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Nationals Trade Pedro Avila for Derek Norris

Derek Norris for NPPAs semi-predicted in the penultimate post, the Nats have begun the plug holes via the trade route with the acquisition of former farmhand C Derek Norris from San Diego for RHP Pedro Avila.

Norris, who was traded away nearly five years ago to Oakland, will most likely split time with Jose Lobaton while Pedro Severino becomes trade bait or insurance, given his age and option status.

Avila, 19, rose quickly through the Nationals farm system making the jump from the DSL in 2015 to Low-A in 2016. He went 5-5 with 2.91 ERA in the first half, but 2-2, 4.18 in the second half, which is not uncommon for young pitchers in their first full season. The Venezueln teenager had been rated as the #23 prospect in the most recent listing by the MLB.com.

The Next CBA

As expected, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was agreed upon before the deadline last night. As predicted, there will be no international draft. BUT… (There’s always a but, isn’t there?) In this case, the scuttlebutt on the “but” is higher bonus pools – somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 to $6M per team per year …

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The Preliminary 2017 Watchlist

Here we go again on my own, traveling down the only road I’ve ever known with the seventh edition of this site’s watchlist. There’s a certain degree of fear this time around because, CBA uncertainty aside, it feels like this might get blown up in less than a month. Why? Because even Stevie Wonder can …

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Happy Thanksgiving

As it did a year ago, it seems quiet on the minor-league front, like January before the prospect books arrive. The two major Top 10 lists — Baseball America and John Sickels — haven’t been published yet and most of the online stories center on the exploits of the AFL contingent. Yesterday, the first salvo …

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Saturday Smorgasbord

A lot of this has already been discussed in the comments, but for the sake of posterity… NATS ADD FIVE TO THE 40-MAN AHEAD OF THE RULE 5 DRAFT • Matt Skole • Austin Voth • Rafael Bautista • Raudy Read • Jose Marmolejos Let’s be blunt: the Rule 5 Draft is like the pickings …

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AFL Update: Nov. 18, 2016

Alas, the Desert Dogs’ three-game win streak—capped by a 3-1 win over the Javelinas—to close out the 2016 AFL campaign wasn’t enough to get them to the title game, but did secure a winning record at 17-15. Five Nationals appeared in the season finale: two of the three position players and all three relievers. Andrew …

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AFL Update: Nov. 17, 2016

img_0067Glendale scored in each of the first four innings en route to a 10-0 shutout of Mesa. Combined with a loss by the Saguaros, the Desert Dogs remain alive in the hunt for the AFL West title.

All three Nats position players saw game action again:

  • Andrew Stevenson led off and played left field, reaching base three times with two walks and a single, and scoring three runs. He also stole two bases.
  • Drew Ward (pictured) got the start at first base and drove in two, going 1-for-5 with a walk and two RBI.
  • Osvaldo Abreu handled shortstop on defense and singled and doubled in a 2-for-5 effort that pushed his fall average to .267.

The AFL regular season concludes today. Glendale must win and Surprise must lose for the Desert Dogs to play in Saturday’s AFL Title game.

AFL Update: Nov. 16, 2016

Glendale got on the board first for a single run in the 1st and a quintet of pitchers, led by Austin Voth, (pictured) made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over Surprise. Voth, who was named the AFL Pitcher of the week, tossed five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and three walks …

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AFL Update: Nov. 15, 2016

img_0058Mesa broke open a 1-1 game with a four-spot in the 3rd and poured it on with multiple big innings in a 13-5 romp over Glendale.

Two Nationals appeared in yesterday’s game.

Andrew Stevenson (pictured) remains red-hot as he reached base four times with a walk, two singles, and a triple while batting leadoff and playing centerfield. He had two putouts on defense and fielded five balls total.

Drew Ward started at 3B and batted sixth. He walked twice and scored a run while going 0-for-3.

The loss lowered the Desert Dogs’ elimination number to one. They visit the first-place Saguaros this afternoon, with Austin Voth scheduled to make his final start.

AFL Update: Nov. 13, 2016

Glendale twice rallied back from one-run deficits to edge Scottsdale, 4-3. Drew Ward was the Desert Dogs’ designated hitter and batted third. He went 1-for-4 with a double, his sixth of the fall season. Two Nationals relievers saw game action. Jake Johansen dispatched the final two batters of the 8th inning to earn his third …

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