Nats sign all the minor league free agents [Archive]

KingJ

11-06-2006, 04:28 PM

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20061106&content_id=1735142&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was&partnered=rss_was

Ok, only 21 of them, but that's still a lot.

Signed to contracts (40-man roster):

RHP Tim Redding
RHP Joel Hanrahan
IF Josh Wilson
OF Michael Restovich

Signed to contracts (minor league):
RHP Jermaine Van Buren
RHP T.J. Nall
RHP Colby Lewis
RHP Felix Diaz
RHP Eduardo Valdez
RHP Josh Hall
RHP Winston Abreu
RHP Jim Magrane
LHP Mike Bacsik
LHP Billy White
LHP Chris Michalak
C Juan Brito
C Danny Ardoin
IF Joe Thurston
IF Alejandro Machado
OF Darnell McDonald
OF Wayne Lydon

KingJ

11-06-2006, 04:55 PM

The possible impact signings:

1. OF Mike Restovich--27 years old
A former top Twins prospect, the power-hitting Restovich will likely only be a factor if we go with Kory Casto in LF next season. Restovich is known for good corner OF defense and as a slaughter of LHP at the plate--both areas where Casto has been below average.

2. RHP Tim Redding--28 years old
Once a top Astros pitching prospect, Redding has fallen off the map since a stop 2003 in which he was 10-14 with a 3.68 ERA in 32 starts for Houston. He is a big strikeout pitcher and a good reclamation project for St. Claire along the lines of what Hector Carrasco was in 2005 (long reliever/spot starter) as Redding is coming off a solid 12-10, 3.41 ERA, 148 K 2006 season with the White Sox' AAA affliate Charlotte.

3. SS/2B/3B Josh Wilson--25 years old
The Rockies felt Wilson was worthy of a 40-man roster spot a year ago, but he suffered a broken foot in spring training and he was never called up despite hitting .307/.376/.475 in 335 at-bats for Colorado Springs. He'll be a candidate to serve as a utility infielder.

4. OF Darnell McDonald--28 years old
McDonald, once an Orioles prospect, is coming off a .292/.351/.435 season for Triple-A Durham (Devil Rays). He has good speed (30 SB in 2006) and he can handle center field, so he should be given a chance to win a bench spot in Spring Training.

5. C Danny Ardoin--32 years old
Ardoin didn't last with the Orioles after being claimed off waivers from the Rockies in August. He'll likely get a chance to beat out Brandon Harper for the job backing up Brian Schneider (and probably lose). He's good defensively but isn't much with a bat.

6. LHP Mike Bacsik--28 years old
After bouncing around the league over the past few years while making some major league starts for the Indians, Mets and Rangers, Bacsik built up an 11-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in 28 games (10 starts) for Arizona's AAA affliate Tucson in 2006. While he doesn't have great stuff, he's been around long enough to make a possible contribution as a middle reliever in 2007.

7. RHP T.J. Nall--26 years old
A former top Dodger prospect, Nall had a great 2006 season for the Dodgers' AA affliate Jacksonville--posting a 10-7 record with a 2.82 ERA and 155/30 K/BB in 140 2/3 IP. He's got good enough stuff to contribute as a starter still, but the clock is ticking on his ML career.

8. RHP Winston Abreu--29 years old
Abreu pitched 8 innings this year for the Orioles and gave up 9 runs. However, he still did post 2.49 ERA along with 78 K in 65.1 IP for AAA Ottawa making him still a possibility as 12 pitcher when necessary.

That's all I see and like. Everybody else is too lacking to make a difference IMO.