The Nationals are in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes, according to a baseball source, and ownership recently visited with Fielder’s agent, Scott Boras, in the nation’s capital.

It is believed the Nationals are in competition with the Mariners and Cubs. There were reports that the Rangers were also in the running for Fielder’s services, but the source believes Texas will stick with Mitch Moreland at first base.

The source indicated that Nationals ownership will make the final decision on whether the club signs Fielder. It’s not known how many years or how much money Washington is willing to give Fielder. (MLB.com)

I’m not surprised one bit at this. The Nats are a team on the rise and adding a hitter of Prince’s caliber would only help, especially in the ultra competitive National League East.

Ladson’s report also backs up a recent report by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Washington was now the favorite.

The only question in my mind is will Washington give the years and dollar figures needed? Or could they bargain with Boras for one of his patented opt-out type deals.

“As far as are we going to dab our toe in (the Prince Fielder) water,” Rizzo said, “Those are decisions we make early on in that process and we’ve more or less decided that Adam is going to be our first baseman. Unless something extraordinary and out of the ordinary happened, that’s how we’re going to go into spring training.” (The Washington Times)

It sounds pretty clear to me, LaRoche is the teams starting first baseman.

Amanda Comak of the Washington Times says the team never planned on being serious contenders in the Fielder race. And you know what I kind of believe it with how much Rizzo is defending his guy and his role.

Would a GM defend his current players so much if he were seriously pursuing a replacement? It’s possible but doubtful.

Could that “extraordinary” thing happen yes, but it’s probably unlikely.

@SI_JonHeyman: according to @enrique_rojas1, marlins offer to reyes is up to $111M for 6 yrs, me: very unlikely mets or brewers play at that level

Jon is pretty spot on in what he says here about the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers unlikely to play at that level. It’s the exact reason why I think that a deal will be completed very shortly if this rumored increase is true, even with Reyes upcoming visit with the Brewers.

Reyes is scheduled to meet with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin but I don’t see the point. If the Brewers are unwilling to spend $120 million over six years to keep a bonafide slugger like Prince Fielder then why would they pay $111 over six for an injury prone shortstop?

When it comes to the Mets it’s just too damn money. Rumors have had them to be around $80 million over five years. With the Marlins looking like contenders in a new stadium I don’t see why Reyes would leave so much money on the table to stay in the New York. It would be just well umm stupid.

I’d expect a deal done by the end of the Winter Meetings.

@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources tell me and @jonmorosi: A. Ramirez visited Angels, offer likely coming. #Brewers have also inquired. #MLB

If the Angels are serious about adding Ramirez they’re offer is going to have to be substantial if they want this to end quickly as he’s got other teams interested. Only a few minutes after the tweet Rosenthal posted an article listing the Milwaukee Brewers as a legitimate contender for his services.

The Brewers also are among the teams pursuing Ramirez, sources say. If Milwaukee signs Ramirez, then Mat Gamel and incumbent third baseman Casey McGehee could combine to replace Prince Fielder at first base.

Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin has been aggressive in attempting to upgrade the infield, with Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jimmy Rollins among his targets. The Brewers are not interested in Jose Reyes at his present contract demands, sources say. (Ken Rosenthal & Jon Paul Morosi – FOX Sports)

I’m thinking the offer won’t be high enough to end things quickly. So yea, expect Ramirez’s agent to be meeting with Milwaukee officials next week at the Winter Meetings.

@SI_JonHeyman: #mariners are hoping to be in on prince (but not pujols). Unsure if there’s room in budget tho. But will give it a run.

There’s no doubt that Fielder is worth the $200 million or so that he’s going to command, he can absolutely rake and his defense isn’t that bad either. His .299 average, 95 runs, 38 homers and 120 runs batted in would instantly lead the team. He’d be a huge force in the middle of their lineup.

BUT the question is whether its fiscally responsible for a team that does have multiple needs? They’ve got the pitchers but when you look at their lineup they could use help at almost every position.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” the official said. “We need a closer. It is a long way down the road. We haven’t had those meetings yet. But, for us, I wouldn’t rule anything out.”(ESPN New York)

A second Mets official said: “A lot would have to line up for (a return to) come true. He didn’t leave on the worst of terms. We made the trade more because of money. It is not an absolute no. It is possible, not probable.”(ESPN New York)

By the sounds of those statements I would say that it’s not something the Mets want to do but if he’s the best available and at the price they want to spend then they’ll jump on it. There’s just one issue, is a return to Flushing what Rodriguez would want? Is it something he’d consider after how it all ended?

“Of course,” Rodriguez told Newsday. “I don’t have no hard feelings for nobody. They did what they had to do. They needed to unload a lot of money and I was making too much money. But you never know what’s going to happen one year from now, two years from now.”(ESPN New York)

Here’s why I think K-Rod he could be back in New York season. Yes it’s something I do think is a legitimate possibility, a long shot but a possibility.

