Perhaps the most memorable image of Brad Lidge’s career is Lidge dropping to his knees to embrace battery mate Carlos Ruiz after recording the final out of the 2008 World SEries.Mandatory Credit: Bill Kostroun/Reuters

Lidge spent the 2012 campaign as a member of the Nationals, where he posted an unimpressive 0-1 record with a 9.64 ERA and 2 saves in 9.1 innings pitched. Lidge had originally joined the Nats on a 1-year, $1-million pact during the offseason, and was ultimately released on June 25 due to poor performance.

Lidge was far more impressive in his career as a member of the Astros and Phillies. Originally drafted by Houston in the 17th round of the 1998 draft, Lidge posted All-Star campaigns as a member of both the Astros as well as the Phillies and also finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2003. Lidge cracked the top 10 list in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2004 (8th) and 2008 (4th) and also won a World Series in 2008 as a member of the Phillies, recording the final out to bring the City of Brotherly Love their first World Championship in 28 years.

For his career, Lidge posted a 26-32 record with a 3.54 ERA in 603.1 innings over 603 games. Along with his respectable numbers, Lidge will also be remembered for always carrying himself with class and being an outstanding individual.

Catchers:
Brian Schneider, Phillies: 26 games, 69 AB, 2 HR, .232/.293/.362
Wil Nieves, Rockies: 16 G, 47 AB, 1 HR, .298/.333/.404
Derek Norris, A’s: 11 G, 41 AB, 2 HR, .244/.311/.390

Assessment: Even with the season-ending injury to Wilson Ramos, the Nats are definitely better off with their current tandem of Jesus Flores and Jhonatan Solano. Schneider and Nieves are at the end of their careers. Both struggle to hit and throw runners out, but are solid defensively otherwise. Norris may become an all-star, but he is only beginning his major league career. His shortcomings on defense may require him to move to a 1B/DH role.

Adam Dunn has rediscovered his power stroke this year but still can't do much else on the field. (Image Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE)

First Base/DH:
Adam Dunn, White Sox: 84 G, 293 AB, 25 HR, .208/.357/.502
Nick Johnson, Orioles: 38 G, 87 AB, 4 HR, .207/.324/.391

Assessment: Dunn has rediscovered the home run stroke that deserted him in 2011. He has 25 homers and 60 RBI, despite an extremely low batting average. His glove, however, is as bad as ever. Johnson struggled in Baltimore, had a couple of good weeks, and has re-injured his wrist. With the all-around fine play of Adam LaRoche, Tyler Moore as a right-handed back-up and Chad Tracy‘s pinch hitting excellence, the Nats are far better off now at first base.

Infield:
Jamey Carroll, Twins, 80 G, 273 AB, 0 HR, .234/.318/.278
Pete Orr, Phillies: 23 G, 42 AB, 0 HR, .286/.302/.429
Alberto Gonzalez, Rangers: 21 G, 51 AB, 0 HR, .255/.255/.333

Assessment: Though Carroll is a solid veteran player and full of class, he is at the end of his underrated career. He has lost range in the field and struggled to hit. The other two are roster fillers, on their respective clubs only because they have no one else in the organization to play their roles. With Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Lombardozzi, and Mark DeRosa, the Nationals aren’t missing any of these guys.

Outfield:
Josh Willingham, Twins: 81 G, 291 AB, 21 DO, 19 HR, .261/.376/.536
Nyjer Morgan, Brewers: 74 G, 220 AB, 2 HR, .230/.298/.281
Austin Kearns, Marlins: 36 G, 85 AB, 4 HR, .267/.353/.480
Justin Maxwell, Astros: 62 G, 121 AB, 8 HR, .231/.324/.471 (50 K’s in 121 AB’s!)
Alfonso Soriano, Cubs: 79 G, 294 AB, 15 HR, .265/.323/.469
Lance Nix, Phillies: 22 G, 46 AB, 2 HR, .326/.392/.979

Assessment: Willingham is having a fantastic year in Minnesota and represented the Twins in the all-star game. Before the Nationals starting hitting, it sure looked like they could have used the bat of the man affectionately known as “The Hammer” in D.C. On the other hand, Willingham remains a poor fielder and still has not proven he can last an entire season. Without the DH, he has far less value in the NL.

