Post by Fish Troll on Nov 11, 2008 13:09:12 GMT -5
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Starting pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham are headed to the Nationals from the Florida Marlins in a five-player trade that signals the start of Washington's efforts to revamp its roster after a majors-worst 59-102 season.
The Nationals scheduled a news conference at their stadium Tuesday to introduce their two new players.
The Marlins get second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean.
Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 2008, his third consecutive season with at least 31 starts -- he never has been on the disabled list. The left-hander is 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in the major leagues.
Willingham hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs last season, when he missed 50 games with a herniated disk in his back. He was a 20-homer player in 2006 and 2007 and is a career .266 hitter with 63 homers and 219 RBIs in 416 games.
Bonifacio has hit .240 with no homers and 16 RBIs in 60 big league games. Washington acquired him in July in a trade that sent reliever Jon Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bonifacio could become an option at second base if Florida moves arbitration-eligible All-Star Dan Uggla, who reportedly could be available. The Marlins already have shipped first baseman Mike Jacobs to Kansas City this offseason, and still have plenty of decisions to make about other players who were part of Florida's surprising 84-77 run this season.
The Nationals scheduled a news conference at their stadium Tuesday to introduce their two new players.
The Marlins get second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers: second baseman Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean.
Olsen went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 2008, his third consecutive season with at least 31 starts -- he never has been on the disabled list. The left-hander is 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in the major leagues.
Willingham hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs last season, when he missed 50 games with a herniated disk in his back. He was a 20-homer player in 2006 and 2007 and is a career .266 hitter with 63 homers and 219 RBIs in 416 games.
Bonifacio has hit .240 with no homers and 16 RBIs in 60 big league games. Washington acquired him in July in a trade that sent reliever Jon Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bonifacio could become an option at second base if Florida moves arbitration-eligible All-Star Dan Uggla, who reportedly could be available. The Marlins already have shipped first baseman Mike Jacobs to Kansas City this offseason, and still have plenty of decisions to make about other players who were part of Florida's surprising 84-77 run this season.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/10/marlins.nats.trade.ap/index.html
Yep Fish blew it.
