Friday, January 28, 2005

Joy In Evansville

The Nats agreed to one-year contracts with Jamey Carroll, Michael Hinckley and Darrel Rasner.

Carroll was excellent off the bench last year, hitting .289/ .378/ .372 while filling in at every infield position. While on the downside of his career at age 31, he can still be useful as a spot starter.

Hickley is pretty much universally regarded as our top pitching prospect. He had a superb year in AA Harrisburg last year, with a 2.87 ERA and 7.7 K/9. He has an outside shot to make the team this year from the bullpen, although his chances went down with the Esteban Loaiza signing. I see no real point in rushing him. I’d let him get his feet wet in AAA, and if things break well, see what he can do after the All-Star break.

Rasner was the Nats’ second-round pick in the 2002 draft. He has decent, but not spectacular numbers in the minors. He’d definitely be a long shot to make the team this year. That site doesn’t have any 2004 number for him, which is strange. I can’t find any reference to any injuries either. Anyone know what’s going on?

The Nevada Appeal (That’s a weird name) has a profile on him and what he thinks his chances are. He’s probably headed back to Harrisburg to start the year.

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