Nationals Can't Be Serious, Sign Ivan Rodriguez to Two-Year Deal

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When GM Jim Bowden was fired last year, I figured all the bonehead moves by the Washington Nationals would come to an end.

Unfortunately for Nationals fans, even with a new GM on board, those bonehead moves continue.

According to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, the Nationals signed 38-year-old catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to a two-year, $6 million contract. Rodriguez will receive three million in each year of the contract.

The Nationals really can’t be serious.

Does Scott Boras (Rodriguez’s agent) have naked pictures of Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo’s wife? He must have because that is the only explanation I can think of for such a move.

This is right up there with Omar Minya giving a 43-year-old Julio Franco a two-year deal a couple of years ago. It just makes no sense.

The Nationals aren’t winning anything next year, they already have a good, young catcher in Jesus Flores, and the Nationals gave Rodriguez one more year and about $4 million more than he deserves.

I don’t understand the point of this. Why give Rodriguez two years? Why, so he can mentor Flores? They could have signed him to be a mentor for one-year and for about $1.2 million.

Do the Nationals think Rodriguez is going to put people in the seats? If they do that is just silly.

Rodriguez has no prior affiliation with the team, no affiliation with Washington, DC, and he was never a big draw to begin with. I don’t think a large amount of people in DC are going to come out watch this guy play.

Rodriguez hit .240 with a .280 OBP in 121 games for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers last year.

What a terrible signing.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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