If he played LF, perhaps you could deal with someone who didn’t look to hit more than a handful of homers at the MLB level. I think Marrero’s problem is that he’s stuck at first base but has limited power capabilities. He hit admirably enough at AA and AAA in 20. Q: What are the Nats going to do with first baseman Chris Marrero?Ī: Great question he has one more minor league option, is clearly behind the likes of Chad Tracy and Tyler Moore on the first base backup pecking order, but really hasn’t got much left to prove in the minors. Ladson predicts he’ll be a middle reliever for this team in 2013. The team can replace his 7th/8th inning innings with Christian Garcia rather easily (assuming of course that the team realizes that Garcia’s arm is too fragile to reliably be depended upon as a starter). My guess is that Rodriguez holds it together for another spring, breaks camp with the team and then plays his way into a DFA. Davey Johnson also loves him, and said he was the Nats best pitcher last spring training. He’s got no minor league options and thus has to be either carried on the active roster or be subject to DL shenanigans. In 2011 he led the league in wild pitches despite only throwing 65 innings, and in 2012 he had a -0.7 WAR and a 69 ERA+ before hitting the DL for season ending surgery.

Q: Where does Henry Rodriguez fit in the Nationals’ plan this upcoming season?Ī: A good question Mike Rizzo loves Rodriguez but I find him completely frustrating as a fan. Holiday edition mailbag from MLB.com’s Nats beat writer Bill Ladson for 12/28/12.Īs always, I write my response here before reading his, and sometimes edit questions for clarity.

Rodriguez getting ready to fire in another pitch he has no idea where its going.

Xavier sanchez sportnation