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Nats deal for Marlins' Olsen, Willingham
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"They've both voiced they're excited for a fresh start. Neither of them has really played for anybody else except the Marlins," Agent Matt Sosnick said in a telephone interview. "They're both trying to process the information."
For the Marlins, the moves follow the team's usual pattern, reducing payroll while adding young talent with strong potential. In this case, the Nationals are the beneficiaries. Both Olsen, 24, and Willingham, 29, are entering their first year of arbitration, and will be under the Nats' control for the next three seasons.
"We have nothing to say," Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations, said. "If that changes, I'll let you know. We're not planning on doing anything tonight."
Olsen, who pitched 201 2/3 innings last season while going 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA, immediately becomes the ace of a Nationals' staff in desperate need of top-of-the-rotation help. He had also been the subject of trade discussions between the Marlins and Rangers.
"I think Olsen knew he would probably get traded, and Willingham knew there was a chance, given the constraints the Marlins have," Sosnick said.
Willingham, who hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs last season, likely will take over in left, giving the Nationals additional depth in an outfield that already includes Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns and Elijah Dukes — and possibly leading to another trade.
The Nationals, who finished 14th in the National League in runs scored last season, coveted Willingham in part because of his .361 career on-base percentage.
"He gives you professional at-bats," one club official said. "He grinds at-bats, hits good pitching."
Anderson Hernandez is the leading internal candidate to replace Bonifacio at second base.
Without Olsen, the Marlins' rotation will include right-handers Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and Anibal Sanchez, along with left-hander Andrew Miller. The addition of Bonifacio will enable the team to trade Dan Uggla, move him to third base or keep him at second, where his value as an offensive player is highest. Under the latter scenario, Bonifacio could become a super-utility man, opening up the possibility of trading Alfredo Amezaga, who is coveted by many clubs.
Smolinski, 19, is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. He was the Nationals' second-round pick in the 2007 draft and Dean was their seventh-round selection out of New Caney (Texas) High School that same year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Member Comments
The Marlins get the nod in this deal. The Nats are getting 2 good established players. Problem is, Olsen and Willingham are complimentary players who support "star" players that the Nats cannot afford to add to their team. This trade will help make their team respectable, nothing more. The Marlins will now control 2 "high ceiling" cheap, young, minor leaguers for several years. Florida currently gets a marginal nod in this trade for monetary reasons. When considering the long term ramifications of this deal, the Marlins win in a blowout.
STRAIGHT_TALKER11/11/2008 12:12:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Leave the Nats alone..Let the Nats enjoy this day..This may be the only time this year that they make headlines...I am not sure if the headlines are deserving though...All the players involve are irrevelant..
imdagr8ist11/11/2008 11:03:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Wow, like you all do not have issues either, you probably do, but since your not as talented as Olsen, they are not as well known. I am not sure what the nationals are doing here, except to put some players together who they can trade come July and get a lot more compensation for them. They are a joke of a baseball club and should be in double A, not the major leagues
unionsteward11/11/2008 8:54:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Olsen definitely has personality issues and his talent does not make up for them. Willingham is a solid player, but the Marlins have a crowded outfield, so there was no need to keep him. Trade makes sense to me.
jfr31011/11/2008 8:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Olsen immediately becomes the Ace of the nationals staff? The writer either is over-rating Olsen, or under-rating the Nats staff (which is hard to do) or he has such an inflated ego that he had to add that extra piece of info to the article--who cares about the facts.<br />Lannan, Redding, or Hill will be the Ace if there are no more trades. Lannan has already proven himself to be a great pitcher. Redding is a proven veteran as well. Olsen may benefit from the DC weather as our temps stay mild until June. I hope he does well in DC, but he is not the Ace.
Guamanians11/11/2008 7:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
If the Nats don't add the big guns (Ramirez etc) this trade doesn't do much.
burghguy11/11/2008 4:35:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
MESSAGE TO ALL NATIONALS FANS<br /><br />scott olsen will tear your hearts out as he drips a ton of sweat per inning and pitches well all game until he hits the 6th innning wear he will blow up and give up at least 5 runs. that is if he makes it that far<br /><br />also The Hammer is a decent enough hitter, but he will miss at least half of every season with back problems, kidney stones, or a combination of the two.<br /><br />u may think that the nats won the deal, but in reality, they got destroyed. benafacio will allow us to trade uggla(most overrated player in the game)and we will laugh at the nats as we win the division and the nats finish last, yet again
tomlady11/10/2008 21:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Doesn't it make you wonder ! Everyone says that the trades made by the Marlins are awful but yet they seem to work out long term for the fish. They compete for the playoffs every season and have won the world series twice in there short existence. Hmm, may be they have knowledge of something that the avg. fan does not know. Rumor has it that Olsen is a head case.
tomaso11/10/2008 19:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Knowing the nats. This was their attempt at aquiring a slugger and pitcher...We need more arms and a first baseman
PittSteel24711/10/2008 18:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The Nationals killed the Marlins in this trade.
hefe30011/10/2008 18:41:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Great trade for the Nats. The Marlins owner, Jeff Loria, is just killing the Marlins as he did the Expos.
expos_eddie11/10/2008 17:55:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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