For how bad things people thought they were between the team and K-Rod they really weren’t. The very public handling of his off the field issues, mainly the assault of his girlfriends’ father AT Citi Field is what make people think it was worse then it was.

His trade to Milwaukee was more about dollars and cents then issues between club and player. That’s proven by the fact that the team is willing to entertain the thought of a return. I think what they have to look at is not previous issues but his performances.

Rodriguez had the worst years of his career while playing in New York. During his time there he had the highest ERA totals of his career as well as a drop in saves. The drop in saves is actually no surprise as he was playing for a team that just wasn’t that good.

Once he left the organization for Milwaukee he was rejuvenated and put up some of the best numbers of his career with a 1.86 ERA over 31 appearances, striking out 33 in 29 innings. On top of that he’s pitching lights out in the playoffs striking out six over three innings so far.

Do the Mets want to bring someone back who was pretty inconsistent with them to begin, then imploded when shit hit the fan?

Personally, if the price is right and K-Rod’s not getting the offers then he could be back in Flushing. Unfortunately for the Mets I don’t think either will happen, someone’s going to offer him closer money as he’s proven he can still do the job if given the chance.

Wallach had a solid career as a player and has been pretty impressive so far as a coach / manager.

- Over 17 seasons, he batted .257 with 260 homers and 1125 rbis, he also had 432 doubles. His numbers would have been better but he played for about six seasons longer then he should have, as he had a steep drop in production after the age of 32.
- He’s won two gold glove awards, two silver sluggers and finished top 10 in MVP voting twice (once finishing fourth).
- He was the 2010 Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year after coaching the Albuquerque Dodgers (Los Angeles Triple-A affiliate)
- In 2011, he was the Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach.

Sounds like a guy who knows what he’s doing, much more then the guy the Chicago White Sox just hired to fill their position.

The Red Sox are also considering others, they include:
Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin
Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez
Cleveland Indians third base coach Sandy Alomar Jr
Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum

While there are no big names amongst the group it is a solid group of candidates as they’re all former big league ball players who had mild success. They’ve also got solid coaching experience with teams that have been in pressure situations.

If I had to choose one out of the group I’d go with Alomar Jr, even with the success Wallach has had as a manager. He’s a baseball lifer thanks to his bloodlines and with him being a catcher he’s seen the game from a perspective no other candidate has. He in my opinion was also the most successful of the group as a player.

Much to his surprise, Kyle Lohse learned today that he will not be making Sunday’s start against the Cincinnati Reds.

Trying to avoid matching Edwin Jackson against the Milwaukee Brewers for the fourth time in less than five weeks, manager Tony La Russa will have Jackson start on regular rest Sunday and bump Lohse to next Tuesday against the Brewers. (Joe Strauss – St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

When you look at it from the aspect of Jackson facing the Brewers for a fourth time, you would think its an act of desperation. Even more so when you see that Edwin’s numbers this year in three starts aren’t that good at all. He’s 1-1 with a 4.95 ERA over 20 innings pitched with five homeruns allowed.

On the surface those numbers are pretty bad but he’s fared fairly well against the Brewers. He had a disastrous first outing against them giving up eight runs in seven innings. Since then he’s given up three in 13 innings pitched.

What makes the move even more troubling is the lack of success Lohse has had recently. Kyle has given up 12 runs, 10 earned in his last eight innings pitched and that was against the weak hitting Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. On the season he’s had some success with Milwaukee, two starts with a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings pitched.

Even with those numbers against Milwaukee I’d be scared to pitch Kyle as he’s gotten worse every month this season. I understand LaRussa not wanting to risk the chance of Milwaukee figuring Jackson out after so many outings but it’s crunch time.

The Cardinals are nine and a half games behind and need to beat the Brewers EVERY chance they get. Personally, I think Jackson gives them a much better chance then Lohse at doing just that.

@Brewercom: #Brewers manager Ron Roenicke just officially announced Zack Greinke will make his season debut Wednesday in Atlanta.

Greinke had two starts at Triple A Nashville and one at High-A Brevard County, which went ummm somewhat well. He pitched 10 and 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs. What makes him look ready thou is the fact that he walked two and struck out 13.

In my opinion, the downside was that his three outings have been relatively short on innings, in order he’s gone three, two and 2/3, and five. I’m sure his pitch count isn’t quite where the team or himself would want it to be.

So I’m guessing that his first start only goes about five or six innings if he’s pitching well as the team works on building up his arm strength.

After the outing Tuesday, Grienke told MLBlogs.com that his arm “felt great”. His velocity was reported to be in the 91 to 94 mph range for most of his start. With gas like that I’d say he’s just about totally healed from those cracked ribs.

So yea, with stuff like that and an impressive outing, it’s only right to up the competition and see how close he is to being big league ready. Right now he’s tentatively scheduled to return to Milwaukee around May 4th, which would most likely mean a second start with Nashville to stretch out his arm.