Frank Guillen

Summary:Contenders for much of 2009 before finishing .500, Frank Robinsons Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos) were the talk of the National League East prior to the all star break.Keywords:Washington Nationals tickets, TicketsContenders for much of 2005 before finishing .500, Frank Robinsons Washington Nationals (formerly the Montreal Expos) were the talk of the National League East prior to the all star break. The D.C. community embraced the Nats as the team was happy to find a permanent home stadium after splitting much of their games in 2004 between two different stadiums in Montreal and Puerto Rico. Despite holding onto first place in the National League East through the month of July, Washington fell quickly finishing their 2005 season with an 81-81 record and ended their year 9 games behind the first place Atlanta Braves.The 2009 starting lineup was led by the newly acquired outfielder Jose Guillen (.283 24 76) and 1st baseman Nick Johnson (.289 15 74). Outfielders Brad Wilkerson (.248 11 57) and Preston Wilson (.26110 43) joined catcher Brian Schneider (.268 10 44) to provide the team with the rest of their offense.Starting pitchers Livan Hernandez (15-10 3.98) and former NY Yankee Esteban Loaiza (12-10 3.77) joined John Patterson (9-7 3.13), Tony Armas (7-7 4.97) and closer Chad Cordero (2-4 1.82 47 saves in 74 games) to stabilize the 2005 pitching staff as the team greatly improved on their losing 67-96 2004 record.Off Season Moves:The Nats lost Esteban Loaiza to the Oakland Athletics and traded away Brad Wilkerson for Alfonso Soriano (.268 36 104) to help improve their offensive production which was the lowest in baseball in 2005. Washington also traded for San Diego's Brian Lawrence (7-15 4.83) and the signed free agent Ramon Ortiz (9-11 5.36) in order to help bolster their rotation. The Nationals will also have a newcomer at third since Vinny Castilla (.253 12 66) was traded to the Padres in the deal for Lawrence. Veteran Mike Stanton (3-3 4.64) was also added to help strengthen the bullpen as he was signed as a free agent late in the off season.2011 Analysis:The loss of Loaiza will hurt the teams starting pitching. He provided the Nationals with 217 innings in 2005 and the Washington has yet to make any significant moves that will replace those innings. While Washington did acquire two additional starting pitchers there is little chance that either will prove as reliable as Loaiza did last season. Brian Lawrence had a terrible 2005, despite pitching in pitching friendly Petco Park, and Ramon Ortiz was released by Cincinnati Red who became frustrated with his ability to deliver any quality innings. Soriano should prove to be a great pickup, but he will not go quietly into the outfield with Jos Vidro (.275 7 32) or newly acquired free agent Marlon Anderson (.264 7 19) expected to start the season at 2nd base.The Nationals bullpen was very good last season with Chad Cordero establishing himself as one of the games best young closers last year after compiling 47 saves. Stanton should also be a nice addition. The starting pitching is weak but Washington should be expected to score more runs in 2006.

