Washington Nationals: Winter Meetings A Mixed Bag
By Ron Juckett
THE DEAL THAT HAPPENED
Chances are if you were not happy with the trades that did not happen, the Adam Eaton trade truly upset you.
Man, what a steep price for an excellent right fielder who is a mediocre defender in centerfielder. As Giolito penned a thank you note for fans, and Bryce Harper’s “Wow!” tweet stoked a bigger reaction, you were left to wonder what had changed with the front office.
Yes, Eaton has five years of team control for a measly $38 million, but Giolito was the best prospect in the organization. Lopez the second-best pitcher on the list. Dunning was a first-round pick. Should the Nats mortgage the future on Eaton?
Many feel the move is desperate, born from the frustration of losing out on such key deals before. Mike Rizzo promised once the new collective bargaining agreement was in place that Washington would seize the day. Instead, fans vented they felt squeezed.
From a public relations perspective, a giant opportunity lost followed by a “Hail Mary.” Even if 2017 is the magic season, perhaps the front office will not boast over how aggressive they plan on being. Humility is a good thing.