NationalsProspects.com

Nats Send PTBNL to Indians

The player to be named later with the Nats-Indians trade has been identified as Andruw Monasterio, a.k.a. the player the Nats got when they traded raging homophobe infielder Daniel Murphy to the Cubs this past August.

As noted in the comments, this may render the latter trade as essentially giving away Murphy. It’s not clear if/when Chicago and Washington completed their trade, which at the time (Aug. 21), was reported to be Monasterio and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Occam’s Razor suggests it was indeed cash, which is far less satisfying, but par for the course with Rizzo’s July-August trades of late, where the Nats GM has been more Napoleon than Jefferson.

28 Commments

  1. I must admit it’s strange that the player we might have gotten the least value for this summer was Murphy.

    We made the following trades:
    Murphy for Monasterio and apparently nothing else
    Gonzalez for Lara and Harrison (each about comparable to Monasterio)
    Madson for Andrew Istler (while a bit old, looks no worse than our other old relievers, Braymer, Bourque and Williams)

    Then Kintzler for Jhon Romero, and Goodwin for Condra-Bogan before the deadline, in what were two very similar deals.

    In comparison, Monasterio is about comparable to the return we got on each trade: an interesting, but highly flawed prospect. The thing is, surely Daniel Murphy was more valuable than any of the other players we traded, and yet the return was no better than what we got for mediocre relief pitchers like Kintzler and Madson… what a shame. Whoever decided the 2018 Nats team were a playoff contender and decided not to sell our best expiring contracts before the deadline needs to realize it really set the team back developmentally.

    2. It came down to salary and Murphy’s reduced production post-injury. Murphy was still owed more than $4 million at the time of the trade. That’s a lot of coin for less than 2 months of a guy who was hitting more like he did with the Mutts, and had become a statue in the field.

    3. So much for the Cuban reunion @ Fresno with JM Fernandez and Hernandez. Who would have thought Cuban signing would end up in Korea with never reaching AAA??

  2. Thanks, Luke. If anyone missed it, Luke gave a good description of who we gave up at the end of the last thread.

    Makes me feel better.

  3. Regarding Monasterio, I might have been the only one to rate him in the top 10 (9th). My logic behind that is for all those that had Garcia at #3 (and some even at #2) should see a very similar skillset in Monasterio. They’re average defenders at SS, who might end up switching to 2B full time (or 3B in Garcia’s case). Neither have much speed (both have a season high of 12 SB), but both have bats that could project at the upper levels, with respectable strikeout rates (around 15%), and an ability to hit, but not for much power. Of course, Garcia being 3 years younger at the same level is more impressive, and could project for more power as he continues growing. But Monasterio this season displayed really good patience at the plate, walking 12.2% of the time, which is well above twice the rate Garcia has ever shown at any level. Plus, at age 21, he was still slightly young for A+, and still a prospect compared to just about every other batter in our upper levels of the farm system.

    Oh well, not much point in fretting over a player we barely ever had. But just wanted to explain my logic.

    1. Plus, at age 21, he was still slightly young for A+, and still a prospect compared to just about every other batter in our upper levels of the farm system.

      Sadly, that’s very hard to dispute.

      1. I’m still smarting over the Nats failing to give Richard Bleier a cup of coffee to reward him for a great year in Syracuse at the end of a lost 2015 season, then him electing free agency and promptly putting up 3.5 rWAR and a sub-2 ERA as a trusted lefty reliever over three seasons in the AL…two of them as a Baltimore Oriole. Ouch.

        1. Safe to say PhillipsValdez will get called up by Texas in 2019 the way the rangers run through bullpen arms and even starters in the heat of battle and Texas

      2. Luke. The absence of Montesario @ 2b makes one wonder how quick guys like Shaddy, OConner , Marinconz , Daily or Sanchez motor through Hags to Potomac.

        1. Harrison and Lara might just be guys to warm two Potomac roster spots until the NCAA alums motor up from Hags. Sure would be fun to see brass push the envelope with some guys : Meregildo , Lara, Lora, Shaddy, Caufeld ( Mendoza line bat and better leather?) , MarinconzSanchez Jesus, Scudder and Franco … leaving Hags with Pogue, Altuna, Daily, Vickers, J Morales, Sosa, Chisholm and Blash … Hags …. could these infield lists be July 2019??

      3. Would Y Solarte coat to much to the Lerners to join the bench brigade and 2 b platoon until Howie heals 100pct ??

      4. What is the Antuna April recovery time like ? All bat. No throwing ??
        Luke , you believe several kids could warrant an April Hags look from GCL 18? Chisholm , Ro Sosa, Pogue , Vickers , Sanfler, Gils guy LE??

        1. Hard to tell. The last Nats minor-league position player to have this surgery that I can recall was Matt Skole and he missed about 6 months (Apr-Oct 2013). But Skole played 1B which doesn’t require many throws whereas Antuna is an MI, so as you imply, he could be used at DH until he’s ready or the weather is warm enough.

          I would think, given his age, he’ll be held back until mid-to-late May at the earliest, but perhaps as late as when the NYPL starts up.

    2. Maybe the back up plan after dealing Montesario is to bring back super utility guy K. Norfork for depth @ Burg with Masters and Meijia. Sign a few infielders for POTNATS

  4. When the Nats traded Murphy (and Gio and Madson and Adams), they were looking to save money and reduce the payroll tax. Don’t think that they expected the talent coming back in any of those trades to be likely MLB contributors.

    1. Istler should at least get a spring training invite. The rest of those guys look like minor league depth. Jhon Romero and Jacob Condra-Bogan bear watching, although the ceiling is middle relief, which is useful but hardly exciting.

  5. I was glad Murphy kept his trap shut about his political leanings here…and disappointed when he went to the Ricketts-owned Cubs and immediately felt free to open it back up again.

    1. There’s a lot to digest here. I hope Luke will do a full post. This is a much better-considered write-up than they did last year, when they left the whole thing humorously labeled “A’s Top Prospects.” I do see one big error off the bat, though: listing Romero’s ETA as 2019, then in the article saying he may not pitch until 2020.

    2. Interesting. Jeremy DeLaRosa listed from DSL but no Fernandez or A2
      Funny. Luke. Bull Durham was broadcast on MLB network channel last Sunday. One could see the mixture of A level affiliates in script. Hagerstown Suns jersey spotted in July 4 th shot.
      All bat girls should have curves like 1989 Sarandon or Jess Harrison .. lol

    3. Fangraphs does a really good job at looking at players from different angles than most and I found it very useful.
      I think it was fore who was talking up Pineda as a potential star catcher but they say he is on the fast track.

  7. Large coffee. Winter moon has me awake @ 3 am so …. here we go ….interesting that I totally missed the 11/22 signing postings on Norfork and Hunter Jones who may end up helping balance with Converse Chuck Taylor the impending heavy left leaning Senators lineup.
    Some interesting players discarded by the Pirates in November on their farm :
    Logan Ratledge. Utility guy who peaked @ Altoona after attending NC State with Ryan Williamson . Anybody see him play @ Altoona ? OF/ 3b/ 2b.
    William Calderon switch hitting infielder who reacted GCL. .300 BA. Maybe he could be a depth piece to replace Marinconz and Daily once they motor to Potomac @ Hags.
    3 left handed hitting low A ball outfielders : Michael de la Cruz, Jeremias Portorreal and Eddy ( from the Bronx ) Vizcaino

  8. Now we are awaiting brass to announce the infamous lefty pitcher signed for Fresno to fill the Tommy Milone role 2019.

Comments are closed.