As most predicted, Soriano has become an average player at best in the last years of his massive contract.His speed and power have largely deserted him. Morgan has also regressed and is likely close to wearing out his welcome yet again. Maxwell had some good moments for the Astros, who have regressed after a surprising start, but still cannot hit consistently and strike outs far too often. Kearns had a hot start in Flordia, but cooled off and got injured.

With Bryce Harper, Michael Morse, Moore, and Lombardozzi playing leading roles and Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina adding defense and speed as reserves, the Nationals, overall, have a better group. If Jayson Werth hits at his career norms when he returns, it will reduce the sting of watching Willingham’s hitting highlights as the season progresses.

Utility Players:
Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins: 39 G, 149 AB, 20 SB, .268/.351/.315
Jerry Hairston, Dodgers: 57 G, 172 AB, 4 HR, .297/.369/.424
Willie Harris, Reds: 25 G, 44 AB, .114/.170/.205
Brian Bixler, Astros: 27 G, 65 AB, 2 HR, .246/.300/.415
Adam Kennedy, Dodgers: 61 G, 123 AB, 1 HR, .228/.315/.305

Assessment: Bonifacio is an excellent player and the Marlins have struggled without him. He learned how to use his speed and batting eye to get on base more often in 2011 and can play every position except catcher. Any team, including the Nationals, can make good use of Bonifacio’s talent.

The rest of the group is aging and of limited skills. Hairston had a blistering start for Los Angeles, hitting so well early in the season he sometimes batted fourth. He has tailed off, though, as age and the law of averages are catching up to him. Harris, Bixler, and Kennedy offer versatility, and the first two also offer speed. None can hit much better than a pitcher.

Joel Hanrahan has consistently been one of the better pitchers to call themselves "former Nationals". (Image Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE)

Pitchers:
Tommy Milone A’s: 17 G, 108 IP, 8-6, 3.57 ERA, 1.182 WHIP
Joel Hanrahan, Pirates: 35 G, 34 IP, 4-0, 23 saves, 2.38 ERA, 1.118 WHIP
Jerome Williams, Angels: 13 G, 83 IP, 6-5, 4.46 ERA, 1.379 WHIP
Joel Peralta, Rays: 40 G, 34 IP, 1-3, 2 saves, 4.81. 1.010 WHIP
Matt Capps, Twins: 27 G, 26 IP, 1-4, 14 saves, 3.42 ERA, 1.063 WHIP
Bill Bray, Reds: 8 G, 4 IP, 0-0, 11.25 ERA,3.00 WHIP
Livan Hernandez, Braves/Brewers: 24 G, 39 IP, 2-1, 1 save (first in career), 5.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Kip Wells, Padres: 3 G, 18 IP, 1-2, 2.50 ERA, 1.556 WHIP
Jon Rauch, Mets: 37 G, 31 IP, 3-7, 1 save, 4.02 ERA, 1.149 WHIP
Luis Ayala, Orioles: 34 G, 40 IP, 2-2, 1 save, 2.48 ERA, 1.175 WHIP
Jason Marquis, Twins/Padres: 14 G, 78 IP, 3-9, 5.79 ERA, 1.622 WHIP
Miguel Batista, Mets: 26 G, 41 IP, 1-2, 4.20, 1.672 WHIP
Chad Durbin, Braves: 42 G, 33 IP, 3-1, 3.78 ERA, 1.320 WHIP

Assessment: After examining this list, one conclusion is that the Nationals, since 2009, have developed fine pitching, with depth to spare, another credit to Mike Rizzo and his team. Hanrahan is an all-star closer, while Peralta, Ayala, Capps, and Durbin are having fine seasons so far out of the bullpen. Add two near Nationals to this list — Aaron Crow and Aroldis Chapman, both all-stars — and Rizzo’s accomplishment grows more impressive.

