To trade or not to trade
Submitted by Jeff on Tue, 07/31/2007 - 4:49am.
- So will GM Jim Bowden trade away Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, or others by the 4 pm non-waiver deadline today? The Post looks at the potential trades, noting that, as usual, Bowden is asking for more than what most teams are willing to give up. The Tigers and Dodgers, and perhaps the Mets, are the most likely trade partners for those pitchers. Then there's also the question of what uniform Adam Dunn will wear tonight at RFK Stadium: Reds or Nats?
- The high prices that Bowden has put on his players make it unlikely the Nats will complete a trade today, the Times concludes. Ryan Church is also available for a trade, but given that he would be no better than a fourth outfielder on another team, the Nats may not get much in return.
- Shawn Hill had a good rehab outing Monday night at high-A Potomac, scattering three hits over three innings, striking out two and walking none. "Very encouraging performance," said manager Manny Acta, who attended the game on the Nats' off-day.
- In his mailbag column, Bill Ladson tackles questions about Dmitri Young (could play left field if/when Nick Johnson returns, provided he loses about 20 pounds), the catching situation (Jesus Flores is "a star in the making"), and various other players. Ladson, for what it's worth, answers questions with phrases like "You won't get any argument here" and "You are preaching to the choir."
- The Times has a feature about the Nats' rookie league team in Viera, a place where players get 6:30 am wakeup calls for a long day of practice and games. It's a fascinating look at life at the bottom rung of pro ball, if slightly dated (it mentions that top draft pick Ross Detwiler "has not allowed a run in his five innings"; he allowed three runs in his third start). The Times also profiles manager Bob Henley, a catcher whose major league career was cut short by arm injuries but who has found a second calling managing at the ripe old age of 34.
- The Examiner reports that Nats and Metro officials are contemplating "reduced" Metro fares for people who take the subway to the new ballpark next season. However, the planning document that contains that recommendation assumes that an average weeknight game will draw 27,000—more than what the team draws now, to be certain, but awfully low, especially for a new ballpark.
AWCEtO
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