What Olsen, Willingham means to Nats
The Nationals have reached an agreement to trade second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, right-hander P.J. Dean and infielder Jake Smolinski to the Marlins for left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder/catcher Josh Willingham,
Olsen is expected to be part of a Nationals rotation that finished with a 4.97 ERA this past season. The left-hander went 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts in 2008 and threw a career-high 201 2/3 innings. As of now, Olsen and John Lannan are locks in the rotation
How Willingham -- who appeared in 102 games in 2008 and hit .254 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs -- will fit in with the Nationals is not known. He is a corner outfielder, and the Nationals already have Austin Kearns, Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge at those positions. Willingham also can play behind the plate, but that position belongs to Jesus Flores. Willingham can also play first base, but it's doubtful he will be a regular there.
Bonafacio was slated to be the Nationals' leadoff hitter and everyday second baseman, but Anderson Hernandez gave a better impression at the position during the final two months of the season, hitting .333 with 17 RBIs. The switch-hitting Bonifacio, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks last July for reliever Jon Rauch, hit .243 with 14 RBIs and was an automatic out from the right side of the plate.
-- Bill Ladson
Willingham in this deal is confusing as the article would indicate. He's too good to be a 5th outfielder. Could have been more of a salary dump for the Marlins and had to included in the deal in order to get Olsen. I don't anticipate Willingham to remain a National for long, unless the Nats deal the starters at the positions he plays, which is unlikely.
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Milledge and Dukes and Young and Olsen? How many more headcases do the Nationals need?
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