Other than Tom Milone, the starters looks like a collection of journeyman, has-beens, and one great player, Livan, who is likely in the final season of his career. Williams and Wells have had a few good moments, but neither are likely to be top tier pitchers.

So, the best 25-man roster of former Nats would look like this:
C – Norris
1B – Dunn
2B – Carroll
SS – Bonifacio
3B – Hairston
LF – Willingham
CF – Maxwell/Morgan platoon
RF – Soriano
Bench — Schneider or Nieves, Kearns, Johnson, Bixler or Gonzalez

Starting Rotation:
Milone
Williams
Wells
Hernandez
Marquis

Bullpen:
Hanrahan
Peralta
Ayala
Capps
Durbin
Rauch
Bautista

While this team would have some strengths — Bonifacio leading off, the power of Willingham, Dunn and Soriano, the versatility of Hairston, a decent bullpen with an elite closer in Hanrahan — it would struggle in the field and have abysmal starting pitching.

Overall, the current Washington roster far exceeds the castoffs in talent, potential, and ability to become a winning or even contending ball club. Clearly, the front office is in good hands with Rizzo at the helm.

Early Monday the Minnesota Twins designated Jason Marquis for assignment. The veteran right-hander had struggled this season, posting a 2-4 record with an 8.47 ERA over 7 starts (34.0 innings). His peripheral statistics have not been impressive either, with just 3.2 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and a troubling 13.8 H/9. In his last start, Sunday at Milwaukee, he was torched for 8 runs on 8 hits in just 1.2 innings of work. After winning two of his first three starts on the season he’s now gone on to take the loss in four straight. Minnesota is quickly falling out of contention in the AL Central and the organization will likely be better served by seeing what some of their younger pitchers are capable of doing at the Major League level rather than continuing to throw Marquis out there simply to eat innings. The decision effectively ends Marquis’ first stint in the American League after signing a one year, $3 Million deal with the Twins this past winter.

Former National Collin Balester is suddenly available but don't expect a Washington reunion. (Image Credit: US Presswire)

Meanwhile, late Tuesday the Detroit Tigers made a similar decision, designating Collin Balester for assignment. Balester had been acquired from the Nationals in early December, a move that brought Ryan Perry to town. He’s struggled to adapt in Detroit and hasn’t performed on the field well enough to keep his spot in the bullpen. Considering Detroit’s struggles in the standings, they just simply couldn’t wait any longer for Balester to figure things out. Through 18.0 innings over 11 appearances he’s 2-0 with a 6.50 ERA. Like Marquis, he’s been struggling with command, allowing 5.5 BB/9 against 6/0 K/9. Balester is out of options, so the Tigers cannot send him down to the minor leagues unless he passes through waivers first.

Marquis could potentially draw some interest on the free agent market considering his long track record of success in the National League. He’s originally from New York and the Mets could use some pitching depth, leaving many to a natural conclusion that the pair could be a fit for one another. It seems, however, that the Mets have already decided that they do not have much interest in pursuing him at this time.

As for Balester, there’s a chance he could be picked up by someone provided there’s an organization who believes they can keep him in their bullpen without risking the need to expose him to waivers. If not, he’ll presumably go to Toledo until he either pitches his way back into the Tigers bullpen or out of the organization altogether.

Washington has had their own injury concerns within the pitching staff, mainly in the bullpen, but neither Marquis or Balester appear to represent a significant upgrade over any of the team’s current options. Marquis certainly wouldn’t be a fit in the bullpen as the bulk of his career has been working out of the rotation. Balester wouldn’t be a terrible option to consider if the circumstances were different and the need more apparent. Realistically he doesn’t seem to be a fit for the time being.