The American League East weve made it to the final discussion piece of our divisional breakdown of buyers and sellers. If you missed the previous buyer and seller discussions, please take a look under the Top Stories section on the right-hand side of the web page. In the AL East we have three buyers in the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. The bottom dwellers in the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles are already looking forward to next season. Lets take a look at what could be traded in the next two weeks. Buyers New York Yankees The big fish got away from the Yankees in Cliff Lee, and the Mariners will likely never be friends with New York ever again. Despite losing out on the best available pitcher, the team may still be interested in starting pitching. Today, Andy Pettitte strained his left groin and may be headed to the disabled list, so the Yankees could be going after left-handed starting pitching. This is pure speculation from PRO Rumors, but Ted Lilly is the biggest lefty being shopped right now, so it wouldnt be surprising if the Yankees made a run at him. The Yankees also could use bench help and middle relief. The Yankees have been been mentioned as a destination for players like Cody Ross, Wes Helms, Ty Wigginton, Adam Dunn and Willie Bloomquist. The Yankees would love to have Dunn, but its unlikely that the Nationals will want to move him now. Today, a source close to Frank Russo of NY Baseball Digest said the Yankees are in the midst of ongoing discussion with the Kansas City Royals regarding Joakim Soria. The team is also interested in Florida Marlins Leo Nunez. If the Yankees decide to go for a big piece, and they need trading leverage, they can always trade catching prospect Jesus Montero. His name was tossed around as a centerpiece to the now dissolved Cliff Lee deal. Tampa Bay Rays The Rays are looking for outfield help and a right-handed bat. Several names that have come up include Baltimore Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton, Kansas City Royals OF/DH Jose Guillen and Washington Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham. Guillen is an interesting name since hes traditionally a DH. Guillens arm was once considered the strongest among National League outfielders, so he still has some defensive value. Additionally, the Royals have been actively shopping him, and theyre willing to eat up a lot of his remaining contract in order to move him. The Rays are a very young team, with many of the players under being paid affordable contracts and being under club control for several years. Should the Rays ever decide to move from buyers to sellers, one player that wont be sold in their farm system is right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson. Hes likely untouchable unless a blockbuster deal presents itself. Boston Red Sox The Red Sox could use outfielder and bullpen help, but the problem is that the team is over the luxury tax threshold, so itll be tough to make additions without affecting future budgets. An outfielder like the Royals David DeJesus would be a good fit for the Red Sox, but with his affordable salary and cheap team option for next year, the Royals will likely want a big name prospect in return. The Seattle Mariners are likely selling right-handed pitcher David Aardsma, and he would be a great seventh-inning pitcher for his former team. The Red Sox really need to do something with third baseman Mike Lowell. Hes making $12 million dollars and eating up a roster space. The team is better off eating up $11 million and trading him to a team for a fifth tier prospect. The Rangers have been interested in Lowell, but have yet to make a deal. Sellers Toronto Blue Jays The Blue Jays have a trio of relief pitchers that could be moved in Jason Frasor, Scott Downs and Kevin Gregg. A few things to note include the liklihood that Frasor will be a Type-B free agent and Downs will be a Type-A free agent, so that increases their value and the Blue Jays will want a little more in exchange. The 32-year-old Gregg is making an affordable $2.75 million this year, and he has affordable club options for 2011-12 ($2 million and $4.5 million respectively) with a $750,000 buyout. A long-shot that could be traded is outfielder Vernon Wells. Wells is finally playing like the old Wells. The only problem is the $86 million that hes due. If a big market team is interested, then they could make a play for him. Baltimore Orioles The Orioles biggest trade chip is Ty Wigginton. Hes drawn interest from the Yankees, Phillies Rockies, Reds, Rays and Angels. Look for him to be moved as early as this week. Once hes gone, their other infielder Miguel Tejada could be sold off as a consolation prize. The Orioles held onto Kevin Millwood two months too long. Millwoods value was higher in May, but he had a terrible June and is on the disabled list. Hes one of the players that could be dealt after July 31st since hes likely to clear waivers. If a team is desperate enough, then Millwood may be their best option. The St. Louis Cardinals could be a fit given their problems with their rotation.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Chad Billingsley hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth inning and limited the San Francisco Giants to two hits over eight innings, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-2 victory Friday night.Billingsley (11-8) allowed two runs, struck out seven and walked two. Both runs were unearned, the result of a fourth-inning error by shortstop Rafael Furcal, who came off the disabled list earlier Friday.Furcal misplayed a leadoff grounder by Freddy Sanchez, Aubrey Huff then singled off the glove of second baseman Ryan Theriot and both runners scored on Buster Posey's two-out single over the head of a leaping Furcal.Billingsley pitched a complete-game 2-0 shutout against the Giants on July 21.Hong-Chih Kuo pitched the ninth to earn his eighth save in nine chances.Billingsley singled off Barry Zito (8-11) with two outs in the fourth, putting the Dodgers ahead 4-2. Zito walked Matt Kemp and Casey Blake to open the inning. After getting Ronnie Belliard and Reed Johnson out, Zito intentionally walked Rod Barajas to load the bases, setting up Billingsley to help himself. Right fielder Jose Guillen tried to field Billingsley's hit, but it rolled under his glove.Zito gave up four runs and four hits in four innings, struck out five and walked four in losing his fifth consecutive start. He is 0-7 in his last 10 outings and hasn't gotten past the fourth inning in his previous four starts.Blake singled to lead off the second and scored on Barajas' homer into the left-field pavilion that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Barajas has four homers and eight RBIs in eight games since joining Dodgers in a trade from the New York Mets on Aug. 22.Notes: The Dodgers reinstated RHP Vicente Padilla from the 15-day DL and recalled C A.J. Ellis from Triple-A Albuquerque. Furcal was in the starting lineup, batting leadoff. ... Giants RHP Chris Ray was reinstated from the 15-day DL. ... Zito hasn't won since beating the Mets 1-0 on July 16. ... Dodgers owner Frank McCourt attended the game after taking the stand in his divorce trial under way in a nearby courthouse. Furcal's bat went sailing into his box, but McCourt had stepped away. No one was injured.

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