Transaction Update
As noted in the comments, the latest transaction post from BA has more than one item for the Nats:
• RHPs Taylor Hill (re-signed), Justin Miller
• OF Moises Sierra
• 1B Balbino Fuenmayor
No word on whether batters in the International League and/or Eastern Leage have a sent thank-you notes to the Nats for potentially scheduling another season of in-game batting practice (Hill). The rest are your usual, run-of-the-mill MLFAs to fill out the rosters in AAA and AA.
##Yesterday in the Post, Chelsea Janes passes along news that Bryan Harper has been (or will; neither BA nor MiLB has listed a transaction for Harper since September) re-signed and will be extended a non-roster invite to spring training.
It is amusing that some people believe how the Nationals treat Bryce’s big brother will have any tangible effect on his impending free agency. Sure, it can’t hurt, and unlike other legacy picks (*cough* Shane McCatty *cough*), the elder Harper has performed well enough to defuse any accusations of nepotism.
But methinks Bryce and uber-agent Scott Boras are a bit more pre-occupied on how the younger Harper is going to get paid.
Let’s hope that Hill finds some magic.
Magic ala Gaylord Perry? Nail file and
Vicks vapor rub?
Or future pitching coach?
You mean Bryan Harper has a brother who also plays baseball? Who knew?!
In fairness to Bryan, it should be noted that the Nats first drafted him out of high school in 2008, so they were following him well before it became clear that they could get baby bro. Also, after struggles his first couple of seasons, Bryan has crafted an extremely competent minor league career, regardless of family ties, an outstanding return for a 30th-round pick whose heater out of college stood around 88. (It was said to be up to 91-92 before the injury.) He has a career minor-league K/9 of 8.0 despite the underwhelming velocity. Plus he has one of the greatest mustaches in all of organized baseball!
Luke do you believe certain players might get bumped to Cuse just to work with Daubach??
I may have tomatoes and cabbage thrown @ me but since Nats retain loyal troopers. ( look at T Hill) I vote for Stephen Perez to take his defense to Cuse. Ok KW toss the veggies !!
I didn’t understand when Perez got promoted from Potomac to Harrisburg. . . . But you know, he’s the type of guy I really don’t like to criticize. He’s given up a lot to keep chasing the dream, and he’s made it a lot farther than a lot of others have. It’s got to be even more painful for guys like Taylor Hill, who actually had that cup of coffee, then saw nearly everything slip away over the last couple of years.
I think that’s why I resent guys like Seth Romero, who’ve been blessed with more talent but a lot less of the gumption and drive of folks like Perez and Hill. Maybe Romero proves us wrong. But those it take it all for granted are those who are more likely to blow it.
Great post. KW. I forget who ripped Perez before but he will be a great org guy in the upper levels especially considering the Nats might be having the Marlins ask for Carter Kieboom which would leave an interesting PD scenario for Patrick Anderson @ Hagerstown .
Omar Meregildo? PP can’t hit, Juan Pascal is all leather, .. who will Anderson nurture @ SS if Kieboom traded ??
I’ve probably expressed a little frustration with Perez in the past, but let’s face it, the Nats haven’t been developing a truckload of good middle infielders, so he hasn’t exactly been blocking a lot of folks. Difo and Abreu moved up when they were ready and played ahead of Perez. I thought Davidson might have gotten a look at 2B in Harrisburg for at least part of 2017 to see how his bat played at AA, but the Nats haven’t treated him like a prospect of the Difo/Abreu level. Of course Abreu didn’t exactly excel in 2017 and has a lot to prove is his upcoming age-24 season. I would imagine that he’s learned a lot defensively from Perez, which is part of the reason guys like Perez are able to hang around.