Washington Nationals -Minor News-

[YanksNats1987]

Question for you Nat fans. Do you think the Nats would be interested in trading Tyler Moore for Rick Porcello in the off season? Rick is a good groundball pitcher with decent advanced pitching metrics, but poor standard stats. Tigers awful INF defense is a big reason why.

Just wondered what you guys would think. Both are right about the same age, but Rick has 3 more years of arbitration before FA and Tyler has 6 years before FA so Rick would cost more salary wise.

Interesting thought...

The Nationals will look for another pitcher during the offseason but I think they'd prefer to hold onto Moore in case LaRoche leaves. And there is always the possibility of a deal involving Michael Morse during his final year of contract. Tyler would be needed for the club if any of those two things happened.

I believe Rizzo would listen to the offer, but a lot would have to happen for it to go down. Particularly because at worst Moore is a good platoon player off the bench in case of injury in 2013 and they can always spend money on a pitcher without losing a player.

[YanksNats1987]

Nothing fancy. Just a name we'll see in spring training to provide infield depth.

The Nationals signed infielder Will Rhymes, formerly of the Detroit Tigers and recently of the Tampa Bay Rays, to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Rhymes, 29, a Texas native who played in college at William & Mary, hit .228/.299/.285 in 137 plate appearances over 47 games for the Rays this season, and .256/.326/.390 in 46 games for the Rays’ Class AAA affiliate in Durham. The Rays designed him for assignment in September and he elected for free agency. Rhymes was drafted in the 27th round in 2005 by the Tigers, spent five years in their minor league system before debuting in 2010. He played 83 games over two seasons for them; his best in 2010 when he hit .304/.350/.414 in 54 games for Detroit.

-Nationals Journal

[YanksNats1987]

Duke is back. So that's good. One lefty down.

[YanksNats1987]

Neivy Pilier, a 16-year-old third baseman from the Dominican Republic, has signed with the Nationals for $225,000.

At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Pilier has a quick bat with lift and occasional power in his righthanded swing, though he's at his best when he stays with a line-drive approach and uses the middle of the field. He has a strong arm that fits well at third base, though with his youth and size he's still trying to improve his footwork. Pilier didn't turn 16 until Aug. 1, so he was one of the younger players among those who became eligible to sign this year.

Pilier is from Santo Domingo, played in the Dominican Prospect League and trained with Christian Batista, who is known in the Dominican Republic as "Niche."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/...-neivi-pilier/

[YanksNats1987]

Minor League signings, via Bill Ladson

@washingnats

The #Nats have signed RHP Matt Torra and 3B Mike Contanzo to Minor League deals

[YanksNats1987]

The Nationals have made bulking up their starting pitching depth a priority this winter, and last week their search led them to send a top scout to evaluate veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez in a Puerto Rican winter league game, according to a team official.

The Nationals were impressed with how Vazquez pitched and would be interested in signing him to a minor league contract with an “out” – an option for the pitcher to ask for his release by a certain date if not added to the major league active roster.

It is not clear Vazquez would accept such a minor league deal. He may hold out for a major league contract, which would presumably take the Nationals out of the running for his services.

Adam Kilgore

[YanksNats1987]

@jonmorosi

Free agent LHP Brandon Mann signs minor-league deal with #Nats including invite to ML camp, according to agent Steve Canter.

[NYYCowboys]

@jonmorosi

Are you the only Nationals fans in this forum?

[J.Twiggy]

There are more of us Yanks Nats just usually handles the minor news and tidbits.

[YanksNats1987]

Without me there would be no Washington Nationals.

[YanksNats1987]

The #Nats signed OF Delwyn Young to a Minor League deal. No invite to Spring Training. #MLB

Bill Ladson

[YanksNats1987]

Adding depth at catcher.

Catcher Chris Snyder has agreed to a minor league deal with #nationals.

@jcrasnick

[YanksNats1987]

Will Ohman added to compete for spot.

The Nationals signed left-handed reliever Will Ohman to a minor league deal, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The team confirmed its deal with the Beverly Hills Sports Council client (on Twitter).

Ohman pitched for the White Sox in 2012, the second year of a two-year, $4MM contract. The 35-year-old posted a 6.41 ERA with 4.4 K/0 and 1.7 BB/9 in 26 2/3 innings of relief with Chicago before getting released in July. The Reds signed him later that month, but never called him up from Triple-A Louisville.

-MLBTR