments are closed.