With the sudden logjam in the Nationals’ starting rotation, the general consensus is that the Nats will look to trade John Lannan sometime during Spring Training. Though his serviceable arm is no longer need with the Nats, Lannan may not draw as much return as some would hope.
The 27 year-old Long Beach, N.Y. native was drafted in the 11th round of the 2005 MLB draft. He has spent the last five seasons with the Nats, and if his career could be described in one word, it would be “inconsistent.”
Lannan’s ERA has varied from 3.70 (in 2011) to 4.65 (2010) with a minor-league stint in between. He hasn’t been terrible, but hasn’t been particularly good either. What teams may view as most important: he needed a wake-up call in 2010. Teams won’t want to give up value for a player who may or may not show up on any given day.
That being said, there is also his contract to consider. Lannan’s salary will nearly double from the $2.75 million he was paid in 2011 to the $5 million he will be paid in 2012. Coming off of his best season statistically, Lannan was able to cash in maybe a little more than his body of work has earned.
A team could bet on Lannan’s desire to prove himself in a contract year, as he will become arbitration eligible again after 2012 and will become a free agent after 2013.
Lannan could get the Nats a bench player or some mid-level draft pics. A deal involving Lannan probably won’t change anything for the Nats general plan, and anything the Nats get in return won’t be a game-changer.
What may make a difference is if Lannan is packaged with someone in the bullpen. The Nats will have Ross Detwiler as well at their disposal, and his need has become somewhat obsolete as well. If there is one thing the Nats have, it’s a relief staff. The right package could give good return.
What could also happen is Lannan could be moved to the bullpen. The Nats may want to move him to the bullpen and make Detwiler part of a package with another reliever, since Detwiler is younger and teams may think he has more potential upside.
One thing is certain: the Nats have a lot of pitchers and a lot of flexibility. I would be surprised if there was no move during Spring Training, which is mercifully not far away.
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I agree with the premise of your post (the starting rotation is full, so what’s to be done with Lannan and Detwiler); however, some of your conclusions are, shall we say, questionable. In argument against getting rid of Lannan and Detwiler,
- Gonzalez is the only left-hander in the presumed rotation
- Jackson’s on a one-year contract
- Wang’s no guarantee to pitch any better than Lannan or Detwiler (but is out of options, can’t pitch out of the bullpen, and currently has no value)
Looking at Lannan in particular, 2010 was an outlier; his other 3 seasons show a sub-4.00 ERA and make 2010 the “which of these is not like the other?”. In addition, regarding 2010, Lannan was optioned out to straighten out his pitching (which he did), with no reason as I recall to say it was an attitude issue. To state, based on this one piece of “evidence”, that he “may or may not show up on any given day” is, at best, lazy, and uncalled-for.
If you’re going to imply (or state right out) the existence of behavioral/attitude problems, back it up. As it stands, your comment reminds me of why people use Fox’ “fair and balanced” as a pejorative.
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Hm, where did you interpret I was suggesting behavioral or attitude problems? The line you quoted was in reference to his arm, not Lannan mentally or emotionally. I believe the improvements he made after being sent down in 2010 are a testament to a great attitude and work ethic, which I have said in the past if you are a longtime reader.
I also don’t believe the Nats will get rid of both Detwiler and Lannan, I believe it will become an either/or situation. Thanks for the discussion.
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“What teams may view as most important: he needed a wake-up call in 2010. Teams won’t want to give up value for a player who may or may not show up on any given day.”
Sorry, I don’t see any reference to his arm. “Wake-up call” and “may or may not show up on any given day” are phrases typically applied to those who don’t run out grounders (Ramirez, Hanley), are at best indifferent in the field (Ramirez, Manny), or sulk at not starting/being kept in the minors (Montero, Jesus).
Say what you mean. It is, after all, your job as a writer (or should be).
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I can’t help how you interpret it, only how I mean it.
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Then please humor me and point out to me where the article refers to Lannan’s arm. If it’s there and I missed it, my bad. Otherwise, that’s sloppy and lazy writing. My reading ability is unfortunately limited to text; it does not extend to minds.
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Wow, just wow. You don’t actually know anything about the game of baseball do you?
Ross Detwiler is not obsolete at the ripe old age of 25, John Lannan has actually been pretty consistent and a starter making $5M a year has hardly priced himself out of the market.
That being said, once I read your other hard-hitting pieces about how to be a Ball Girl, the MLB Fan Cave finalists and everyone hating the best position prospect in a generation, it is now apparent to me that you know nothing about baseball. I don’t say this all to be mean, just to suggest that you actually learn something about baseball or write about something else.
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I was referring to Detwiler being “obsolete” for the Nationals since they won’t have much use for him if they keep Lannan, not as a player in general. Gear down buddy, it’s the off season.
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Sorry, maybe it was a bit over the top in it’s delivery. But I still believe that it’s lazy and unfounded analysis at best. For a pitcher his age, Lannan has been the model of consistency, unless you think he won’t be able to outperform his xFIP or that posting ERA’s with less than a run of variance makes him inconsistent. In 2010 Jamie Moyer made $8M so I highly doubt that Lannan’s contract is much of a factor or that he is overpaid. Secondly, to call Detwiler obsolete is ridonkulous. At worst he’s a good spot-starter/LOOGY out of the bullpen, but at best he starts one of the Nats games the first week of the season. Given CMW’s arm troubles and Stras’ innings limit, coupled with Zimmermann’s recent TJ surgery this isn’t a team that can have too much SP.
Lastly, you should put a leash on Dave or at least don’t let him out of the yard.
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I’m not sure what that comment about Dave is about, but if you have a problem take it up with the person you have a problem with. You have the option to close the window and not read it.
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