O. Perez released

by JI on Feb 23, 2009 7:51 PM PST

VIERA, Fla. (AP) - The Washington Nationals released disgruntled pitcher Odalis Perez on Monday, a day after he failed to show up at spring training by the mandatory reporting deadline.

The 31-year-old Perez hadn't taken phone calls from general manager Jim Bowden or manager Manny Acta in recent days. Perez let the 7 p.m. Sunday deadline pass without reporting.

"We left messages yesterday for his agent, we left messages for him, I left messages again this morning, and they made their point really clear," Bowden said. "We've got a lot of pitchers here in camp who are committed to helping us win, and we want players here who want to be here."

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I honestly have no idea why he signed that contract in the first place. There still are some teams out there that could use another starting pitcher.

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Not a good week to be a Nats fan.

First one of their top prospects is scams them with the phony age, Jim Bowden is being investigated by the Feds, and now this. Ouch.

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Feb 23, 2009 8:26 PM PST reply actions

I hope the Nationals have their first overall picked stripped from them.

Or Bowden wants another outfielder.

by Wilder. on Feb 23, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions

by HARRYP09 on Feb 23, 2009 11:12 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

A Segway? With the Nationals logo. Really Bowden? A Segway?

You can't hide from the omnipresent eye.

by Goose on Feb 24, 2009 7:04 AM PST up reply actions

Let's be real though. If you could afford to buy one with an M's logo, you would.

You watch too many movies Sax.

by oc on Feb 24, 2009 7:02 PM PST up reply actions

They have them for the day of game staff outside of Safeco.

by Robert on Feb 24, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions

This story needs a "Sorry, Esoteric!" tag.

Although when Bowden is eventually fired for the whole bonus-skimming scandal, that story won’t.

Patriotism, Pepper, Professionalism

by esoteric on Feb 23, 2009 11:32 PM PST up reply actions

Which one?

by Robert on Feb 23, 2009 9:03 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

uh

VIERA, Fla. (AP) – The Washington Nationals released disgruntled pitcher Odalis Perez on Monday, a day after he failed to show up at spring training by the mandatory reporting deadline.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 23, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions

Whoosh

by JI on Feb 23, 2009 9:12 PM PST up reply actions

Does it even matter?

by JI on Feb 23, 2009 9:11 PM PST up reply actions

Cardinals

He could pitch to Pujols in batting practice, give him some more confidence before the game.

But I actually would like the see them get him, he would be better than Piniero… wait do you guys like him over here?

vivaelbeñsheets

by vivaelpujols on Feb 23, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions

He's solid enough but not great

but since he’s undervalued he could be a good buy low guy.

by JI on Feb 23, 2009 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

Despite the fact he’s clearly a bit of a douche, it seems ridiculous he couldn’t catch on somewhere for a Tim-Redding-esque deal (especially as he’s demonstrably better than Redding). As a Cards fan, I wouldn’t mind picking him up for $1-2m guaranteed. He’s similar to Piniero (our #5) and probably better than our AAA starters who’re probably all barely replacement level right at the moment. With Carpenter such a doubt I think he’d be a good pickup.

I could also see an argument for you guys to (say) try to trade Washburn/Batista and ~ 5mil of their salary and pick up Perez for pittance. Probably no-one would bite while Perez is still available but there are still some almost-Bavasi-dumb GMs out there…

by Felonius_Monk on Feb 24, 2009 5:58 AM PST up reply actions

Perez is pretty bad

Fangraphs has been talking about him being undervalued but Statcorner has him down for less than 1 WAR each of the past few years. A guy who is less than 1 WAR probably won’t get the $5/WAR we are use to because the marginal upgrade he gives over any decent AAA arm is almost nothing.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 24, 2009 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

I wonder if....

He’s perhaps overvalued on Fangraphs because they use FIP.

Perez has historically low walk and HR totals for a guy with crappy stuff, but he gets hit a lot and has an unusually high BABIP each of the last four years. FIP only takes into account HR, BB and Ks, so is it possible he’s been quite bad the last 3 or 4 years by giving up a lot of line drives and hits, but without giving up too many HRs and BBs? Or rather, FIP is overrating him because his real talent level is a guy with mediocre stuff who’s poor because he gives up too many hits, yet is able to keep the ball in the park and not walk too many?

Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.

by Felonius_Monk on Feb 24, 2009 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah FIP is probably overvaluing him some

His BABIP is pretty bad and that might actually be his fault. I’m assuming tRA is doing a better job at handling that and valuing him more correctly.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 24, 2009 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

With this in mind

Washburn + cash considerations + PTBNL for Nick Johnson!

And before all of you mercilessly mutilate my intellectual capacity for even suggesting such a ridiculous trade…we’re talking about Jim Bowden here, people.

by cwel87 on Feb 23, 2009 11:47 PM PST reply actions

Why a PTBNL?

If it’s a salary-neutral deal, why would the M’s need to send a player? Johnson doesn’t fit into their lineup with Dunn playing 1B. Manny Acta has the same dillemma we have with Jr playing the field…if Dunn plays LF, does Johnson’s bat make up for Dunn’s defense? They’ve got a ton of options to play the outfield if Dunn plays first. And they need a starting pitcher…even a league-average one…to fill out the roatation. It’s a win-win deal if the M’s send Washburn + the difference in salary.

And Bowden may not be with the team for long so act now!!

by short on Feb 24, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions