The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Nationals are close to signing FA 1B Slugger Dmitri Young. Young, released last season by the Tigers, has gotten into some legal trouble in his past. Also worth noting - he played for Jim Bowden in Cincinnatti. We should have known!
To me this signals that the organization really doesn't think Johnson will be healthy in time. I suppose Dmitri could just be an extra bat off the bench, because he can't field at all. Heres my look at all of those competing for the 1B Position:
Travis Lee - Amazing Fielder (Has career .997 FP). Definately no Prince Fielder with the bat though. He has power, when he makes contact, which isnt all that often.
Larry Broadway - Probably the favorite to win the job this Spring, Larry has been with the organization for years. He has potential, but is aging. Last September he messed up his knee which seemed to effect his hitting in Winter Ball. Would have probably been on the bench even if NJ was healthy.
Dmitri Young - He actually has a pretty good bat. Its just he can't play the position all that well. He was drafted awhile ago by STL (back in 1991 - 1st Rd. 4th Overall) and debuted in 1996. Two years later he was in Cincinnati under Bowden. Four years later, in 2002, Dmitri was a Detroit Tiger. He still was, up until his release last season.
I suppose I could include Robert Fick in this category too but I don't think he will get everyday playing time unless the other 3 candidates all flop. He will definitely get more ABs though, even continuing past NJs return date.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070214/SPORTS12/702140350/1050/SPORTS02
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