...And All The Rest

By all accounts, the Nationals did very well for themselves with their next few selections after the Detwiler pick.

Leading off the Supplemental Round (one of the two picks they got for Soriano), they took Josh "Not Jeff" Smoker, a LH starter out of John Schuerholz' backyard in GA. Baseball America has rated him the 16th best pitcher in the draft, and there were a few mock drafts that had him going in the first round (Here's one that had him as high as 15, and here's one that had him at 14). So it's a good value pick. The Nats certainly didn't seem to think he'd be available then.

Here's Baseball America's Scouting Report on him:

"He has been a mainstay on the wood bat and showcase tour for years, and has a portfolio as deep as any player in the draft, including college players. He'll run his fastball in on right-handers, snap his curve for a swing-and-miss pitch and lean on his splitter for strikeouts, as it at times can be unhittable. He pitches with fervor and guile, endearing himself to teammates and scouts alike."

He's committed to Clemson, so he has leverage. The Nats need to do what it takes to get him under contract. They can't afford to let him go to school. (Here's a decent article about him from the hometown paper.)

With their second supplemental pick (for the loss of Jose Guillen -- hey, he finally contributed something!), the Nats took Michael Burgess, a HS rightfielder who is not to be confused with this Michael Burgess. Todd Jacobson reports that they were planning on taking him with the 31st pick, so being able to nab him with the 49th is just gravy. (Though it could raise questions as to what the Nats saw that other teams didn't...)

He's supposed to have excellent power and a cannon for an arm. The MLB.com scouting report has some beautiful highs, and some sorrowful lows. He went to the same High School as Gary Sheffield and Doc Gooden, and the local paper has their puff piece on him here.

In the second round, with the Cubs pick they got as compensation for Soriano, they took Jordan Zimmermann (not to be confused with him or more importantly, him) Zimmerman is a Junior at the U. of Wisconsin, Stevens Point ($20 to anyone who knows where the hell that is!), where he's had lots of success. The MLB.com scouting report says that he has an above-average fastball, but the rest of his pitches need work. He's a bit of a project, but there's enough upside that there's a good chance he could crack the back of a rotation or become a solid bullpen arm (especially if he doesn't develop more pitches).

With their second round pick, they took SS Jacob Smolinski, which by a few accounts seems a bit of a stretch. NFA has a so-so scouting report of him here.

At this point, it's definitely a crapshoot. I'll let you guys google for yourselves:
Other picks
100: Steven Souza, High School shortstop.
130: Derek Norris, High School catcher.
160: Bradley Myers, College Relief pitcher.

All-in-all they got two first-round talents, including the second-best college pitcher in the draft. That's not a bad return.

They just need to get these kids signed and sent to Florida ASAP. If their dedication to "The PLAN!" and the statements they made about the pillaging of the MLB payroll and roster are to be taken at face value, they need to open up their wallets and do what's necessary. They have until August 15th to demonstrate to the fans that they were serious.

One other note... We can officially evaluate part of the Soriano non-trade now.

By not trading him, the Nats gained Jeff Smoker, a first-round talent, and Jordan Zimmermann, who projects, at worst, to be a reliever.

Was the non-trade worth it?