Another Slugger Free Agent

November 7, 2008

By AllStarsPlus

The 1st pick in the 1998 Draft was a guy named Pat. The Nationals in 2009 will find themselves in the same position with the 1st pick overall.

Pat is back in the news today as he filed for Free Agency today some 10 years after he was drafted by the only professional team he has ever known which is so rare in baseball. Pat leaves his team with the coveted title of World Series Champion as this Pat is Pat Burrell of the Philadelphia Phillies.

For the last week, the Phillies and Burrell tried to complete a contract extension, and it did not happen. Burrell and teammate Jamie Moyer, who each had a part in the Philadelphia Phillies’ first World Series title in 28 years will most likely sign with other teams.

Burrell this year hit .250 which was his lowest batting average in five years, but he did have lofty power numbers with 33 home runs and drove in 86 runs to help the Phillies win the NL East. Only eight National Leaguers hit more homers this season and Burrell’s 102 walks ranked third in the league. Burrell can play the outfield as well as 1st base.

With the odds of Burrell and Moyer leaving the Phillies, this should be good for the Nationals in many ways. How nice will it be for John Lannan not to see Burrell in succession after Utley and Ryan Howard in the Phillies batting order plus not having Jamie Moyer torment the Nats from the mound!

Burrell bats from the right-side so he isn’t the lefty power bat that the Nats have coveted, but you have to think Jim Bowden will want to talk to his agent. He is in the top 3 of Power Bats in this Free Agent pool now with Adam Dunn and Mark Teixeira and should price out below the other 2.

Burrell earned $14 million in 2008 which was the final year of his 6 year, $50 million deal signed after the 2002 season.

Stoke up the Hot Stove a little more!

Posted in MLB, Washington Nationals