Comments on: UPDATE: Nats to pay Kennedy $1.25 million, team option for 2011

By: Union

Union — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:44:01 +0000

As a Twins fans I’m glad we went out and got Hudson. That being said, I think the Nats got the best deal. You guys just managed to pay Kennedy only $1.25M for the same stats that Hudson put up last year. Hell, even his lifetime stats are not that much different. I think it’s a steal.

By: Todd Boss

Todd Boss — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:48:57 +0000

Rizzo (Nats GM) wants an upgraded defense. He traded for Nyger Morgan to shore up center field, he acquired Ivan Rodriguez (one of the games best ever defensive catchers) to mentor our up and coming starter Flores, and now he’s acquired Kennedy as a one-year stop gap.
Desmond is indeed a great prospect but his minor league fielding numbers are atrocious. Rizzo and the nats braintrust probably have given Desmond 1/2 a year in AAA to work on his defensive numbers before bringing him up.
This isn’t about hitting (though Kennedy’s numbers are almost identical to Hudson’s last year) as much as it is about fielding.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:34:21 +0000

Kennedy is certainly mediocre, but he’s no worse than Desmond. Sure, the rookie hit well in a limited appearance last season (82 AB .280BA), but look at Desmond’s minor league numbers:
5+ seasons
50 HR (wow! 10 a year!)in 2662 PA with a .259 BA and .714 OPS. Prior to the AAA season you refer to, he never hit above .255 at any level, and he has a 5:2 K/BB ratio.
So, he steals a few bases. So does Guzman. Kennedy probably can, too. I don’t trust a player who spends 5 years in the minors, progressing pretty slowly so it’s not like he’s overmatched, and then has one good year at AAA so now we’re supposed to forget all the other numbers.
At best, I think the Nats are facing a three-headed monster of mediocrity on the IF in Guzman, Kennedy, and Desmond. But, Lord knows, I’ve been wrong before.