Rosenthal: Nats showing strong interest in Fielder

[Sports Guy]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/washington-nationals-show-interest-in-free-agent-1B-Prince-Fielder-Cuban-OF-Yoennis-Cespedes-112811

Also mentions Seattle, Texas and ChiCubs.

[Pedro Cerrano]

With the Howard contract looking bad and Utley never being able to stay on the field the Nats and Marlins should be poised to contend in the NL East.

[Bluerocksfan]

With the Howard contract looking bad and Utley never being able to stay on the field the Nats and Marlins should be poised to contend in the NL East.

Don't forget the Braves, despite their fall last year they are still a good squad

[Sports Guy]

Yea, the NL East is going to give the AL East a run for its money as the best division in the sport in the next year or 2 IMO.

[MikeAD]

Yea, the NL East is going to give the AL East a run for its money as the best division in the sport in the next year or 2 IMO.

This is true even if Fielder doesn't go to the division and Reyes leaves the division. The Braves are only going to get better, same with the Marlins and Nats (to a lesser degree). The Mets have to turn it around at some point. Can only get better with them.

Meanwhile Philly pumps out money.

[SrMeowMeow]

JTrea is gonna have a stroke. On the plus side, we may actually lose him to the Nats as well.

[clapdiddy]

Wow...imagine if the Nats sign Fielder and Buerhle. Both of those guys would be great fits for that team.

[Bluerocksfan]

Wow...imagine if the Nats sign Fielder and Buerhle. Both of those guys would be great fits for that team.

Would make our fanbase a little bit smaller.

[NewMarketSean]

Would make our fanbase a little bit smaller.

While I would never stop being an O's fan first and foremost I would have to admit, if that happened (Fielder and Buerhle), I think I'd go to more Nats games than O's games. I am at the point where I just want to watch exciting baseball locally and don't really care if it has to be the Nats.

[Can_of_corn]

How is that Werth deal working out for em?

I love it when a new owner with money to burn goes on these shopping sprees.

[NewMarketSean]

Werth was a bad signing. No way around that.

But they have a window to win now with their young talent and a willingness to add to it through FA. They are doing what they should be doing, IMO.

[Frobby]

The Nats are ahead of where the Orioles are because their player development, especially pitcher development, is much further along. Take a look at the home-grown pitchers on their staff, and compare how they've done to how the young Oriole pitchers have done. I know we play in a tougher division, but the Nats are still way ahead. And the Orioles have nobody to blame but themselves for being in that position.

[Sports Guy]

The Nats are ahead of where the Orioles are because their player development, especially pitcher development, is much further along. Take a look at the home-grown pitchers on their staff, and compare how they've done to how the young Oriole pitchers have done. I know we play in a tougher division, but the Nats are still way ahead. And the Orioles have nobody to blame but themselves for being in that position.

Even besides where they are as a franchise, they have an owner willing to spend big dollars.

If PA came out and said he would be fine with a payroll in the 130-150M range, I think we would all be upset if we didn't land Fielder or Pujols.

[MikeAD]

How is that Werth deal working out for em?

I love it when a new owner with money to burn goes on these shopping sprees.

Well I mean, yeah. He was likely to decline. He will be a nice piece for them if he can put it together at all. I don't think it was made as a rational decision. They weren't selling that as look at this deal we got. They sold it as we brought in one of the premier players in the league right now on the market, we will make the team better anyway we can.

And Frobby points out what I think is the Nat's biggest edge. They have put a priority on acquiring young, hard throwing arms. They will have a cheap bullpen and a revolving door of talent. Many teams struggle with relievers and they likely will be able to bring guys up, have them perform, and move them of other pieces.

And the Clippard Storen 8-9 punch is one of the best in the game.

[Frobby]

Even besides where they are as a franchise, they have an owner willing to spend big dollars.

If PA came out and said he would be fine with a payroll in the 130-150M range, I think we would all be upset if we didn't land Fielder or Pujols.

The owners are willing to spend big dollars because their GM is telling them the opportunity to compete is here. Their record has improved by 21 wins in the last two years, they have a good young core, and the Phillies are getting old. So, spending on a couple of difference-makers in that situation makes a lot of sense. Plus, the Nats have kept the payroll low for quite some time -- $63.4 mm in 2011 was their all-time high. So, they have a lot of flexibility, having kept their powder dry.