The Nationals officially introduced left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham at a Tuesday press conference at Nationals Park.
The two players arrived via Monday night’s trade that sent second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and minor-leaguers P.J. Dean, a right-handed pitcher, and Jake Smolinski, a second baseman, to the Florida Marlins.
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“These guys are still very young and we control [their rights] for three more years,” said Nats general manager Jim Bowden. “This is not a trade where we are renting a player for a year. These are two players that can fit in a long-term plan here.”
The trade was actually agreed to last Wednesday at the General Manager’s meetings in Dana Point, Calif. But because of the injury histories of both Willingham (bulging disc in back) and Smolinski (torn ACL and MCL last month) each team needed time to complete medical evaluations.
The 6-foot-5 Olsen gives the Nats a rotation workhorse. He pitched a career-best 201 2/3 innings last season and turns 25 on Jan. 12. His biggest improvement last season — when he posted a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts — was the addition of a change-up to go with his fastball and slider. It’s a pitch that is admittedly a work in progress, but provides hope Olsen hasn’t yet reached his potential.
“I hope there’s another level. I would like to think you’re never satisfied with the year,” Olsen said. “As a pitcher you pretty much aren’t going to go 33-0 so there’s always room for improvement.”
One concern about Olsen is a series of off-the-field incidents in recent years, including a DUI arrest in 2007 and multiple confrontations with Marlins teammates. Olsen was suspended two games for insubordination after a physical altercation with fellow pitcher Sergio Mitre during a game against the Nats on July 15, 2007.
“I just knew something had to change,” Olsen said. “It just started off slow and you just try to keep yourself out of situations where there might be a problem. I think that’s the biggest thing with all this maturing that everybody claims I’ve done.”
Willingham, 29, was acquired strictly as a corner outfielder, according to Bowden, and not to replace often-injured first baseman Nick Johnson. Willingham has had a herniated disc for several years, according to Nats medical director Wiemi Douoguih. That injury flared up last April and cost Willingham two months. But he returned before the All-Star break and reported no further problems.
“The back has been good since I came back in late June,” Willingham said. “I was healthy, it just took me a little while to get going. You never know what’s going to happen. But I’m a lot more comfortable managing myself.”
If Johnson does return healthy from a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist and Willingham remains in the outfield the Nats will have a crowd to sort through.
The organization is committed to youngsters Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. Austin Kearns is under contract and eager to make up for an injury-filled 2008. Slugger Wily Mo Pena is still recovering from shoulder surgery, but should be ready by spring training and Willie Harris was second on the team in home runs (13) and a valuable utility player. He is still under team control for another year.
“Guess we have some competition. I like competition,” Bowden said. “You can never get enough talent. Injuries are part of the game and I’ve never seen a team go through a year without using four or five outfielders.”
Willingham’s plate discipline is his biggest asset, according to Bowden. It also won’t hurt that Nats pitchers will no longer have to face him. Willingham is a .328 career hitter against Washington with 65 hits, 13 home runs and 33 RBI in 198 at-bats. On television monitors inside the interview room at Nationals Park on Tuesday, a continuous loop ran of Willingham mashing opposing pitchers. It was no coincidence that the majority of those highlights came against Washington.
While the Nats had to trade two of their promising draft picks from 2007 in Smolinski and Dean, those players are still several years away from competing for major-league jobs. But they also lost Bonifacio, a player the front office traded for in late July and touted as its second baseman and leadoff batter of the future. But with middle infielders Anderson Hernandez and Alberto Gonzalez also added in trades after the All-Star break — and the presence of veteran Ronnie Belliard, one of the team’s few consistent hitters in 2008 — there were other internal options.
“Emilio was as good as advertised when we got him. A plus, plus runner with game-changing speed, a good defensive player. A bat in transit. We thought it was coming along,” said Nats assistant general manager Mike Rizzo. “He’s an exciting player. But you have to give to get a 24-year-old left-handed starting pitcher and an established power corner player.”
