Holy Cow (No Pun Intended) -- Nats Send Young To Syracuse

The Washington Nationals issued a two sentence press release yesterday describing their plans for former all-star Dmitri Young:

First baseman Dmitri Young has been outrighted to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. The Nationals’ 40-Man Roster now stands at 35.

I guess that's how they move Young off the roster. Yesterday afternoon, Young indicated that he would not decline the assignment and he would report to Triple-A Syracuse and not elect to become a free agent, because honestly, where else would he get a $5M major league contract? So he accepted the demotion and becomes the highest paid minor league first baseman. Either way, it's pretty cold.

How bad does this look right now? This is a guy that the GM and the team heralded in his all-star comeback player of the year season of 2007, then grant him a HUGE two-year reward contract for $10M. And now, half-way through that contract, they flat demote him back to Triple-A. That's just great roster maintenance (noted with sarcasm). For a team that has upper management preaching fiscal responsibility, how many more of these terrible reward contracts do they have to see before they do something about the guy handing them out?

Young got a big raise, now he's sent to Siberia (ever been to Syracuse in April?). SS Cristian Guzman got a new contract and promptly went out and got hurt. Backup infielder Ronnie Belliard got a two-year deal. OF Willie Harris' new deal has to pop up any day now. At least Willie is in shape. But here's still more evidence, if any more is needed, of Jim Bowden's ineffectiveness. Here's a team that lost their first round pick over $700,000, but is paying their Triple-A first baseman $5M.

Here's hoping Young can go to the minors, get his weight and health back where they need to be, and returns to the Nationals at some point this season.  He could be a valuable switch-hitting pinch hitter, because Young can hit falling out of bed.  It's what he's always done, but injuries and diabetes have kept him off the field way too much.

This obviously opens up the speculation that the Nats will try to acquire a middle-of-the-order first base/left fielder type.  Hmm, anyone have Adam Dunn's cell number?  Nick Johnson's health status (torn tendon sheath in wrist) makes it questionable to depend on him as the solution at first base, so Washington should find themselves in the market for a slugger at the position.

Bowden drafted Dunn in Cincinnati, but it remains to be be seen just how much money it will take to land the on base machine.  There are also rumors floating around the GM meetings being perpetuated by writers for MLB.com and SI that the Nats hold interest in Mark Teixeira, Prince Fielder and Matt Holliday, and who wouldn't?  But there may be fire where there's been some smoke regarding Holliday, as the Nats discussed him with the Rockies at last year's trade deadline.