July 2005 - Washington Nationals Wiretap

The signings also come against the backdrop of the Nationals' most significant offseason move, the trade with Texas for four-time all-star Alfonso Soriano. Though Soriano could provide an offensive force unlike any the Nationals had last season, he met the news that he would likely have to move from second base to the outfield with outright disdain, and has not retreated from those remarks. Soriano's defiance triggered calls from several interested teams who wondered if the Nationals might be willing to trade Soriano, including Boston, according to a source familiar with the discussions. Nationals front-office executives, however, for now appear unwilling to part with Soriano unless they are bowled over with an offer that includes either a front-line starting pitcher, such as the Red Sox' Josh Beckett, or several younger, front-line pitching prospects. One source familiar with Washington's discussions over the last several weeks said, "There's nothing close enough to take seriously right now," but thought the Nationals would remain open to talks about trades for pitching.

The Washington Nationals on Thursday signed veteran righthanders Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas Jr. to one-year contracts. Financial terms were not disclosed. The 32-year-old Ortiz is looking to return to the form that helped him post 44 wins for the Anaheim Angels from 2001-03, including a 15-9 record during their world champion campaign in 2002. During that season, the slender 6-footer went 6-0 in his last nine regular-season starts and was 2-0 in three postseason starts. Ortiz struggled in 2004, going 5-7 with a 4.43 ERA in 34 games, including 14 starts. He was traded to the Reds for righthander Dustin Moseley after the season and was 9-11 with a 5.36 ERA in 2005. He surrendered 206 hits and 34 homers in 171 1/3 innings for Cincinnati.

A week after the Washington Nationals acquired him from the Texas Rangers, Alfonso Soriano still doesn't want to move to the outfield from second base. Jose Vidro, a three-time All-Star, starts at second for Washington, and Nationals general manager Jim Bowden hopes to shift Soriano from second, where he's a four-time All-Star. "I don't want to change," Soriano said Monday night at a dinner held for major league players by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez. "If I haven't done it before, I won't do it now." Soriano said he had a greater comfort level in the AL, and he plans to become a free agent after next season and sign with an AL team. "I knew the pitchers and batters of opposing teams and, therefore, where to place myself defensively. In the National that's going to take me a while," he said.

Frank Robinson was rehired Thursday as manager of the Washington Nationals after a lengthy delay caused by the team's lack of a permanent owner. Robinson, who turned 70 in August, had been uncertain of his status since the end of the season. While baseball officials originally said a new owner for the Nationals would be selected by Labor Day, the commissioner's office still hasn't identified which of the bidding groups will get the franchise. With spring training two months away, general manager Jim Bowden began talks last week to bring back Robinson for a fifth season.

Despite an uncertain ownership situation, the Washington Nationals have made a splash at baseball's Winter Meetings. The Nationals have acquired Texas Rangers' second baseman Alfonso Soriano in exchange for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and a minor-leaguer to be named later, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports. The deal is pending physicals. Soriano hit .268 with 36 home runs, 104 RBI and recorded 30 stolen bases last season. During his seven-year career, Soriano has a .280 average with 162 home runs, 465 RBI and 169 stolen bases. With Jose Vidro already entrenched at second base, it's believed that the Nationals would move Soriano to left field.

Even though they don't yet have a budget approved, the Nationals were given permission from Major League Baseball to make an offer to free agent right-hander A.J. Burnett on Sunday night, according to general manager Jim Bowden. The team also was given approval from the league to make a counteroffer if necessary. Though Bowden declined to talk about the dollar figures, a source familiar with the negations said that the team offered Burnett a four-year, $40 million contract on Monday. Bowden doesn't expect Burnett to make a decision any time soon. "We made a significant offer," said Bowden. "We would like to have him. Obviously, the market is extremely aggressive. In this case, he is one of the best starters in the free agent market. So we are waiting to hear back from him. "We jumped right in to the middle of the fire, and I think we are a team that he is considering. Our offer is competitive with the other teams, according to his agent, Darek Braunecker." Braunecker was not available for comment, but according to published reports, Burnett has a five-year, $55 million offer from the Blue Jays, believed to be the highest offer for him. The Cardinals are also interested in Burnett's services, and have offered him a four-year deal plus an option.

Major League Baseball is close to a tentative agreement with the city that would clear the way for a new stadium for the Washington Nationals and the long-awaited sale of the team. D.C. Council Chair Linda W. Cropp said Saturday on WRC-TV that a deal had been reached with baseball agreeing to contribute $20 million to a contingency fund and guarantee rent payments. However, a spokesman for Mayor Anthony A. Williams said talks between city officials and baseball are still being held this weekend in Washington. "We're just not there yet. There are some people who feel a little more confident in saying," spokesman Vince Morris said. "I'd rather have it hand before I claim that we've got a deal."